Posted: Saturday, May 31, 2014 10:30 pm
More Eau Claire students may get the opportunity to have information literally available at their fingertips.
The Eau Claire school board will discuss data collected for the district's technology plan regarding an expansion of classroom mobile devices.
District administrators recommend buying iPads for students in fifth and sixth grades this year. They also back getting Chromebooks in 2014-15 for high school English classrooms and a pilot project in seventh grade.
"We're thinking we want to share some information with the board about the level of use and the responses we're getting back from teachers and students," Superintendent Mary Ann Hardebeck said.
This year's budget includes $863,500 for iPads in fifth and sixth grades at Northstar and South middle schools. Next year's budget would earmark $363,000 for Chromebooks in the high schools and seventh grade.
DeLong Middle School sixth-graders already are outfitted with school-issued iPads, as are third- and fourth-grade classes. Those 2,250 iPads, purchased last year, cost $1.14 million.
Money already is budgeted for the iPad purchase this year if the board deems it a "solid investment," Hardebeck said, adding Monday's presentation is a status report on the technology plan.
The district would buy 1,400 iPads and 1,450 Chromebooks, said Jim Schmitt, director of technology and assessment.
He explained the district' plans to increase access to mobile devices for students and staff. "At this point we do not have a goal of one device for each student."
Both iPads and Chromebooks are tablet computers. "The iPad is more multimedia driven with a larger selection of eduction-centered apps. The Chromebook comes with a keyboard and is designed to more easily leverage the use of Google Docs. Both platforms do utilize web-based resources very well," Schmitt said.
Schmitt will report preliminary data on how the iPads have affected classrooms Monday.
"However, we have not had a learning cycle that would be represented in state testing achievement data (that will come next spring). It is also difficult to attribute a mobile device as being the sole cause of changes in student achievement," he said.
Rather, the devices are tools to maximize the effects of instructional strategies, he said.
Schmitt also will discuss this spring's student engagement survey. The information could be used by the teams at various schools as a tool for improvement planning.
In 2012-13, sixth- through 12th-graders were surveyed. This year, fifth- through 12th-graders participated.
Hearing students' perspectives on their school experiences as they progress through the grade levels is important, Hardebeck said.
Agreed Schmitt, "Looking at both years will allow (school) buildings to see the impact of their efforts over the past year."
In other action:
n The board will consider establishing a standing board committee that addresses charter schools and school choice initiatives.
n Members will vote on facility use fees for 2014-15. Rules related to the district's camps and clinics have been sent back to the High School Athletic Council for further review.
Wachter can be reached at 715-830-5828, 800-236-7077 or blythe.wachter@ecpc.com.
n The Eau Claire school board meets at 7 p.m. Monday at the district Administration Building, 500 Main St.
Hardebeck
Schmitt
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