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October 23, 2009

iSurprise: Area school hands out iPods

If you see students carrying Apple iPods around school, do not assume they are listening to the latest hits. In fact, they might be studying.

Gage School is the first in Oklahoma to provide all teachers with an Apple laptop computer and an iPod touch, and all students in 3rd through 12th grades with an iPod touch.

The classes met in the school auditorium on Thursday morning for what they thought was a presentation about the new technology.

Ten teachers and 88 students were pleasantly surprised after being told they would receive the newest tool in learning. A few students jumped out of their seats and high fives were shared all around.

Superintendent Doug Taylor said, “this gives our kids in Gage, Oklahoma the same opportunity as any kid in the world. It’s a big thing for me.”

He said Gage was one of the first schools in the area to begin using interactive SMARTboard technology in the classroom.

“This is just the next step to turn our classrooms into twenty-first century learning centers,” said Taylor.

Teachers will “filter” the content of the iPods and students will be required to sign a contract about the rules of use.

Educators can load the iPods with lessons including works of Shakespeare, video clips, a dictionary, homework assignments, quizzes, videos, music, books, SAT and ACT preparation materials and more for use in all subject areas including English, math, social studies, science and reading.

Orlando Aguilar is the state representative for the Apple Education program. He demonstrated several of the unique features that the iPods offer for intriguing educational opportunities.

“It’s not what the tool can do, but what you can do with it to integrate the technology into education,” Aguilar said.

Teachers and students will be given additional insight about how to use the new tools for learning. Over 1,200 education applications are currently available, and many of them have been created by teachers.

Students can use the iPods for everything from practicing flash cards to looking up the Periodic table of chemical elements.

“I can’t find something they don’t do,” Taylor said.

Taylor said each iPod will be engraved with the students name.

“Most likely elementary students will leave their iPods at school, while the older kids will be allowed to take them home,” he said.

“Students can study and do homework on their iPods. They will help level the playing field for students who don’t have the Internet at home,” he added.

Taylor pointed out that 83 percent of students in the district are part of the federal free and reduced program. He said funding was made available for the new Apple technology through different grants.

By engaging students, the devices have proven to increase graduation rates and improve attendance and disciplinary issues at schools in other states that have integrated the new technology, Aguilar said.

“Apple started in education, and for thirty years that has been our focus,” he said.

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