The purpose of the e-Learning
Project is to provide 21st century technology to our students and
teachers for use as tools to enhance teaching and learning. By providing
students with wireless laptops 24 hours a day, seven days a week, this project
will also address the “technology divide” that exists between kids who have
computers and those who do not. It
levels the playing field for all kids by making the same resources available to
everyone.
The DCPS e-Learning
Project is a plan to provide laptop computers to a pilot group of high school
students and their teachers. The project, which begins in the fall of the
2003-04 school year, acknowledges that kids are learning differently in
today’s digital age; this is a way to meet their needs and increase student
achievement.
Technology is already a vital part of our kids’ lives; they are comfortable with the various tools that technology provides. Today’s kids think differently than kids of the past. They naturally incorporate technology into their daily activities and they are more likely to be more interested and motivated when the teaching and learning tools are relevant to their world. We believe this will increase student achievement.
Research indicates (and parents know) that at the high school age, kids are most active and involved in the later hours of the day than during the traditional school day. By providing laptops that the kids will have access to 24 hours a day, we are addressing the questions of “how, when, and where” today’s kids learn.
The e-Learning Project will not replace textbooks or teachers. e-Learning will take our classrooms to a new and exciting level!
Using technology as a learning tool is fast becoming a
normal way of life. Kids are learning differently in this digital age than they
have at any time in history. It is critical that our students have access to
these learning tools.
We also know that at the high school age, kids are most
active and involved in the later hours of the day than during the traditional
school day. By providing laptops that the kids will have access to 24 hours a
day, we are addressing the questions of “how, when, and where” today’s
kids learn.
Additionally, research indicates (see #24 below) that students who utilize technology as a learning tool think at higher levels, work together more and become much more involved in the learning process. As a result, these kids achieve at higher levels. The DCPS e-Learning Project is based on giving our kids the best opportunities to succeed.
Approximately 150 DCPS students will participate in the
pilot program starting in the fall of the 2003-04 school year. This includes
about 60 students each from Apollo and Daviess County high schools, and about 30
students at Beacon Central High School. These students were selected based on
their class schedules because they will basically stay together as a group
throughout the school day.
The pilot is being organized as a decision-making tool to
help us decide where we go from here. We will be evaluating the learning
process, the types of computers we utilize, and challenges we may encounter. It
will also help us decide if we want to move forward to the next levels. At the
conclusion of the pilot, we will make decisions about whether or not to proceed
to the next level. If so, we will
have information about what computers to purchase and which curriculum programs
are best for teaching and learning.
If the project proceeds to full implementation, all high school students will have the opportunity to participate as we begin to phase in this program with all incoming high school freshmen.
Even the students who do not
participate in the e-Learning pilot program will benefit because all DCPS
high school teachers will receive information about curriculum links and other
educational tools that are available with this technology. These teachers will
be able to incorporate this information into their classrooms. In addition,
staff developers – who are trained to explore and investigate new ways to
teach – will share information throughout the pilot year with the entire
staff.
To sum this up briefly, they are fired up!!!! In a
superintendent’s student advisory meeting, the kids shared that they can’t
wait to get started. One of the upperclassmen even asked if he could repeat the
freshman year just so he could be part of this pilot program!!!
This is an important question because our core value system
is “It’s About Kids.” If
e-Learning is what is best for kids, we must pursue this to weigh the costs
versus the benefits.
We know that today’s kids think and learn differently than kids at any time in the past. Today’s kids are “already there” with technology. Kids are excited and motivated by technology, and that engagement leads to greater achievement.