Project Definition

 

eLearning is an initiative of Daviess County Public Schools, located  in northwestern Kentucky,  to provide every high school student a wireless laptop computer by the 2008-2009 school year.  Our goal is to raise the academic engagement level of high school students and prepare them for the “flat” world.

 

Project Details 

 

Beginning with the 2003-04 school year, we implemented "pilot groups" of students at all three of our high schools (Apollo, DCHS, Beacon Central) in which students were assigned personal wireless laptop computers for their use at school and at home. Teachers selected to participate in this pilot program (based on student pilot groups) received training - and their own laptops - over the summer. Four vendors were selected to provide laptops to be evaluate: Dell, Apple, IBM and HP.  We created stringent criteria by which we measured the final vendor for full implementation.  IBM Thinkpads were chosen and every high school certified staff member received a laptop and a projector in May 2004 along with 3 hours of technical training and 3 hours of integration training.  During July, all high school teachers received an additional 12 hours of training.  Six to eight mentors in each high school were identified to help all teachers develop instructional strategies during the 2004-2005 school year. In the fall semester, these mentors attended 12 hours of train-the-trainer training on technology integration.  In July of 2005, during another two day training on technology integration, high school teachers listened to nationally renowned technologist Alan November whose topic was “Creating a New Culture of Teaching and Learning”.  On August 22nd, 2005,  DCPS distributed 900 laptops to freshmen!   Our district staff is conducting monthly “walkthroughs” to monitor the level of student engagement in high school classes.

 

Project Results

 

High School teachers are rapidly becoming proficient in using technology to teach.  Walkthrough observations have documented innovative applications of technology in every subject area that include, but are not limited to:

•          Because students have wireless internet access anytime and anywhere on school grounds, they have become much more active learners.

•          Projectors are used in every classroom for demonstrations of interactive web sites and videos from KET Encyclomedia

•          Online Courses are created by teachers using “Moodle” enabling students to access class materials remotely and submit assignments electronically

•          E-mail between students, parents, teachers and administration has increased

•          In Math classes, teachers are using graphing calculators and interactive whiteboards to illustrate functions and assess student understanding

•          Students are preparing for the ACT, college and careers using on-line tools

•          Students have created PowerPoint slide shows and videos as class projects

•          Some textbooks have been installed on student laptops making the paper copies unnecessary

 

 

For more information about this project, visit www.dcps.org/technology/elearning