Powell Elementary school students using new iPads, laptops this school year

From kindergarteners to seniors, all Powell students have their own electronic device this school year.

Park County School District No. 1 purchased laptops for students in fourth and fifth grades, and iPad minis for kids in kindergarten through third grade.

Several weeks into the school year, students are enjoying the new technology.

“They are in awe with the access and the quality of the devices themselves and the capabilities of them,” said Angela Woyak, principal of Westside Elementary School.

The Powell school district first purchased iPads for every middle school and high school student in 2011. Since then, the district has invested in more devices, purchasing laptops for students in sixth through 12th grades in recent years.

Up until now, elementary school students shared iPads or computers between classrooms.

“It’s really hard to accomplish what you want to within a day or an hour if you’re having to share technology,” said Scott Schiller, principal of Southside Elementary School. “Fortunately, right now, we’re in a place that they don’t have to share, but we have this on demand, when they need it.”

Having their own device also changes how students view technology and learning.

“A (computer) lab makes it seem like a separate thing, like technology is apart from our classroom,” said Jason Hillman, principal of Parkside Elementary School. “But when they use it in the classroom, it’s just embedded in their learning.”

Park County School District No. 1 is now a one-to-one school district — one device for each student.

In today’s world, students will be expected to have a strong grasp of technology as they enter college and the workforce.

“It’s what society is asking for and using themselves,” said Kevin Mitchell, superintendent of the Powell school district. “We felt it was something students needed to have in their hands to be prepared to be successful.”

Since the first round of iPads was purchased, Coordinator of Business Services Mary Jo Lewis and other district leaders developed a plan to keep funding the technology initiative, Mitchell said.

“Even in looming budget cuts, we’re looking at ways to keep technology in our students’ hands, because it’s the tool that we all use every day,” he said.

While some students regularly use a computer or tablet at home, others only have access to technology through the school district.

“But when they go to work, they’ll be expected to use it,” Mitchell said. “We just believe that our students deserve to have that opportunity.”

The Powell community also values technology.

“I think the community drives this expectation,” said Mike Reed, the district’s technology coordinator. “Our community has fiber-to-the-home — a majority of communities don’t.”

He said the district’s administrative team pushes that expectation forward in schools.

“So when we have this kind of an opportunity, we want to make every effort to make it successful,” Reed said. “And if the future is to be technology for every child — much like a textbook used to be for every child or chalk and a slate used to be for every child — it’s our duty and responsibility to make it work.”

‘Another learning tool’

Elementary schools selected the new devices — iPad Mini 2s and HP laptops — after researching different options and considering what was best for students.

“We looked at how teachers wanted to use technology to enhance their instruction and student learning,” Woyak said.

The schools follow a three-year technology plan.

“We anchored ourselves in what we call the four C’s of communication, creativity, critical thinking and collaboration,” Woyak said.

Those are often referred to as the 21st century skills, she said.

“The premise is that if we can integrate technology and use it according to those four C’s across academic areas, we are going to increase our students’ engagement and their knowledge and skills,” Woyak said.

Students are using their new devices in a variety of subject areas, such as language arts, math and science. They’re using a variety of apps and tools as they read, write, solve problems, create projects and communicate with one another and their teachers.

“It’s just another learning tool,” Woyak said.

The district also purchased classroom management software so teachers can quickly and efficiently track students’ progress and make sure they’re on task.

“From an instructional perspective, there’s also a great advantage to each student having a device when I, as a teacher, need to see where everybody is at in a skill level and knowledge of a concept,” she said.

Learning is individualized, so students can work on skills at their exact level, Woyak said. The new technology also helps keep students engaged.

“We know that this current generation — I think it’s referred to as the iGeneration sometimes — they see everything visually and when we can present things visually with multimedia, they’re that much more engaged and active in the learning process,” Woyak said.

Elementary school students used older iPads and computers in the past, but some of the devices could no longer be updated with the most current software.

“They were pushing on obsolete,” Schiller said.

Computers at the fourth- and fifth-grade levels will help prepare students for using laptops when they advance to the middle school.

While PHS and middle school students can take their laptops home, elementary students’ new devices must stay at school.

During the first weeks of the school year, students have been learning how to use their new computers and iPads responsibly. That includes lessons in how to interact online appropriately and to not engage in cyber-bullying or other improper behavior.

“We work on teaching our students to use the tool properly,” Mitchell said.

Several weeks into the school year, the transition has gone smoothly. Principals praised the district’s technology department for having everything ready at the start of the school year.

The district also purchased 60 Lego robotics kits for the elementary schools.

Kids are eager to show their parents what they’ve learned and also offer technology tips.

“My son is coming home and saying, ‘Mom, let me teach you how to do this,’” Woyak said.