Woodstock Elementary Opens iPad Lab

Woodstock Elementary School last week launched the opening of the school’s first iPad lab.

Technology teacher Kristen Brooks, who had taught Woodstock students in a traditional computer lab for the last 10 years, put together the plan for the lab and obtained fun — and functional — furnishings for the room through donation from BrainPOP and E-line Media.

The school purchased 30 Apple iPads with Title 1 funds, which are federal dollars allocated to schools that serve a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students.

Forty-five percent of the students at Woodstock Elementary School qualify for free or reduced price lunch and have limited access to such technology at home. Students will rotate through the lab once every few days.

Photo 1: Students Morgan Pugh, left, and Gia Gunderman create stories and games.

Photo 2: Technology teacher Kristen Brooks goes over the basics of an application called “ScratchJr” with her class of fourth graders. The free app is a basic programming language that enables users to create their own interactive stories and games. Ms. Brooks gets the students started on the app, then they dispersed to different parts of the room to work alone or in groups on their new iPads.

Photo 3: Woodstock ES Principal Kim Montalbano, left, watches Sydney Eidson work on an iPad.

Photo 4: Students get used to a new app on the iPads, which were purchased for the school with Title 1 funds.

Photo 5: Ms. Brooks checks out Brayden Ellis’ project on ScratchJr while Michael Gentile, Harrison Alexander and Kieran Davis work on theirs.

Photo 6: Ms. Brooks shares a laugh with Giovannia Acosta about his creations while Kyle Taylor works on his game.

Photo 7: Students Mya Jackson and Ivy Jenkins work on iPads while enjoying bean bags chairs. Furnishings for the lab were donated by BrainPOP and E-line Media.

Photo 8: Technology and Woodstock ES staff celebrate the opening of the new lab. From left, Jim Brooks and Cathy Brooks (parents of Kristen Brooks); CCSD technology instructional staff Carol Dickerson, Sandi Adams and Freda Williams; Assistant Superintendent for Accountability, Technology and Strategic Planning Bobby Blount; Woodstock teacher Kristen Brooks, Principal Kim Montalbano, Assistant Principals Tom Usry and Rachel Wasserman; Instructional Technology Specialist Suzy Lolley; and Supervisor of Instructional Technology Debbie Childress.

Credits: Cherokee County School District