iPads start new academic age at Shepard

District 218 started a new academic age this week with the distribution of iPads to more than 1,700 freshmen at Shepard, Richards and Eisenhower high schools. Next fall, all students in District 218 will receive the tablet computers to keep with them.

Access to the iPads – freshmen will keep them all four years, returning them each summer – will transform what students experience in classrooms.

Shepard instructional technology coach Cory Wood, formerly a science teacher, will help teachers integrate the iPads into lesson plans and help faculty members discover the power of the tablet computers.

Wood found Shepard freshmen eager to get started.

“The greatest thing about handing out iPads was the sense of excitement that the students had when getting their devices. These are some of the best tablets on the market and the students were very excited and eager to get their device and start using it,” he said.

The rollout happened in just two days.

“Shepard assigned approximately 575 iPads to students in just about two days. The process was extremely well coordinated both on the building and district level and the students were very excited and attentive during the initial configuration setup,” Wood said.

Preparing the orientation – students completed around 50 sequenced steps – required significant thought and planning.

“There were no major setbacks and every student that came to get their iPad received it. The smooth and efficient rollout this is a testament to how much time and effort the technology staff put in over the summer months to prepare for this event,” he added

Each District 218 school now features a staff member like Wood who helps teachers maximize the iPad as an educational resource and learning tool.

“Currently I’m meeting with departments, small groups, and individual teachers to help them design lessons that utilize the technology and new capabilities to focus on the rigorous and stringent learning standards in new and exciting ways,” Wood said.

Over the course of the year, Wood anticipates that his role at Shepard will evolve.

“Technology is constantly changing and my role will be to help teachers stay abreast of new and exciting developments in educational technology and how they can utilize them in their classrooms,” he said.

Next fall, all students in District 218 will receive iPads to keep during the school year.