New Rochelle School District Wins Three Major Technology Awards

In what amounts to significant recognition for its use of technology both in and out of the classroom, the Technology Department has been awarded three major awards for their efforts.

All three awards specifically recognize the success and future potential of the district’s “Learning On-The-Go” wireless pilot project to support and advance digital learning by providing internet connectivity to students who otherwise wouldn’t have such access. New Rochelle schools has a particular focus for their initiative to target English language learners , economically disadvantaged students, lower-performing students and students with disabilities in 5th through 9th grade.  The program currently includes over 1,300 students ranging from elementary through high school level.  

“Learning on the Go” has received national and international acclaim as the City School District of New Rochelle is the recipient of the third place SIGOL Online Learning Award, which is given out by the International Society for Technology in Education.  This award “recognizes innovative educators worldwide for their leadership and creativity in providing e-learning opportunities for elementary through university students.”  New Rochelle was beaten only by Deakins University in Australia and the University of Colorado at Boulder.  The SIGOL award will be presented during ISTE’s annual conference in late June.  

After several years of applying, the City School District of New Rochelle is also the winner of this year’s Pioneer Award from the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center.  Additionally, a coveted Pioneer Award is being given individually to Dr. Christine Coleman, the district’s Director of Technology.  The Pioneer Awards recognize teachers, administrators and districts who are innovative users of technology in their schools.    

“New Rochelle’s success in bringing individual devices and access to students that need it represents not only what our regional districts are doing, but what districts across the state, country and around the world are striving for,” said Sarah Martabano, the Regional Information Center’s Regional and Distance Education Coordinator.  “It takes a visionary and innovative type of leadership to influence this level of change from existing instructional technology systems to a more individualized approach to instruction, while maintaining the safety and security of the people and accessing it.  Dr. Coleman and the administrative leadership of the CSDNR saw this early on and culled the resources needed to put a mobile individualized instructional system in place for their students, as represented by their “Learning-on-the-Go” initiative.”

New Rochelle was one of only twenty school districts from around the country who were selected in July of 2011 by the FCC for funding to implement ‘Learning-On-The-Go.”  The technology and devices deployed to students run on an encrypted mobile network, provided by Verizon, which allows students to do work anywhere in a safe web environment.  Additionally, school officials have access to the equipment and the ability to completely deactivate any unit in the event that one is lost or stolen.  

Another aspect of the “Learning On-The-Go” project includes the creation of a learning “cloud” for students and teachers participating in the initiative.  The nredlearn.org cloud is an interdisciplinary, project-based and research-driven online learning portal.  The principle behind the cloud is that any computer or device can be connected to the same pool of applications and resources and the cloud operates as a safe filtered learning portal for students that extend teaching and learning far beyond the walls of a classroom and hours of a school day.  

“I am humbled by these awards and we are extremely grateful to LHRIC, ISTE, the FCC, Verizon and all of our partners and supporters as we continue to implement this critical initiative for our district,” said Dr. Christine Coleman, Director of Technology for the CSDNR.  “Providing these students with an opportunity to engage with technology is crucial to their development and overall learning.”  

A copy of the original release from the FCC can be found here: http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0711/DOC-308331A1.pdf