Radnor High School Recognized For Classroom iPad Program

RADNOR, PA – Radnor High School earned some notable recognition recently, as it was named an Apple Distinguished School for 2017–2019 for its use of iPads in classrooms by Apple, Inc. itself.

The Radnor Township School District announced the distinction Monday, saying the school's innovative ways its teachers and students used technology in the school’s one-to-one iPad program landed them the honor.

"Since the inception of the iPad program at Radnor High School, our teachers have worked tirelessly to integrate technology into their instruction and produce creative and innovative opportunities for students," RHS Principal Dan Bechtold said. "The iPad initiative has allowed us to truly follow the mission of our district, to inspire in all students the love for learning and creating, and to empower them to discover and pursue their individual passions with knowledge, confidence and caring to shape the future."

The one-to-one iPad program began in 2011 and has grown from just sophomores in Social Studies classes getting the iPads to every student in all grades being able to use the iPads at school and home, the district said.

Students and teachers use iPads to create individualized educational experiences where students are given the freedom and opportunity to explore how they learn best, as well as to investigate and reach solutions to apply in the real world, according to the district.

Apple Distinguished Schools are centers of innovation, leadership, and educational excellence that use Apple products to inspire creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, the district said. These schools showcase innovative uses of technology in learning, teaching, and the school environment and have documented results of academic accomplishment, according to the district.

"We are honored to be named an Apple Distinguished School and look forward to continuing to challenge ourselves as educators to provide the best education possible for our student boy," Bechtold said.

In Civics classes, students work in groups to explore a topic of interest, such as environmental concerns, and then propose a course of action. Using the mobility of iPad, students use GarageBand to record interviews with experts, produce iMovie ads to raise awareness for their cause, take photos with the Camera app, and record notes, create charts and graphs, and utilize other images to explain their data. Students then build a website to display their findings to a broader audience.

"iPads allow us to explore many avenues of information and data, enriching the content," RHS Social Studies teacher Ed Ruby said. "The use of iPad in my classroom is not only helping my students succeed in my content area, but it is also giving them 21st-century skills that will help them as they further their education and move into the work world."

Students in Environmental Science use iPad's portability and adaptability to collect data wirelessly, not only in the classroom lab but also outdoors. While collecting data, students record video or collect pictures of what they observe, allowing for a more immersive experience.

See here for more examples of how Radnor High School implements iPads.

Congratulations to Radnor High School!

Image via Radnor Township School District