Every Pleasantdale Elementary District 107 fourth- and fifth-grader will have an iPad this coming school year.
The move is part of a two-year pilot program to improve technology in the school district. For the last school year, all fourth- and fifth-graders in the district had access to a Chromebook computer.
“Students can look at apps today that students could not experience in the past. Students can visit the Smithsonian 24/7,” said Superintendent Dave Palzet. “We want to capitalize more on teachable moments.
“At the same time, we want to teach students to be responsible and to manage their digital footprint well.”
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The $75,000 project to provide the 170 students with personal devices will be cost-neutral for the district as parents will pay a technology fee to the district as well as be on a rental program, unless they opt to provide their own iPad.
Palzet said when the district makes a decision after this school year on whether to go with iPads or Chromebooks, it will not be left with useless devises. Whichever personal computers do not get the nod will be repurposed and used by other students in the district.
“We want to have one device for the district to keep continuity,” Palzet said. “Whatever we select, we will do it gradually, grades four and five one year, and then grades four, five and six.”
Palzet said there is no plan to buy 800 iPads to cover the whole school.
“That would not be responsible. We have professional development to consider,” he said. “We need a steady hand. Cooler heads have said ‘Let’s go one grade per year.’ That is what’s best for our kids and teachers.”
He said the pilot program is being used to figure out the best approach for 1:1 technology for students, noting there are software and keyboard issues to consider.
“We will decide what is best to move kids forward, to move the needle forward on technology,” Palzet said.
Palzet admits the district is playing “a little bit of catch-up” in technology. He said the option of providing students with their own computer gives them the opportunity to learn at any time.
“We want to transform the school experience for kids,” Palzet said. “If something excites them, we want them to be able to research it at six in the evening. We want teachers to be able to open up doors for students with the available technology.”
He said the personal devices would not get rid of books.
“Students still need books. We will balance all those things,” the superintendent said. “We want them to really understand their digital footprint. We want them to put limits on themselves so they are not overusing the technology.”
Palzet said he is not sure if the 1:1 technology program will eventually reach down to younger students.
“I really think for younger kids we need to limit their exposure to technology, but we don’t want it foreign to them,” Palzet said. “Older students are more curious and do need to have a personal device.”
Kevin Beese is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.