Technology Initiative
52 Acres, 58 Years, 750 iPad2s, 125 MacBooks, 350 PCsin 21st Century Christian Education1000 Students & Teachers working together
Introducing our iPad2 and MacBook Technology Initiative and Partnership with Apple
A six-year-old is asking to borrow her mom’s iPod as they wait for a doctor’s appointment; a middle school girl is texting a friend as soon as the school day is over; and a teenage boy is checking the latest homework update on his smart phone. These kinds of events are happening every day and are as commonplace as an adult in the 1960s using a rotary phone to call a friend. Just as those adults in the ‘60s did not think of a phone as “technology,” neither do today’s “digital natives” consider the devices they are using as technology. They consider these devices as a normal and necessary part of their day.
In an effort to reach and engage students as they best like to learn and prepare them for the 21st century classroom, Boyd-Buchanan has recently undertaken a very “technology forward” initiative by choosing to use the Apple iPad 2 in the classroom. This decision perhaps came after months of study, meetings, and prayer both by a technology committee and the Board. Since August 2011, every secondary student has an iPad and has access to two MacBook carts which contain 50 computers. In the elementary, students have access to 100 iPads and MacBooks. This initiative has been funded through the introduction of a technology fee of $100 per semester for secondary students and $50 per semester for primary students and additional fundraising.
The iPad 2 is presently being used in every curriculum area at Boyd-Buchanan School. The apps for which the device is well-known (note taking, producing creative projects, reviewing for tests, improving communication with teachers, students, and parents) are just some of the ways students and teachers have implemented the device. Because Boyd-Buchanan is one of the few schools in the area to use the iPad 2 across the curriculum, the school has been designated a site visit school by Apple. On November 17, 2011, thirty guests from twelve different schools/systems visited the campus for the school’s first “Site Visit.” In addition to hearing about the BBS process to get to where we are now, the guests also toured classrooms where they saw the iPad2/MacBooks being used. Guests interacted with students as well as teachers during these classroom tours. In addition to site visits, BBS regularly receives calls from schools that are interested in seeing how the technology is being used. Recently, guests from Greater Atlanta Christian School toured our school to see the iPad2s and MacBooks being used at the elementary level.
It is an exciting time to be at Boyd-Buchanan School. Teachers and students have accepted the challenge of incorporating iPad2s and MacBooks into the classroom, and it is special to entertain guests and let them see what we’ve known about Boyd-Buchanan all along: a rare and special place.
Quotes from our Visitors
"The presentation and tour was excellent. I was going to ask how many of these (site visit) you had done. I would never had known this was your first."
"The kids did a great job talking about how they use the different apps! Being able to ask all the pertinent questions (some that might not have been previously answered) was great! Also, the honesty of all the panelists was great to hear, too! Obviously no deployment of new technology is 100% smooth...but your school and staff have done a tremendous job!"
"Seeing the children using the technology and being able to interact with your wonderful students was the best part of the tour! You can read, see videos, and imagine how the iPad 2 can be used...but seeing it in-person and in a real classroom setting...UNSCRIPTED...means a LOT! And it is very inspiring to see!"
"I don't think it could be improved! It was PERFECT! Your staff and students were very warm and welcoming and were great hosts!"
BBS HOSTED 30 ATTENDEES FROM SCHOOLS FROM THE SURROUNDING AREA. THE SCHOOLS ARE LISTED BELOW:
- Tullahoma City School District
- Franklin County School District
- Warren County School District
- Marion County School District
- Chattanooga Chrisitan School
- Signal Mountain School
- Ensworth Lower School
- Cleveland City Schools
- Collegedale Academy
- Berean Academy
- McCallie School
- Baylor School
In the News
On October 6, 2011 David Carroll, WRCB Channel 3 reporter, visited Boyd-Buchanan High School. The premise of the visit was to highlight the 1:1 iPad initiative that began August 2011. With the news that Apple Ceo Steve Jobs lost his 7-year battle to Cancer on October 5, the segment took on a slightly different twist. Click here to watch the video!
CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) - You don't see a lot of textbooks or paper at Chattanooga's Boyd-Buchanan School. Middle and high school students have been issued their own iPad2 to use in the classroom and at home. They do their assignments, take their tests, and communicate with teachers, all on the iPad.
Senior Clayton Parker said, "Obviously he was a genius. We're fortunate to have his technology, and everything he created was faster and better than what we had before." Witt said, "When we were young, we thought everything would get bigger, Cars, computers, you name it. He proved that we could have the world at our fingertips. It's a big world, but Steve Jobs made it smaller and more accessible for all of us.
Senior Andrew Peace says, It's part of me. It goes with me everywhere. I always keep it with me for homework, to read assignments, communicate with teachers, and even keep up with the news.
Boyd-Buchanan administrators say they got the idea from students, who then met with parents to seal the deal. Students pay a $100 technology fee each semester, and the school raises additional funding to cover the expenses. But school president Lanny Witt says its well worth the cost to move education forward.
"It hasn't changed academia or education," said Witt. But it has made it much more friendly. These students are digital natives. This is how they learn. We're now able to take education to them on their terms, instead of making us meet us on our terms."
In Laura Lynn Roland's English class, traditional rows of desks are replaced by more casual seating. Mrs. Roland graduated from this school 20 years ago, began teaching here in 2000, and says IPads have changed everything.
Mrs. Roland said, "I've gone from overhead projectors, to huge computers and monitors, and now the IPad 2. Someday soon you're going to see every student with the IPad. It has transformed how we teach. Students are much more engaged when they have this great tool to use in their own hands."
Unlike the old days, papers are not lost, teacher communication is instant, and if you're home sick, it's easy to get your assignments. It's the wave of the future, and at Boyd-Buchanan they're quick to credit the late Steve Jobs for creating this revolutionary device.
Press Release, CHATTANOOGA, TN, APRIL 26, 2011:.jpg)
BOYD-BUCHANAN ANNOUNCES TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH APPLE
Boyd-Buchanan School, a pre-K through 12th grade private Christian school, serving over 880 students, has established a technology initiative and has partnered with Apple to provide a technologically advanced learning environment for all students beginning fall 2011. Apple has selected Boyd-Buchanan School to be one of a select number of “site schools” in the country where Apple will bring educators from across the United States to see the school’s unique blended environment of the iPad2, Mac Book and other technologies.
Each student in grades 6-12 will be issued an iPad2 to use for interactive learning opportunities with the teachers. Students in the elementary grades will have access to the iPad2 as well as the Mac Book for use in the classroom. Each teacher will have a Mac Book for use in preparation for classroom activities. In addition to partnering with Apple, the school will equip all classrooms with ceiling mounted LCD projectors and elementary classrooms will have access to interactive whiteboards.
The school began this initiative with upgrading internet access by using the fiber optic network provided through the Electric Power Board, to provide the fastest access available at this time. This initiative continues as the school adds the equipment necessary to ready for the use of the Apple products in fall 2011.