Carver Heights gets technology
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on February 17, 2016 1:46 PM
Submitted photo
Teachers and staff at Carver Heights Elementary School recently received Apple devices and training as part an Apple ConnectED grant received last year. Carver Heights was one of 114 schools in 29 states, and only two in North Carolina, which provided an iPad, MacBook Air and training on devices that will be used in each classroom. The next phase is to put an iPad in the hands of every student at the school. Apple representatives provided instruction on setup and use of the devices this past week. Pictured are LaToya Taybron, left, a kindergarten teacher, and Deveda Jones, a first-grade teacher.
Carver Heights Elementary School is moving closer to rolling out technology that will benefit every student at the school.
After more than a year of planning and upgrading infrastructure, teachers and staff recently took part in the next phase of an Apple ConnectED grant -- with each receiving an iPad, a MacBook Air and specialized training from Apple experts on how to use the devices and incorporate them into classroom instruction.
Wayne County Public Schools learned in October 2014 that Carver Heights was selected to receive the grant. It was one of 114 schools in 29 states, and one of only two in the state of North Carolina. The other state recipient was Rochelle Middle School in Kinston.
The award translates to the school being able to offer comprehensive one-to-one technology for every student and teacher, and includes Apple hardware and software and services.
"Every teacher is getting an instructional iPad. Each student in the school (will be) getting an iPad that they can take home," explained Ken Derksen, director of communication services for the district. "Apple is also providing upgrades to the infrastructure so every classroom can support all the iPads that are used."
It is something that the teachers and staff are especially excited about offering, Derksen said.
"I don't think there's any other one-to-one program (here). We have classroom sets of iPads," he said. "To have one program and professional development come from Apple is huge."
Thursday's sessions were held throughout the day for teachers to receive their Apple devices. Basic training and activities were offered, ranging from setup of their iPad and MacBook to downloading apps and connecting the iPad and MacBook to an Apple TV.
This is all a prelude to the final phase -- the big student rollout, which will probably be in April, Derksen said.
"This gives teachers the opportunity to have them in their hands and get the training," he said.
William Vann III, principal at Carver, said there is a lot of excitement that comes with getting the technology and additional training for the educators.
"It is our goal to help teachers become comfortable using these digital mobile learning devices as a part of their regular instructional practices," he said. "Once every student is provided an iPad for instruction later this spring, we as a school will be able to expose students to new ways of learning and ultimately enrich classroom experiences for our students."
Carver Heights was eligible to apply for the grant because more than 96 percent of its student population is classified as "free or reduced lunch" or qualifies for federal meal assistance.