The Brownwood Independent School District wrapped up its second year of the One-To-One Initiative, a program designed to put laptops in the hands of every student and teacher from seventh through twelfth grade. Brownwood High School students and administration have the most experience with the technology, having used the computers for two full years. Two grants were received to purchase computers for the Middle School staff in the fall of 2009, the eighth grade students in September 2010, and the seventh grade students in January 2011. The One-To-One Initiative was a concept created and used by other school Districts around the nation, which BISD considered when beginning its project. After meeting with and touring other Districts like Floydada, who also participates in the One-To-One, Brownwood’s administration decided to pursue the further integration of technology into the classroom. The High School implementation has been one learning process after another, of which the Middle School has benefited. The technology department has learned how to better instruct teachers and students in use and care of the laptops, including the process of distributing, which they call “rolling out,” and receiving the 1,700 laptops at the beginning and end of each school year.
Since first receiving the Macbooks, teachers began to adapt their curriculum and teaching methods to be more technologically friendly. Digital projects created in iMovie, Garage Band, Pages, and Keynote are submitted in online dropboxes. Language Arts, Math and History books are loaded onto the laptops, teachers post assignments online in a program called Moodle, and teachers receive feedback in class via Twitter or Poll Everywhere. For students in fourth through sixth grade, the District plans to purchase handheld devices to allow students the capability of answering quizzes and questions in the classroom for immediate feedback to the teacher without the use of paper or pencils.
The District is in the process of implementing CSCOPE into more classes, a curriculum for kindergarten through twelfth grade, designed with common language, structure and delivery for learning, integrated with innovative technology. CSCOPE will help teachers and students alike as technology becomes more prevalent, not only in society but the classroom as well. Students participate in technology classes beginning in fifth grade, where they learn how to use computers. By the time they get to high school, students are using the programs to learn instead of learning to use the programs. These technological implementations help students carry lighter loads in their backpacks, use less paper, and submit their projects faster and easier. Teachers will soon have less paperwork to do as well, where grading programs receive answers and immediate feedback becomes available.
An annual survey is taken by the students and staff participating in the One-To-One program, with satisfaction prevalent in the results. The benefits of providing laptops for teachers and students outweigh the disadvantages, but the problems are still present.
Classroom management, bandwidth issues, morale, and cost are items on the administration’s “to do” list. Teachers often feel stuck at their desk, checking scores and participation on their computers rather than moving about the room. Gilmore discussed an item called a “Mobi” which will allow teachers the freedom to help students while being anywhere in the room and continue to check their computer. Mobi’s are devices similar to but smaller than an iPad; they will allow teachers to see everything on their laptop, take screen shots, and post lessons online. With a Mobi, teachers will also be able to better manage classroom so that students are not playing games or accessing personal programs during class time, which has been a problem. “One issue is that teachers can’t see what all students are doing. Mobi’s increase the capability of being more mobile in the classroom,” Elizabeth Gilmore, the Instructional Technologist for BISD, said. “If the students know you’re up and active, they are less likely to try to get away with things.” Aside from distracting the students, game play during class restricts bandwidth in the classroom, so that other students in nearby rooms have trouble connecting to the internet to use programs for class.
Some teachers find integrating use of the Macbooks into the current curriculum difficult, and a detriment rather than a tool for learning. Many of the programs are new to the teachers and students, and precious time is spent figuring out how to use a program rather than working on projects or teaching lessons.
While a frustration for some, the administration hopes to aid teachers by providing paid training sessions in which they get “specific training, not only on how to get into a program and navigate it, but a background on how and why it was developed,” Gilmore said. A main focus for training this summer will be the new curriculum CSCOPE, and also frequently used programs like Moodle, the open-source, online content management system. Superintendent Reece Blincoe said, “Students are changing and we have to find ways to adapt and educate them. That means teaching is going to have to change, and we are going to continue to move our teachers this direction. Teaching is a profession; doctors or any other profession are required to have continuing education; why should we expect anything less from our teachers?”
Grants have helped fund the Initiative but the District continues to plan for the future in regard to the actual hardware. “The average life of a laptop is about four years,” Gilmore said, which poses a problem for computers that are expected to last at least six years. Also, the incoming Freshman class at the High School is larger than the outgoing Senior class and will be needing additional computers to refresh the supply. The expected cost to fill the 2011-2012 school year demand is approximately $50,000 – $70,000. Ideally the District would like to re-supply laptops so all Freshmen received new computers, and this could cost around $250,000. The administration is researching funding options, whether money is available in the budget or from grants, continuing to look into the best way to provide for the students.
Because of the determination to become technologically proficient, BISD has been chosen as a demonstration site for other Districts following the trend. Brownwood is open for other schools to see all that has been implemented and is planning on hosting an “Open House” in the fall. Visitors will visit with teachers and students in several classes on the High School, Middle School, and Intermediate Campuses, along with having a question-and-answer time. “It was helpful when we toured Floydada, and we want to open our doors so others can see what we are doing,” Gilmore said.
The administration and technology department continue working towards making the classroom a fully integrated place of learning for students, utilizing cutting-edge innovations. “We are trying to find software and equipment that will make the teachers’ jobs easier,” Gilmore said. “The curriculum and training will align so it all flows together.” A look at Brownwood High School in 2009 verses 2011 shows significant progress as far as bringing technology into the classroom, using trial and error to make every school day a new opportunity for students and administration to find the ideal way for students to learn. “We realize what worked and what didn’t,” Gilmore said, “and we are excited to have that opportunity to bring that into our District.”
