KUSPUK SCHOOL DISTRICT

PROJECT SUMMARY

Launch Year: 2006

Platform: Apple

Project Schools: Aniak High School, Crow Village Sam School

(Chuathbaluk), Johnnie John Sr. School (Crooked Creek), George

Willis Sr. School (Red Devil), Jack Egnaty School (Sleetmute), Gusty

Michael School (Stony River), George Morgan Sr. School (Kalskag)

Grade Levels: 9-12

Total # Users: 150

Total Project Costs: $496,479

CDL Support:  $347,837      

PROJECT TEAM

Superintendent: Brad Allen

Project Coordinator: Marge Randlett

Curriculum Coordinator: Marge Randlett

IT Coordinator: Josef Salyer

ROLLOUT DATES

Apple Initial Rollouts:

- Sleetmute, Jack Egnaty School: November 7, 2006      

- Stony River, Gusty Michael School: November 6, 2006     

- Chuathbaluk, Crow Village Sam School: November 3, 2006     

- Aniak, Aniak High School: November 1-2, 2006   

- Kalskag, George Morgan Sr. School: October 26-27, 2006   

- Crooked Creek, Johnnie John Sr. School: October 24-25, 2006

- Red Devil, George Willis Sr. School: November 9, 2006

PHOTOS

NEWS

QUOTES

More CDL District Testimonials

Dr. Marty Laster, Superintendent

“While there has been a noticeable increase in the engagement of students and in the production of more complex projects, there has also been a significant increase in the capacity of staff to support increased student performance expectations. It is wonderful to witness and evidence the power to be a significant vehicle for continuous improvement.”

Marge Randlett, District Technology Coordinator

“Staff members have reported great successes so far with using the laptops during classes to boost academic achievement and student engagement. Students across the district give the laptop program raving reviews. At some sites, teachers report that the productivity and quality of work has improved, and in general students are happy to do work.  The students get through more work, especially when done online or posted on the server.”

Brad Allen, Upriver Principal

“For the five sites that I supervise, the program has had positive results overall.

1) Attendance at each site has gone up markedly.  At some sites, the attendance jumped from about 75% – 80% to over 90% due to students wanting to come to school to use the technology and become proficient or advanced to be able to take the technology home and gain more privileges such as iTunes. 

2) Students have taken a more active and responsible role in maintaining the technology. They make sure the computers are in a safe environment and follow good usage behavior to maintain privilege use.

3) Overall production of work has improved as well.  Students now have the technology at hand to produce a higher quality of work with the programs the computers offer. They also have begun to practice “on-line” learning skills in that they are submitting items to staff electronically in village as well as out of village.

4) Students have also wanted to stay after school to utilize the technology. Some do not have electricity at home to help charge the batteries so they stay after school for up to two hours to work on school work as well as participate in tutorial programs to help ready them for the upcoming state assessments in April.”

Aimee Flint, teacher at Crow Village Sam School in Chuathbaluk

“One word expresses how well my students are doing with their new laptops, and that is ‘Great!’ Productivity and quality of work has improved since the November roll out, and in general students are happy to do work. Before the laptops, my students would request a break every hour or so, now they work all day without asking for any breaks to check their email or to play games.

In general the students are getting through more work, and I think this is due to their work being posted on the student server. Every Monday morning they go into the server and retrieve all their assignments for the entire week. Whenever work is completed they can just drop it into the Completed folder. The laptops have really motivated my students to put in that extra effort with their work.”

Tim Shumway, teacher at Johnnie John Sr. School in Crooked Creek

The end of the second quarter marked the first full quarter of the 1-to-1 laptop program with the high school students at the Johnnie John Sr. School in Crooked Creek, Alaska. The impact of this program was felt dramatically and immediately.  First of all, these computers provide students with a link to almost unlimited information, enabling an increase in the amount and quality of project based learning. The students have gained important technology skills in word processing, spreadsheet creation, concept mapping, effective Internet search skills, digital media processing, and safe and effective electronic communication.

Perhaps the most drastic change that this program has initiated has been in our school attendance. With some of the advanced computer privileges tied to attendance, we have seen the rate of high school absenteeism more than cut in half, from 18.5% to 9.2%, and the tardiness rate cut lowered by three times from 5.5% to just 1.8%. The staff at our school are in agreement; even without the clear educational benefits that these incredible tools provide, just the increased attendance – having students in school – justifies any expense that this program incurs. 

Craig Luchsinger, teacher at Aniak Jr. Sr. High School

“Student participation in the laptop project has, on the whole, been a marvelous success.  I have certainly noted an increase in student engagement, attendance, and class participation.  So far some major projects have included students using Notetaker to write about their favorite invertebrate, and favorite fish. Students then present theses projects in class, including a voice memo of them reading their project aloud, a major impact on student literacy skills.  Another hot project has been students learning to do podcasts using Garageband. In addition, I teach an A.P. English class using the Video Teleconference technology, and a Moodle website. Student use of laptops in this course has been impressive in terms of both scope and sequence. In short, laptop participation has made a significant impact on our school's learning culture.”

Dave LeMaster, teacher at Aniak Jr. Sr. High School

“In the short while we have had them I have seen some serious shifts in attitude and performance.”

Alice Tucker, teacher at George Morgan Sr. High School

“Having the laptops means instant gratification for effort and [it] has made all the difference.  It's great!”

Julie Zaukar, instructional aide at Johnnie John Sr. School

“All of our students are so excited about having the laptops. Students are doing so many great things with them and learning so many different technology programs and short cuts. This will improve their technology skills for the future.”

Mark V., student

“The laptop program is excellent. It gives us students the opportunity to achieve unbelievable things.”

Raven S., student

“It's awesome. Having a laptop makes things a lot easier. I'm able to take it home and get my work done more easily.”

Tracy P., student

“We are very fortunate. It is so much easier to do assignments, especially for our long-distance VTC classes.”

Adrian B., student

“The laptops are going to help more students to be eligible.”