NORTH SLOPE BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

PROJECT SUMMARY

Launch Year: 2006

Platform: Apple

Project Schools: Barrow High School (Barrow), Eben Hopson Middle

School, (Barrow), Fred Ipalook Elementary School (Barrow),

Kiita Learning Community (Barrow), Nunamiut School (Anaktuvuk Pass),

Meade River School (Atqasuk), Harold Kaveolook (Kaktovik),

Nuiqsut Trapper School (Nuiqsut), Tikigaq School (Point Hope),

Kali School (Point Lay), Alak School (Wainwright)

Grade Levels: 5-12  Apple One to One

Grades Levels: 1-4  Apple Mobile Learning Labs

Total # Users: 1,756

Total Project Costs: $4.1 million

CDL Support:  $173,075 (staff development)

Launch Year: 2008

Platform: Apple (project expansion)

Project Schools: *

Grade Levels: *Funds used to upgrade and support identified areas of need.

Total # Users: 75

Total Project Costs: $103,086

CDL Support: $68,037

PROJECT TEAM

Superintendent: Peggy Cowan       

Project Coordinator:

IT Coordinator: Noam Kuilboer, Technology Facilitator

Additional Staff: Blaine Detering, WAN II; Daniel Hall: WAN II; Linda Frink, Instructional Technologist; Andrew Grant, Project Manager

 

ROLLOUT DATES

Apple Initial Rollouts:

- Barrow High School: 10/13/06

- Barrow, Eben Hopson Middle School: 10/23/06

- Barrow, Fred Ipalook Elementary School: 11/2/06

- Barrow, Kiita Learning Community: 10/23/06

- Anaktuvuk Pass, Nunamiut School: 10/19/06

- Atqasuk, Meade River School: 10/28/06

- Kaktovik, Harold Kaveolook School: 10/17/06

- Nuiqsut, Nuiqsut Trapper School: 10/27/06

- Point Hope, Tikigaq School: 11/6/06

- Point Lay, Kali School: 9/17/06 (2 week Pilot for 9th-12th grades), 10/23/06 (Entire school)

1. -Wainwright, Alak School: 10/17/06
   

Apple Expansion Rollout: TBA

PHOTOS

Barrow Rollout, Fall 2006

Kiita Learning Community, October-December 2006

Nuiqsut Trapper School, October/November 2006

Wainwright Alak School, October 2006

NEWS

QUOTES

More CDL District Testimonials

More North Slope Student Comments

Staff Comments

Heidi Packer, Principal at Hopson Middle School

“The student enthusiasm and parent involvement when we rolled out 200 middle school Apple lap tops in October is unparalleled to anything I have been a part of in my five years at Hopson Middle School.  Students have taken to the computers like whales to the ocean!  As staff, we found ourselves running to stay caught up with the energy and ability the students showed with the new technology given to them.   This new educational tool has opened up endless possibilities for student learning.”

David Brannan, North Slope Borough School District Technology Coordinator

“The vision of one computer for every student and teacher is an ambitious one. Today’s generation of students looks at technology as part of their everyday environment. To fully meet their needs, the North Slope Borough School Board wanted technology to be pervasive — always available. Therefore, in less than 3 months we deployed over 1500 Apple laptops, 12 X Servers, and 175 wireless access stations across the largest school district in the United States, covering 89,000 square miles and serving 11 schools in eight widely-spaced villages.

We are delighted to report things are working quite well.

Now each student of the North Slope has access to a wireless laptop to use at school and/or home, enabling communication and collaboration among peers and teachers, and connecting parents to their children’s learning. And educators are provided digital tools to create learning plans, manage educational content, track student progress, and more.  In every village, the ancient traditions of the Iñupiat Eskimos coexist with state-of-the-art technology.

The North Slope is truly a place where the wisdom of the ages meets the promise of the future.”

Desiree Diemer, Wainwright teacher

I had students in my Alaska Studies class, interview an elder about the past and what they think is important about their culture. Students then put the information from their interview on the pages program along with a picture of the elder. Students really enjoyed using the pages program and interviewing an elder.

Karen Gustafson, high school English teacher at Nuiqsut

“With the laptops, students have been able to create movies, write and edit essays and creative pieces and put together the school newspaper. It makes reading student work easier, and has increased student interest in completing assignments.”

Emily Gillis, high school math teacher at Nuiqsut

“The idea of laptops in the classroom is great. They make a lot of the work easier to do and hand in, and there are great projects that can be done with them.”

Chad Cousins, high school science teacher at Nuiqsut

“I have found that the laptops have given the students an outlet from the daily grind. They seem to really enjoy using the laptops for classroom research and as a reward when class work is completed.”

Dena Green, 3rd, 4th, 5th grade teacher at Nuiqsut

“Students have made the most significant progress in the areas of reading and writing. The students read fluency passages into their laptops and listen to themselves read. Students also have been using their laptops to summarize the novels they have been reading which they later use to write their book reports. Students write or actually type their book reports on the laptops and attach it to an email sent to me. They use the writing process to revise and with my guidance and suggestions are made right on their first copy. They continue through the writing process until their copy is perfect. In addition, students are able to search the Internet for appropriate clipart and attach these to their documents. The laptops have made my students’ excited about completing writing assignments and seeing the improvement before my eyes is rewarding.”

Alice Hunt, Special Education teacher at Nuiqsut

“Having a computer to use when doing classroom assignments has proven to be a big advantage to my SpEd students. They are producing better quality work without having to ask for as much help with spelling, grammar, and word usage. Their work looks neat and organized like their classmates, especially those who have fine motor disabilities. Their work doesn’t get “lost” and corrections or revisions are much less frustrating or time consuming.  They love carrying their Mac Books from class to class and feeling like a “regular” student as they access assignments, music, emails, and so on. One of the most important advantages for a SpEd student to have the use of a MacBook on a daily basis is the opportunity to use it on the HSGQE. Modifications on the HSGQE are approved only if the student uses that modification in their classes on a regular basis. Being allowed to use their MacBooks on the HSGQE will give them an equal opportunity to pass the test and a chance for a real diploma!”

Freda Arnhart, middle school teacher at Alak School in Fort Wainwright

“Students are leaning how to use several programs on their laptops.  In our classroom, they use the Dictionary program to define vocabulary words. The Word program is used for writing and journal work. The students can take their laptops home at night but must bring them back to school the next day.  If laptop rules are not followed, the laptops stay at school for use in the classroom.”

Al Strack, teacher at Barrow High School

The introduction of Apple laptops into my Alaska Studies/US Govt. classrooms has significantly raised the bar. Student participation and engagement in learning activities has increased as it gives students more confidence using PowerPoint presentations. The laptops are also extremely helpful for students participating in the Rose Urban Rural Exchange and Alaska Model United Nations programs in preparation for their their events.

Parent Comments

Jennifer Litera, parent and teacher

“My son, who is in 10th grade, really loves his laptop computer. He does his homework on it in the evenings and utilizes it to his potential. As a parent and teacher, I am excited that our students have this wonderful tool!”

Chrisann Justice, parent

“I’d like to comment on the changes I have seen in my daughter since she became a part of the Apple one-to-one program. She has always been a hard working and high achieving student so I would not say that I have seen a change in her grades. I have however, noticed a marked increase in general confidence and an unbelievable increase in confidence with anything having to do with technology.

Before this she only used computers for word-processing and some online research. I have seen an increase in pride for her school projects as this year she has been able to make a movie and create learning projects that are more than simple writing projects. She is a naturally creative person and I feel that the inclusion of creative projects is an essential component of the Apple one-to-one program. I feel that the Apple computers and teachers that are encouraging their use for creative projects are helping her gain confidence in her intellectual, creative and technological abilities while increasing her enjoyment in her schoolwork.”

Student Comments

Jasmine E., student

“I love my MacBook. By blocking most un-educational programs and keeping a GREAT eye on us, we have become more educated with these computers than I thought we would have. These computers have made me a better, more focused student, and I do not plan to lose mine.”

Felicia O., student

“With the new Apple laptops there are a lot of different things we can do to make us better students. The number of excuses for not doing homework is going down, which is good. I like doing research papers because it’s interesting and fun learning about different things. In band, you can record yourself practicing. In the end, it makes us become better at it.”

April P., student

“Our school is pretty lucky to have these laptops. They keep me organized. I don’t need to keep track of all my papers, and if I do lose a hard copy, I’ll just reprint it. It’s also pretty cool having a portable computer, so if I want to do an Internet search I can, without having to wait for people to get off the computer. I think it would be a good thing for all students to experience having these laptops. It motivates students to do their work.”

Adrian P., student

“I like the laptops because it’s better than writing the words on paper. It takes longer to write than type. I can get newer information from the Internet than from books.”

Aaron R., student

“The Apple laptops really help because my handwriting is messy.”

Forrest E., student

“What I like best about the Apple MacBook is that students don’t have to write on paper anymore and that typing is faster than writing. The laptop makes me a better student because I get more work done.”

Jaleen S., student

“The laptops the school provided us are great. Having a laptop improved my typing skills. A lot. I am so thankful for this laptop.”

Jose S., student

“I really enjoy my laptop. One of my favorite programs is Word because I can get my essays done faster.”

Kyle B., student

“We all have our own computer to work on instead of 20 students sharing 3-4 computers. This laptop makes me a better student because my teacher can read what I write a lot easier, because I don’t write very clearly.”

Michelle O., student

“These laptops are really great. They have helped me get writing assignments done, and now I don’t lose the assignments as much as I did last year.”

Ransome R., student

“The laptops helped me by organizing my work. Also we don’t have to share the desktops any more. Now the teacher won’t have to try to read sloppy handwriting. The laptops also make homework easier. Also, we won’t forget it.

Terance B., student

“The laptops make me a better student because it keeps me organized. It gets me better grades in my classes. My locker has less papers.”