Learning Environment

Glenn Vos, Superintendent at Holland Christian School in Michigan, describes why and how they redesigned their classrooms to better facilitate 21st century learning. Students in grades 6 through 12 have 24/7 access to MacBook computers, so the classrooms were redesigned to facilitate learning and to allow students to be in more control of their own learning.

LeeAnne Eyer, Coordinator of Technology Support at Greenville Public Schools in Michigan, talks about how a Mac was the best solution for a special needs student. The student needed documents read to him, and the Mac OS X contained the needed built-in support for this student right out of the box.

Dr. David Hopson, Superintendent of Gateway School District in Massachusetts, discusses how they funded their Apple digital learning environment. He explains the funding challenges faced by the district and families, and details the leasing and insurance solutions the district has implemented.

Doug Jensen, Director of Technology for El Dorado Public Schools in Kansas, speaks about assuring success with technology through Apple Professional Development for their teachers. He explains how they implemented training and support programs for teachers in making the transition to a digital learning environment.

Elaine Wrenn, Technology Coordinator at Echo Horizon School in California, explains how iChat on a MacBook is used with deaf and hard of hearing students. She describes how technology is integrated in their PreK through sixth grade classes and how the teachers use iChat and MacBook computers with their deaf and hard of hearing students to work on speech and articulation.

Elaine Wrenn, Technology Coordinator at Echo Horizon School in California, explains how iChat is integrated into the PreK-6th grade curriculum. The fifth and sixth grade students experience a 24/7 MacBook program. The water quality project resulted from an opportunity Elaine had when she traveled to Peru. The sixth grade curriculum included a unit on watershed. The students were able to interview experts via iChat.

Dr. Joe Porto, Superintendent of Avoca School District in Illinois, explains how their 24/7 digital learning environment with Apple technology has transformed teaching and learning. He describes how teacher and students are using the Apple technologies to learn differently and extend education beyond the walls of the school.

Dr. Joe Porto, Superintendent of Avoca School District in Illinois, tells how his district funded an Apple digital learning environment.

Dr. Joe Porto, Superintendent of Avoca School District in Illinois, tells how his school achieved increased results with an Apple digital learning environment. He explains how their 24/7 digital learning environment has changed teaching and learning.

Bob Brown, Superintendent of Arnold Public Schools in Nebraska, discusses how they funded their Apple digital learning environment. He offers advice to districts on finding the dollars to fund 21st century learning environments.

Teachers from across the country discuss how their teaching has been enhanced and student learning has improved since the implementation of a 24/7 Apple digital learning environment. They give examples of how the MacBook has changed the way curriculum is developed and improved the communication between teachers, parents, and students.

Students and parents from across the country discuss how learning has changed since their school implemented a 24/7 Apple digital learning environment. They detail projects and examples of how students have used their MacBook computers in the classroom and at home.

K-12 educational leaders from across the nation speak from their leadership perspective about how implementing a 21st century learning environment has changed the culture of the school and has empowered staff and students. These programs’ successes are shared.

This Apple Education podcast features University of Wisconsin leaders describing the array of Apple-based solutions they use to address a variety of campus needs. These extend from faculty developed podcasts; to posting class lectures to iTunes U; to delivering content to anytime, anywhere mobile devices; to providing high-speed computation support for bimolecular research; to developing accurate mathematical models; to producing programming for their academic television network.

This Apple Education podcast features academic leaders from Oklahoma City University, Ball State University, Miami University, and San Jose State University discussing how Integrating technology into the college curriculum can increase relevancy for students. The availability of ubiquitous tools in a 1-1 notebook program provides unprecedented access to expertise and abundant information. A full technology integration challenges traditional roles in higher education and the primacy of textbooks as information resources. They also discuss how faculty will lose the ability to effectively communicate with students if they don’t embrace new media and better connect with their students, especially in teacher preparation programs.