Carthage School Receives iPads
Isaiah Betances works on a spelling activity in Selena McNeil’s third-grade class. Photo by Hannah Sharpe
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By JOHN LENTZ
Staff Writer
What officials consider a new enthusiasm for learning was initiated Wednesday when iPads were delivered to every Carthage Elementary School student and teacher as part of an initiative to make students "future ready."
About 450 of the devices were delivered as phase two of a two-part process initiated by the Moore County school system.
"The students' reaction was one of complete excitement," said school Principal Denny Ferguson. "They couldn't wait to receive the new iPads, and once they were in the classroom they were immediately hard at work, engaged and focused. Wednesday was an exciting day at our school."
That morning, Schools Superintendent Aaron Spence spoke to a school assembly that included school board members, county commissioners and state Rep. Allen McNeill.
"We are very excited to be here with you as we begin on this very exciting and interesting journey," he said. "Today is the first day that all of our students here have been given access to iPads. We believe it is our job to prepare our students for the 21st century, and this is significant first step in that direction."
Spence reflected what officials see as high student enthusiasm for the new method of learning.
"The students are excited about this technology and are engaged by it as it allows them to learn in very exciting and interesting ways," he said. "We are so proud of the efforts of our technology team, our teachers and principals, and everyone who is supporting this learning for our students. But, most especially, we are proud of our students for all of the learning they are doing."
Phase one of the implementation involved teacher training in use of the iPads to enhance student learning.
"We began with professional development and formed a tech team to decide how to roll this out," Ferguson said. "We began with iPads for the teachers and teacher assistants to check out and use. Once trained, the teachers then used a first batch of 60 iPads to teach the students how to be responsible with the devices as well as how to use them.
"So while the excitement of receiving the new iPads was there on Wednesday, the students were already trained in its use. This is the method by which these 'digital native' students prefer to learn."
Mandy Nall, a third-grade teacher at Carthage Elementary, said teachers and students were excited.
"The students now have apps that give access to art, the creation of pottery, a garage band in which they can compose pieces of music and other tools they didn't have before," Nall said. "Our main focus is literacy, though, and teachers can use the iPads in every aspect of the classroom."
Another third-grade teacher, Selena McNeil, said that the "21st century skills" that the iPad represents will lead to more "collaboration and teamwork" among students and teachers.
"They definitely do not go into a corner and play games," she said. "The students are proud of their devices, and they want to share their work with others. If anything, having an iPad builds a closer collaboration with the kids."
Fifth-grade student Alexis Locklear enjoys a program called "Comic Life" on her iPad, which enables the student to create scenes and dialogue from templates that reflect historical occurrences.
"We are working on the Proclamation of 1763," Alexis explained. "I like the iPad because I can make the designs using my own ideas for input. It's better than a textbook because everyone can make their own designs to learn about what happened."
'Beyond Excited'
Spence said that Carthage Elementary was a "perfect choice" for the first phase of the initiative.
"His (Ferguson) leadership, enthusiasm, eagerness to learn new methods and dedication to seeing students succeed will ensure the students at his school will reap great benefits from this initiative," he said.
Ferguson said Carthage Elementary School students and staff were "beyond excited" to be the first school chosen to receive the new technology.
"We know from visiting other schools in the state that implement iPads for learning that they are not a fix-all, but we have noted that attendance is up and disciplinary problems are down in these locations," Ferguson said. "These are great symptoms that tend to spread throughout the school.
"The one-to-one initiative gives every child an opportunity for learning. One of our school's beliefs is that we equip students with 21st century skills needed to succeed within our global community, and part of this belief involves the use of different tools and practices to engage and prepare today's learners."
School personnel point out that the kindergarteners at Carthage Elementary will utilize the iPads throughout their school careers.
Kindergarten teacher Whitney Irwin called the iPad "the best engagement tool" she had seen.
"I thought nothing could beat the SmartBoard, but the students are really enjoying the iPads. We are working on our vocabulary words on the iPads today, which we would normally do on paper. The kids are able to create themed backgrounds, like Halloween and Christmas scenes, and place the words on top of that."
Kindergartener Juliana Brewer was creating a Christmas scene with her iPad.
"Have a seat," she said, pointing to the floor beside her. "Watch what I'm doing."
Juliana, who said she liked "snow, winter, Halloween and Easter," beamed as she exhibited her words before a Christmas background she created.
"How's that?" she asked with pride in her voice.
'Leading the Way'
At Wednesday's presentation, Spence asked the students to help him thank the various groups involved in bringing the initiative to fruition.
"(Let's thank) all of our friends who came here to support us today including our friends from the Public Education Foundation, and all of our elected officials," he said. "Let's thank them for their support, for believing in public education and for providing us the tools we need to learn."
Spence also asked the students to acknowledge "the Moore County Schools technology team who readied the devices for use, Deputy Superintendent Marc Bergin who is over the technology department, Chief Finance Officer Mike Griffin, everyone's parents, Principal Denny Ferguson who came to us and said, 'We want to be the first school with iPads,'" and the teachers who have been working very hard to get ready for this, who have been working with you and who have been putting in so many hours to learn how to make classrooms more engaging with this technology."
He then addressed the students.
"Thank you for leading the way and for showing us how it's done," he said. "We are so excited to learn with you and from you about what it means to have this technology and what it means for your own learning.
"Today we are putting into your hands the power to change your own lives, to change our community and to change the world. I'm really, really looking forward to this."
Contact John Lentz at (910) 693-2479 or jlentz@thepilot.com.
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Comments
OneNativfe 3 months, 3 weeks ago
What a terrible idea.
Tigger 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Awesome idea...technology is changing on a daily basis and our children should be at the forefront of the newest technology. For someone to make a statement that this is a terrible idea is just a down right uneducated statement! Kids rock! Go Abby H :)
cooldaddy 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Excellence
Toda 3 months, 3 weeks ago
"We believe it is our job to prepare our students for the 21st century"
Only time will produce evidence that learning pottery, art and web surfing will not provide an adequate body of knowledge when challenging University Studies. Even those with labored learning skills come up to speed at Sandhills as well as other junior colleges.
One must question the MoF for their effrontery efforts to use taxpayer funding for technological toys based on their own admissions expressing vagueness of exactly what technology Spence was referring to in his presentation. At least The Pilot didn't elaborate.
By the way Joseph, the most available professions in the nation today are Engineering and CPA's; as the father of an engineer, I can attest that an IPod would have been of no use to his education.
Toda 3 months, 3 weeks ago
"Today we are putting into your hands the power to change your own lives, to change our community and to change the world. I'm really, really looking forward to this."
macsterling 3 months, 3 weeks ago
This a great idea if there is a plan. As a parent, I am constantly horrified by the neglect of the students in Moore County when technology is introduced - from watching dumb movies to incomplete emails to missing homework assignments and poorly made schedules. If the teachers have not been incorporated into the plan then the tecnology will be useless - the kids will just be playing dumb games and watching stupid videos.
johnrad1991 3 months, 3 weeks ago
This is just window dressing for a school system with outdated facilities and underpaid teachers.
OneNativfe 3 months, 3 weeks ago
This is the new agenda. Get kids hooked on these kinds of devices from the cradle. Population tracking, and eventually government messages that cannot be opted out of to control the population like a bunch of robots. This is where we are headed as fast as we can go. Teenagers can barely lift their noses up out of their Iphones long enough to realize what is going on around them now. Open up your eyes people! We are destroying creativity in our country. The school has no business messing with Ipads. We were able to put people on the moon in 1969 (when most tvs were still black and white) with weak calculators and with a piece of chalk and some notebooks in the schools. This is just an upside down world we live in.
djcalaska 3 months, 3 weeks ago
This is an opportunity for some to be active with a computer when they might not of had that opportunity for several years. Congratulations to the students, parents, teachers and who ever was the driving force behind this. It may spark ambition from students who might not of been so excited!
Toda 3 months, 3 weeks ago
" It may spark ambition from students who might not of been so excited!"
At least with iPads, they have access to Netflix and TV programs they've missed.
Educators have forgotten how difficult GMAT, GRE, MGAT tests were for those who applied to Grad School ... What education principles were the less-intelligent county commissioners applying to this expenditure?
In the words of Forrest Gump ... "stupid is as stupid does"!
Toda 3 months, 3 weeks ago
"from watching dumb movies to incomplete emails to missing homework assignments and poorly made schedules."
CNMT 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I would rather have had them put desktop PCs in a computer lab shared by all students - less money involved and better control over what they are doing with them. We can't afford to buy books for students thereby forcing them to share them at school and not be able to bring them home to study but we can afford to give out iPads????
DaveyNC 3 months, 3 weeks ago
You want to prepare kids for a technologically advanced future? Teach them proper math and science. How to write an algorithm. How to write computer code. How to build a computer network and properly secure it. How to build a web page. Using a device as an analog for a book is nice and all, but it doesn't really teach any one how to use a computer. Knowing how to surf or use Word isn't using really using a computer, it's replacing your old physical tools with digital ones.
Teaching kids how to use a different device to look something up is simply preparing them to be passive users of technology.
Algorithms rule the world now; teach kids how to function in that environment and you've really taught them how to use computers.
Toda 3 months, 3 weeks ago
CNMT => recall when ToP3 wanted to purchase laptops for students to take home? One can't help but wonder what involvement Southern Software, Inc has on all these new technological purchases ....
GJohn 3 months, 3 weeks ago
JohnRad1991 - you are so right. CNMT - "We can't afford to buy books for students thereby forcing them to share them at school and not be able to bring them home to study but we can afford to give out iPads????" You are so right, too! If the public only knew how kids and teachers are cheated.
Oh, and please don't start another grassroots campaign to help the schools, like in the Aberdeen Times. Teachers were severely reprimanded enmasse for talking to the public, whether they did or not.
Toda 3 months, 3 weeks ago
GJohn => what is so infuriating was when TP03 slid the General Obligation Bond under the noses of taxpayers, Moody's bonding rates were leveraged by an omission that county employees wouldn't have raises.
Toda 3 months, 3 weeks ago
"(Let's thank) all of our friends who came here to support us today including our friends from the Public Education Foundation, and all of our elected officials," he said. "Let's thank them for their support, for believing in public education and for providing us the tools we need to learn."