Belton Independent School District in Central Texas is relatively small in terms of size, but it’s big on ideas. It became one of the first districts in Texas to implement a broad mobile technology program – pairing an Apple iPad with each student at South Belton Middle School and Belton High School. Today, Belton ISD hosts administrators and educators from around the nation to share what they’ve learned – best practices that include infrastructure, communication to parents, training for teachers and device protection.
When planning started for a new middle school, the district decided to deploy iPads with each of the 735 students enrolled. With 65 percent of the students receiving free or reduced rate lunches, the vision was to get a tablet device into the hands of every student at the school because greater access means empowerment for the children.
“We wanted this to be a new type of school - a 21st Century School,” said Terice Schneider, instructional technology coordinator for the district. “We want these kids to have the same access as other kids.”
That vision was realized through funding from a bond to purchase the technology, and teachers were instructed to incorporate the devices into everyday learning.
Seventh grade math teacher Nat Giambalvo recalls the days when he was stuck at a chalkboard, writing lessons and lecturing to his class. Now he uses apps to write and share his notes from iPad to iPad, to assign and collect homework and to get creative with a subject that has traditionally required a focus on copying formulas rather than facilitating learning through exploration.
“The 1:1 iPads have made it a whole new ballgame,” he said. “The engagement levels are definitely a lot higher. I can send them a video with a lesson and within the lesson is the homework. They don’t realize they are doing homework. I can take the boring math worksheets and incorporate it into a fun project or video. It’s the same work, but now its interactive, and they’re more into it.”
Because of the success at South Belton, the district decided to roll out a 1:1 program at Belton High School as well. Between the two schools, pockets of classroom and 1:1 sets at other locations and those issued to teachers and administrators, Belton ISD has a total of 4,500 iPads deployed.
When the program was in the early stages of planning there were plenty of questions and few answers. How will content be controlled? Is the IT infrastructure robust enough? What apps should be used?
“The big question was how to protect them,” Schneider said. “In middle school, you’re probably the clumsiest you’ll ever be.”
When news of the 1:1 program got out, the district received a number of protective covers to test. Schneider and team created a system to score the characteristics important to them, such as corner and screen protection, access to plugs and ports, etc.
“Some cases feel protective, but you lose some of the functionality. Others allow for full use of the device, but they were not protective. With OtterBox, you get protection and functionality,” she said. “I almost had a heart attack at the beginning when kids would drop these. Students have a hard time sometimes just coming up and down stairs successfully much less carrying things. We’ve had lots of iPads falling downstairs. We had one at the high school that had acid spilled on it. I’ve seen them accidentally tipped off of a counter, and there is no damage at all.”The OtterBox Defender Series for Apple iPad consists of an inner shell composed of high-impact polycarbonate and includes a foam insert for added shock-absorption. A silicone outer layer absorbs bumps and shock while the textured exterior provides an enhanced grip. Silicone port covers keep out dust and debris. A built-in screen protector guards against scratches, smudges and fingerprints, and a shield stand acts as a protective cover for the device’s touchscreen while in transport and doubles as a display stand with typing and viewing modes.
During the 2012/2013 school year, 86 of the 3,400 1:1 student iPads were damaged or broken for a rate of 2.5 percent. Compared to up to 50 percent reported at some schools and general user breakage rates of around 20 percent reported by an iPad insurance provider SquareTrade, Belton ISD considers their investment well protected and students securely connected.
“Our real goal for this was to not just put technology in the student’s hands but to change the look and feel of instruction in the public school classroom,” Schneider said. “Students are deeply involved in figuring out their own path to learning. They absorb it and connect it to other areas in their lives.”
