Background
The Pulaski Community School District has been researching, planning and implementing toward an initiative that would allow access in the hands of each student for the past five years. In 2010, we began by creating model classrooms to put the district’s vision for teaching and learning with technology into action. These classrooms provided us with real time data and research to determine which device, software and instructional practices were best for Pulaski Community School District students learning in school and preparation for life.
From this research and implementation in our model classrooms as well as other classrooms in the district, we planned a 1 to 1 initiative in 2010. We engaged the community through the development and work with the Excellence Task Force, a 100 member community focus group. To fund the project, we asked taxpayer support from a referendum in November 2012 and April 2013. While those did not pass, our vision did not change.
From 2013-2014, the district worked hard to update the network infrastructure to support devices in the hands of all students. Equipment and services were upgraded to ensure all devices on the network run efficiently. The Technology Department has determined that the district is in a position where we can provide a device to every student.
For the past four years, we have continued to put our vision into action at a very small scale and delayed timeline. We added two additional model classrooms, incrementally increased the access to devices at all levels, and have begun replacing physical computer labs with mobile carts of devices. While we were able to increase access to devices, all access was shared. Last year during the 2015-16 school year we were able to implement an iPad for every 2 students to share in our grades 5, 7 and 8 classrooms as well as an iPad for each student to use in the classroom for students at PHS in Social Studies and World Language. Some challenges we encountered were lack of storage space, loss of classtime due to login/logout needs, and performance issues due to the large number students using the iPads throughout the day.
For the 2016-17 school year, with the ability for each student in grades 5-12 to to now have access to an iPad will minimize our past challenges. Students and teachers now have access to technology at their fingertips to customize and personalize learning. This has a major impact on the planning and integration of technology as well as an major impact on learning for each student.
Technology Timeline
2007-2011
- District begins exploring 1:1 and device options
2011
- Five model classrooms were created (Model classrooms were created to test variety of devices and select the device that best aligns with our vision for teaching and learning. Classrooms were established in grades 1, 5, 7, 8 and high school World Language)
2012
- Added one additional model classroom (grade 6)
- Three iPads implemented in each K-5 classroom (ratio of devices to students - 1:7)
- Referendum for district needs, including technology, did not pass
2013
- Network infrastructure upgraded
- Mobile cart of 10 devices implemented for each PCMS House (ratio of devices to students - 1:8)
- Two additional iPads added to K-5 classrooms (increased ratio of devices to students - 1:4)
- Referendum for technology devices and infrastructure did not pass
2014
- Mobile carts implemented for departments at PHS (ratio of devices to students varies by department - 1:3 in some, 1:20 in others)
- Five iPads implemented for K-12 Spanish program
2015
- Five iPads implemented for elementary Art, Music, Physical Ed classrooms
2016
- Class set of 10 iPads repurposed in grade 4 for in class use
- Class set of 15 iPads implemented in grades 5, 7, 8 for in class use
- Class set of 30 iPads implemented in PHS Social Studies and World Language classrooms for in class use