The campus has recently undergone a wave of new initiatives regarding the academic technology that students, faculty, and administrators use. Since 2012, the iPad initiative, which pushes for an increased use of iPads in the classroom, has hoped to enhance the learning and teaching within the Choate community.
Members of the Choate community constantly assess the way the iPad program fits the campus as a whole. “We always ask ourselves these sorts of questions to make sure that what we are requiring of our students and faculty makes sense and leads to better teaching and learning,” explained Assistant Headmaster Ms. Katherine Wallace.
Administrators and faculty have recently been pushing for a new initiative that equalizes the level of technology per student, though plans have not been formalized and have yet to be reviewed by the Board of Trustees. “We have a bunch of proposals, and we’ll hopefully get a decision within the next month or two,” Mr. Joel Backon, the Director of Academic Technology, added. Mr. Backon notes that the proposals are not solidified, and there is no guarantee that they will be implemented. “Our major focus right now is that we need to make better use of what we have,” he said.
The proposals, if implemented, would have a varying effect on student lives, depending on the final choice.
Choate is looking for ways to improve the current iPad program. Administrators and faculty have carefully examined the way the iPad and technology as a whole develops with the ever-changing campus. “As the iPad has evolved, we ask ourselves questions about what is the best way to use it, and if there a best model to use or not. As we answer those questions, we need to make sure the response makes sense within the larger community,” explained Ms. Wallace.
Technology on campus was analyzed closely before winter break in an all-school survey that looked at the overall usage and application of technology in classroom settings. The results, said Mr. Backon, show a “higher iPad usage than we thought.” Additionally, classes have begun to implement the iPad into daily curriculum for students. Mr. Backon continued, “It turns out that according to the survey, 43% of classes are using some kind of iPad now.”
The survey also showed that students typically bring more than one device to class. “We are discovering that most students are saying that they use multiple devices,” Mr. Backon added. “They use their iPad for some things and their laptop for other things. It seems like it breaks down to the certain class activities that the teacher directs. Note-taking seems to be more prominent on the iPad, whereas researching and writing essays was more prominent on the laptop.” Additionally, the survey uncovered some statistics that highlight the importance of different technology in student lives. According to Mr. Backon, “Most students have, on average, three devices.” He added, “Some students are using their phone for things that they could also do on the iPad.”
Ms. Wallace said, “We want to take advantage of the many apps that can facilitate learning, contribute to interesting project work, and enhance the teaching and learning that goes on.” In recent years, the community has pushed for a greater use of academic technology in an effort to enhance the learning that happens in a classroom.
Under the current iPad initiative, faculty are also encouraged to bring technology into the classroom, according to Mr. Backon. He explained, “Another thing that’s happened over the last couple of years is we are offering teachers grants to develop curriculum that uses the iPad. That grant can involve money, or a teacher can get one of their courses relieved so they have time to work on that project.”
Faculty around campus have also seen a significant change in how technology is used in the classroom. “I think that implementing iPads changed the conversation about teaching and learning. It made teachers question how they taught and if there is a way they could change their teaching to use this technology to enhance the learning,” explained Ms. Wallace. “Whether it changed what they did or not, that was up to them, but people asked the question, and that’s really good to be always looking at one’s teaching and learning.”
Members of the Choate community can expect to see even more impact from the iPad program as it develops and grows to fit the campus. Ms. Wallace said, “I hope we see even more teachers and students using their iPads in productive ways both in and out of the classroom. I hope for a broader and better use of the iPad for teachers and students throughout their lives here in a way that enhances what we do.”
