There really isn't a lot to report as far as progress toward 1 to 1. Funding is still a major tripping point, but that isn't stopping me from thinking about professional development and other options for implementing a phased technology initiative.
In January the Middle School and High School staff members spent time during professional development learning about Google Apps. During the Christmas Break a Google Apps domain was set up for the Earlham Community School District. What does this mean? Most folks are familiar with Gmail and Google Docs this is one portion of the Google "suite". Google Apps has all the parts of the Google Docs, but allows us to log in using a consistent login name for all users. Teachers and students login with a username@ecsdcards.com.
This allows students access to share work with their teachers and other classmates. Rather than being platform specific, Google Apps is available anywhere students can access the internet, so whether a student uses an Apple or a PC they can work on a common platform. I think this is an exciting process and a great step forward as we look at ways to implement our current technology in a more effective manner. Teachers were charged with preparing a lesson using Google Apps and sharing it with Mr. Fletcher, so he could see how the teachers were using this tool in their classrooms.
While this isn't a direct step toward a 1 to 1, it certainly is a step in the right direction!
