Two Eagle River receives new technology
Shay Farmer
Judi Gibbs holds up her new tech tools.
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PABLO —Two Eagle River School celebrated a state-of-the-art equipment upgrade March 7 as teachers, staff, and administrators were each armed with a MacBook and an iPad.
The upgrade came from a government initiative called ConnectEd, which provides grant funding to increase digital learning opportunities for students with the support of companies like Apple.
The donation also comes with intensive training and support for the equipment.
“It’s not just about handing out devices and leaving us alone. This is just the first step,” said Lisa Koetter, IT coordinator for the school.
Darlene Triplett, the instructional coach for staff, said staff will receive 17 days of training from Apple on various computer programs.
“We’re hoping that teachers will use the summer to explore,” Triplett said.
Apple has awarded ConnectED grants to more than 114 schools in 29 states, all of which have a 96 percent or higher free and reduced lunch rate. Most of the schools served also have a high percentage of student minorities. The grant, without a specific amount, was written to Apple by a former employee for the school. The grant covers whatever it takes for the school to become a one-to-one learning environment.
Apple has taken an active roll in ConnectED because, according to their website, “as a company founded and built on the idea that technology placed in the hands of the many has the power to change the world, we feel it’s our responsibility to act. A lack of equal access to technology and knowledge puts entire communities and populations of students at a disadvantage, especially minorities.”
The school will fully transition to a one-to-one digital learning environment in the fall, which means all students will have their own personal iPads. AT&T will help provide data to students when they are away from school, so they will continue to have access to the Internet to do homework.
“It’s a great opportunity. I hope our students appreciate it. I know our staff does,” Triplett said.
Staff reaction was a bit mixed, according to Koetter.
“It’s exciting and scary. Nervous is also out there,” Koetter said.
JAMF Software will provide the management tools to help the school protect the privacy of staff and students, and will help control content accessibile.
The school has been preparing for the digital transition for well over a year. The infrastructure of Two Eagle’s Internet connection was upgraded with fiber optics last year when Access Montana did a major overhaul through parts of the Highway 93 corridor.
“If you don’t have the infrastructure for the computers, none of it would work,” Triplett said.
Apple partnered with Educational Network of America to set up the Wi-Fi needed for the increase in usage. There are now wireless Internet access points in every classroom, outside, and in the gym. Each classroom will also be equipped with new Apple TVs and projectors.
Koetter said that the possibilities that the new technology would unleash were limitless.
“Our big thing is we want to keep culture integrated. The projects are endless,” Koetter said.
Apple would not speak to the press about the ConnectED initiative. Triplett said when she and Koetter went to training last March in San Diego, Apple said it was not doing it for the press exposure.
