Heritage Middle Schoolers Celebrate iPad Arrival

It was Christmas in April for students at Heritage E-STEM Magnet Middle School when the students learned Thursday that their long-awaited iPads had arrived.

The surprise was revealed in a special all-school assembly Thursday afternoon.

 “I started laughing, and then I started half crying,” said Savannah Hinderscheid, a fifth grade Heritage student.

“I was just screaming,” said Oscar Columb, 11. “I was really excited.”

“I think they’re awesome,” said 11-year-old Amara Tello, also a fifth grader at Heritage. “I’ve been waiting all year for them as soon as they told us that we got the grant and we were getting iPads.”

The school received the iPads through a federal grant received by School District 197 last fall. Part of the grant allowed for the purchase of iPads for each student in the school.

Following the announcement, the students then got a crash course in iPad essentials. “We learned how to take pictures, go on the Internet, use a calendar, turn it on, turn the volume,” said Riley Altier, 10.

Next week is “Tech Week” and teachers will facilitate a variety of learning experiences for students using the iPads.

Students should be able to begin taking their iPads home April 28.

“It’s very cool on many different levels,” said Superintendent Jay Haugen. “You know its fun, it’s engaging for kids, too, but it’s also preparing them for some great learning.”

Later this spring students at Pilot Knob STEM Elementary School in Eagan and in Moreland Arts and Heath Sciences Magnet School in West St. Paul will each be receiving a shipment of 30 iPads.

24-7 Learning Tools

The intent is for these technology tools to become platforms for 24/7 learning and further engage students in their learning.

“It is exciting for each student to be able to have a one-to-one device to work with, not only outside of school, but to also use this tool to do collaborative work using the technology in class,” said Sarah Shanley, Heritage’s magnet facilitator. “We’ve been planning this for months and months behind the scenes, so it has been incredible today to see all of the work that our entire staff has put together come to life and to see the students so excited.”

“They’ll be using them as an additional resource in the classroom to help substantiate what they’re learning in the classroom,” said Heritage principal Chris Hiti. “You know these kids are growing up in this age where they’re into digital and into knowing things right away, and watching things and incorporating those things into their learning, and that’s really how they learn. I think it will really enhance what we’re teaching in school, in the classrooms.”

Heritage teachers have been using iPads for the past few months in an effort to familiarize themselves with the new mobile devices, explore appropriate educational applications, and develop lesson plans involving the technology. Students have had opportunities to work with iPads in the classroom, but Thursday was the first day that each student got to use the individual iPad that they will soon be bringing home.

“This is just the beginning,” said Jennifer Anderson, Heritage technology integration specialist. “My list of projects for these students is huge, and I can’t wait to get started introducing students to all of the multi-media opportunities that these iPads bring.”

“I think it’s going to be very fun to use them in classes,” said Savannah Hinderscheid. “I think we’re going to be able to write, we’re going to be able to use notes, we’ll be using less paper, we’ll have planners in them and we can write reports on them, too.”

School staff has been readying the iPads for the students, including managing what applications will be available for student use and installing appropriate safeguards. They also held 32 required parent/student information sessions about the iPads, which included requiring students and parents to sign an acceptable use contract.

Ninety-five percent of these families have been trained in the educational use of iPads, according to Haugen.  

“The world they’re going to compete in is a very tech savvy world,” Haugen said. “Immersing them in technology just has to be a priority for us.”