Lawton C. Johnson Sixth Graders to Receive iPads in 2014 Thanks to SEF

Thanks to a $139,000 grant from the Summit Educational Foundation (SEF) each sixth grader at Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School will receive an iPad to use both at school and at home in January, according to the school district.

The grant for this one-to-one initiative was developed by Assistant Superintendent Julie Glazer and Technology Supervisor Doug Orr and supported by other educators within the middle school. The computer teacher, instructional facilitator and media specialists as well sixth grade teachers have formed a design team to assist in structuring the pilot.  

Superintendent of schools Dr. Nathan Parker also recommended that $60,000 be included in the district budget to complete the acquisition of devices and to hire a part-time technology staff member to support implementation and technology district-wide, according to the district.

“To be successful, this iPad pilot must be implemented strategically," said Glazer. "It is first and foremost an educational initiative and involves so much more than just giving devices to students and teachers.”

A conscious effort has been made during the last five years to make classrooms more "student-centered," the district stated. Rather than the teacher serving as the sole provider of knowledge, students are encouraged to engage in learning by taking an active role in seeking, analyzing and applying information. 

Warren Wannamaker, sixth grade Social Studies teacher said, "The iPads will provide ready access to the web - maps, facts, pictures - to help explain and illuminate class discussions.”