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Laptop Information

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Laptop 101

August 04, 2006

  Highland Park ISD is committed to being an organization that encourages all students and community members to be life-long learners.  Essential to this vision is the development of the use of state-of-the-art technology that empowers teachers, students, and other adults to create learning experiences from the vast storehouse of information available both within and beyond the school building.  In educating its students for the future, the district believes that schools must take part in equipping students, teachers, and the community to use all technology efficiently. This year, the district is committed to its vision of being an EXEMPLARY district, and we believe that our technology plays a major part in this endeavor.

 Subject Integration Quick Time Videos

Social Studies Integration        English Integration Video        

                            A Parent's View

 

Student to Student Quick Time Videos

Student Video I        Student Video II

 

Laptop availability makes it easier for teachers to communicate with parents and the community.  Teachers are able to e-mail parents with discipline problems as well as academic awareness.  They are also able to publish lessons on their web sites.

 

 

Every Child Counts
Funds generated by the bond election allowed HPISD to equip our students with Apple computers in grades 6-12.  During the 2005-2006 school year, a fantastic program was made possible through a partnership between the HPISD community and Apple Computers providing a laptop initiative for all secondary students. All HPISD teachers and students received laptops, a wireless network was added throughout the district and Administration building, and staff development began to implement the program into our district.  In September, the rollout began.  The community including parents, news stations, other districts, and the Mayor of Amarillo attended the Rollout Ceremony for the laptops.

 

Rationale for the Laptop Program
 Among other things, laptops offer the teachers a way to individualize instruction, measure progress with great precision, simulate processes, and break down geographical barriers. It is a way to improve student enthusiasm toward learning and provide equal access to all of our learners. We envision a school in which all available technologies are utilized seamlessly into the classroom creating a greater community of learning among students and faculty.


Online Subscriptions
Online subscriptions include Renaissance Place, netTrekker, BrainAbility, FAKS online,  Kidbiz and Teen Biz from Achieve 3000, Curriculum Developer, United Streaming and Notetaker.


Professional Development
Part One:  Getting Started
Teacher laptop Distribution & skills, Student roll out, Being productive from the start, Appropriate use, Digital Literacy, Curriculum and Assessment solutions, The productivity & digital media tools, Plan classroom activities, Classroom management.

Part Two: Digital Literacy
Teachers learn more about how to use the curriculum and assessment solutions, working with teachers as they implement activities in their classrooms, working with teachers to use data to plan teaching and learning activities.

Part Three:  Maximizing Student Achievement
Teachers begin to rethink ways they ask students to engage in content, Teachers design & implement standards-based, technology supported lessons & units, Working with teachers to design learning environments that use the technology solutions to promote higher-order thinking & critical problem solving in addressing core content areas, Continued in-classroom support and co-teaching.

Instructional Design
The key to good classroom management in a one to one school is acknowledging their is no one way to ensure that laptops are being used correctly.  Highland Park ISD has provided teachers with a software that remotely connects to each students laptop allowing teacher access and viewing of the desktop.  Traditional disciplines of room design and monitoring student to student are also used.  Effective instruction is a key that is also important.


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