HCPSS: Elkridge Landing iPad Program Exceeds Expectations

By Kirsten Petersen

The Howard County Public School System is wrapping up its evaluation of the Elkridge Landing Middle School iPad pilot program and early results have encouraged the county to purchase more devices for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Julie Wray, the coordinator of instructional technology for Howard County Public Schools, said the Office of Program Evaluation considered four research outcomes when determining the program’s success: 

• How iPads influenced staff members’ professional practice 
• How they influenced teachers’ instructional practice 
• Effectiveness of training 
• Changes in student engagement

The program’s success was evaluated using surveys; during classroom observations; in focus groups; and “Appy Hours,” after school training sessions. 

Key findings so far include changes in the way teachers conduct their classrooms and how students engage with the course content. About 52 percent of teachers in the program chose to use the iPads, rather than lecture, according to HCPSS.

“We had teachers coming to us that said ‘I can’t imagine teaching without these devices.’ They had already seen a change in how students were engaged,” Wray said.

Additionally, seventh grade students reported that they felt more organized, engaged and active participants in their learning, according to HCPSS. They said they enjoyed receiving immediate feedback, but also being able to access grades privately.

“We are definitely seeing a change in how teachers plan their lessons,” Wray said. “Now the teachers are saying, ‘Chose a tool that best fits your needs and show your understanding of the content.’”

Wray said the pilot program began when the school system began to look into alternative ways to provide digital resources to students that were open source and free.

The first batch of iPads was purchased after textbook funds were reallocated countywide, Wray said. The total cost of the pilot program was approximately $240,000, which included the cost of iPads for 220 students and 51 teachers, plus syncing stations, printers and accessories, according to HCPSS.

For the 2013 fiscal year, the replacement cycle for textbooks was extended from eight years to nine years, according to the HCPSS budget. Textbook funds for several subjects, including language arts, mathematics, reading, science and social studies were reduced, according to the budget.

Wray said that the school system purchased third generation iPads for the seventh grade students, but no final decision has been made on what type of device will be purchased for the rest of the students, which will include seventh graders and incoming sixth graders.

Funding for the project’s expansion will come from fiscal year 2014 capital budget technology funds, according to HCPSS.

She added that the iPads do not belong to the students, so if the devices are damaged at home or at school, students are responsible for the repair or replacement costs, just as they would be if they had damaged a textbook.