Minds on learning
MindsOn Learning Project
Lakeland Catholic is positioned extremely well to implement one-to-one technology immediately and has the capacity to sustain it well into the future. Specifically, the District has met consistently the Outcomes for Technology Integration as identified in our Education and Technology Plan. Our Vision for Technology has been built on a solid foundation, and has progressed steadily over the years, as well as evolving to include the implementation of mobile technology. More specifically, in January 2006 we embarked on a “pilot” mobile project with one grade 4 Classroom, which positioned us well for the implementation of mobile technology in our three elementary schools beginning in December 2006. In the spring of 2006 the Board of Trustees committed $750,000 (over 5 years) to “begin” the planning and implementation of mobile technology in our schools. Our new elementary school which consists of grades 4-6, will be completed in September 2007 and will be a fully integrated mobile technology school.
Given the above, this RFP is a timely and solid fit for the expansion of our vision for mobile technology into our secondary schools. Additionally, this new project marries beautifully with our 2006-2009 AISI Project, which focuses on the improvement of learning for at-risk students. A significant number of our grade 9 students would fall into this category, which is the target group for this one-to-one project proposal.The commitment and training of staff is a critical component of this project and to that end we have partnered with Metiri Group on the initial visioning, development and evaluation of the project. We have also partnered with Apple Canada as part of the implementation of the project, and will be partnering with Galileo, in the on-going training of staff so they are well positioned to utilize technology for teaching and learning efficiently and effectively. The Chief Superintendent and the Board are fully committed to this project and believe it to be a very realistic and achievable goal given the district employs, for approximately 2000 students and 207 staff, 1 fte Director of Technology, 1 fte IT Coordinator, 1 fte Workstation Technician and 2 fte ICT Classroom Support Teachers. Lakeland Catholic will use a team approach in the full development, implementation and evaluation of this initiative as outlined in detail in the following pages.
Initiative Description
Students in the Lakeland Catholic 9th grade laptop program will be authentically engaged as curious critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and self-directed learners, in the context of rigorous academic studies and Digital-Age learning. The Lakeland Catholic School District proposes to immerse up to 60, 9th grade students, their teachers, their parents/families, and the administrators from their schools, together with a district MindsON team in a change process that will address the vision. The two cohorts of 9th grade students form the test bed for this vision. The project will serve a larger, more long-term purpose in building the capacity building of the teachers, administrators, and other involved staff to further existing learning goals/outcomes and innovatively explore how Digital-Age learning can serve the needs and extend the intellectual capacity of all students.
Target Group
The student target group will include up to sixty (60) 9th grade students at Lakeland Catholic Schools. One cohort will be selected from the Notre Dame High School (NDHS), representing 34% of the grade nine student population (anticipating 29 of 85 students) and one cohort will be selected from the Assumption Junior/Senior High School (AJSH), representing approximately 34% of the grade nine student population (anticipating 27 of 79 students). The cohort of students essentially follows the same schedule and will be taught by four key teachers in each high school. [NOTE: This selection of student cohorts in each high school would enable Alberta Education to conduct a research study with comparison groups should it choose to do so.]
The educator target group will include the teachers of the laptop cohorts in each high school, including the classroom teachers, the special education teachers, and the instructional aides; the administrators in each school; the district leadership team; and the parents/families of the targeted students.Learn More..