District 64's Tech staff have been working behind-the-scenes this summer to ready new devices, upgrade infrastructure, and complete a host of improvements to ensure all is prepared for the mid-August return of staff and students.
District 64 is committed to offering a wide variety of devices to ensure students have access to technology for anywhere, anytime learning. As District 64 enters its fourth year of our 1:1 learning initiative in grades 3-8, technology has become firmly interwoven in our classrooms and curriculum to support future ready teaching and learning focused on the 4 C’s of communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.
As part of our refresh cycle for student Chromebooks, third and sixth grade students will be receiving the next generation model in 2017-18. Middle school students who helped evaluate different devices this spring are particularly looking forward to the capability of "handwriting" and up-to-date touch screen features.
Younger elementary students have access to iPads in their classrooms. Second grade classroom devices were upgraded this summer to the latest model, with their devices being cascaded to the lower grades.
On a District-wide basis, Smartboards and projectors used in classrooms were replaced selectively as needed. Working in conjunction with Facility Department staff, a “skin” was being applied to remaining classroom chalkboards to convert them to whiteboards that can act as a projection screen.
In addition, WiFi access points were upgraded and the wide area network infrastructure was strengthened.
These are some of the Tech staff activities that ensure District 64 will be set for a new year of future ready teaching and learning!
View a gallery of 21st century learning from this year's Student Showcase in May!