Creative Leasing in Alaska.
Apple 1 to 1 Learning
Alaska’s Denali Borough schools have long been on the cutting edge of technology. But school board members came to understand that merely placing computers in the classroom was not enough. Each child needed unlimited access to technology. The best solution: a 1 to 1 learning initiative.
“By giving every child his or her own PowerBook G4 laptop, there’s an incredible amount of learning that’s happening. The kids are sitting together, teaching each other, and exploring all of these new tools.”
— Arlie Swett, Curriculum Director, Denali Borough School District
Faced with declining enrollments, and the prospect of decreased state funding, Denali Borough Superintendent Bob Whicker turned to Apple Financial Services (AFS) Education Finance to work out the funding for the program. The AFS Education Finance team helped create a flexible lease-purchase program that enabled the district to acquire 175 PowerBook G4 laptops for the district’s students and teachers. Also, Denali Borough installed a districtwide wireless network comprised of AirPort Base Stations.
Since the PowerBook laptops have been distributed, school administrators report a huge increase in exploration and collaboration among students and teachers. So popular has the 1 to 1 learning initiative been, that several community organizations are helping to extend the program’s effectiveness. In the future, local companies may work with (and help fund) students who are aiming for specific careers after high school. Such relationships would enable Denali Borough students to keep their laptops after graduation, and would help the district ensure that incoming students always have the latest in technology tools.
