iBook Motivates Exceptional Learners
Apple 1 to 1 Learning
As part of the Fullerton School District’s 1 to 1 Learning program, Hermosa Drive Elementary School initially distributed wireless iBook notebooks to GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) students in a combination third-fourth grade class, and a combination fifth-sixth grade class. Even though these students were already high performing, Principal Jennifer Shepard was still amazed by the prowess and achievements of her students.
For example, by using Apple software programs such as Keynote and GarageBand, students put together dynamic presentations on science vocabulary definitions, with original musical scores accenting the projects. Shepard’s verdict: “Just awesome!”
Hermosa Drive has extended its 1 to 1 learning program to more students, including English Language Learners (ELL) and students with special needs. Shepard believes the iBook notebooks help these students assume a greater level of responsibility for task completion. Most importantly, all students who are using the iBook notebooks are highly engaged by using the technology tools for their studies.
“With the iBook notebooks, our GATE students demonstrated higher-level thinking activities, and their talents were really maximized.”
— Jennifer Shepard, Principal, Hermosa Drive Elementary School.
“Before our EL learners and students with special needs received their iBook notebooks,” says Shepard, “homework was often a chore. Now we’re seeing very motivated students who are completing their work, and who have dynamic digital tools for demonstrating their learning.”
Believing that elementary schools ideally should adhere to a broad-based, liberal arts focus, Shepard says the integration of the iBook notebooks into Hermosa’s curriculum is the perfect support for that objective. “With the iBook notebooks, our students get a very balanced curriculum across all content areas,” Shepard notes.
