New Lease on Laptop Access in Tennessee.
Apple 1 to 1 Learning
Over 800 students attend Saint Agnes Academy — Saint Dominic School (SAA-SDS) in Memphis. The Catholic independent school offers coeducational pre-K and kindergarten classes, single-sex classes for girls and boys in grades one through six, coordinated junior high classes for boys and girls in grades seven and eight, and college preparatory education for girls from grades nine through twelve.
“We really wanted to get the students actively and personally engaged in the learning process. With the iBooks, and the financial arrangements we were able to make with Apple, that’s definitely happening.”
— Bobby Ireland, IT Director, Saint Agnes Academy — Saint Dominic School
Early on, school administrators realized the potential of technology tools to facilitate learning. But SAA-SDS had only two computer labs, and a school budget that didn’t stretch far enough to allow equal computer access for all students. Apple Financial Services (AFS) Education Finance came to the rescue with a customized, flexible leasing program. With a unique payment schedule, below-market rates, and a variety of options at the end of the lease, AFS Education Finance helped SAA-SDS purchase 1000 iBook laptops for students and teachers in grades seven through twelve, and an iBook Wireless Mobile Lab for every classroom in grades one through six.
Apple Professional Development (APD) also came to the aid in the rollout of the school’s 1 to 1 learning program. The APD team visited the campus to offer five two-day training sessions, and continue to deliver professional development to the staff. Some of the teachers attend additional classes at their local Apple Store.
Now, teachers are creating their own websites to communicate with students and parents. In addition, parents are kept up-to-date on SAA-SDS’s technology infusion via the school’s website.
