Snow Hill, NC — In rural Greene County, many children live south of the digital divide. Nearly 70 percent of the county’s 3200 K-12 students receive free or reduced-price lunches. Until recently, only a privileged few had technology access in the home. But the 2003-2004 school year brought about sweeping changes in Greene County. With the purchase of hundreds of wireless iBook laptops, the distinction between the “haves” and the “have-nots” is rapidly disappearing.

Greene County’s shift to 1 to 1 learning has been in the planning stages since 2002. At the time, says Superintendent Steve Mazingo, in the four schools that serve the county’s pre-K through 12th grade population, usage of the Windows-based systems in the schools’ labs was irregular at best.

“Technology was always sort of an add-on — something teachers only used a couple of times a week,” Mazingo explains. “Our goal was to go from an agricultural society to an Information Age society. We knew that we were not going to get to our population with technology, and all it can do for teaching and learning, unless we went to a 1 to 1 learning model that put technology tools in every student’s and teacher’s hands.”

District Chooses Apple

Mazingo said a number of factors contributed to the decision to choose Apple laptops, despite the fact that the schools had Windows-based desktop systems. “We found that Apple was the company that was way out in front, in terms of understanding the educational environment,” he recalls. “Plus, they already had successful professional development models in place that were perfect for us.

“Not everyone is interested in small, rural school systems,” Mazingo continues. “But we met with Apple executives in Cupertino, and found that they completely understood our needs and have a passion for supporting rural education.”

Adds Greene County School Board Chair Pat Adams, “The people at Apple made us feel that our 1 to 1 laptop initiative was a priority to them. Also, we felt they had the best products and were willing to do whatever was needed to help our project succeed.”

Apple Professional Development Kicks Off Initiative

Greene County’s laptop distribution began in the fall of 2003. At that time, all certified staff members received iBook laptops, and participated in technology orientation seminars led by Apple Professional Development. During these sessions and others throughout the year, teachers learned basic Mac operating skills and such applications as the iLife Suite, Keynote, and netTrekker.

“The training began with ‘how do you turn on a Mac?’ and ended with ‘how do you actually teach your subject-matter using your iBook?’” Mazingo says. “Apple’s staff developers were particularly skilled in working with our teachers. Everyone thought it was extremely worthwhile.”

As soon as the kids had the iBook laptops in their hands, the school environment just became different.

— Steve Mazingo, Superintendent, Greene County School System

iBook Sparks Positive Changes in Student Behavior

Next, all students at Greene Central High School and Greene County Middle School received their wireless iBook laptops. Teachers at Snow Hill Primary School and West Greene Elementary also took delivery of iBook Wireless Mobile Labs.

Right away, Mazingo reports, faculty and staff in the middle and high schools noticed a significant change in their students. Says Mazingo, “The principals told me that as soon as the kids had the iBook laptops in their hands, the school environment just became different. It got quieter everywhere, the students became less rowdy, and there were documented reductions in disciplinary problems.

“Because those schools are entirely wireless, students are taking advantage of that capability during break times and in between classes,” Mazingo adds. “In fact, we actually see students out in the athletic stadium or in their cars with their iBook laptops open, working.”