Apple Tools Enable Centralized Management of District’s Computers

Profiles in Success: Magnolia School District

Educational Technologies Make Converts

Waters readily admits that several teachers were skeptical at first about using the notebooks. But peer successes and collaborations have made scores of converts.

“One teacher — who swore she’d never use a computer in her classroom — now makes AppleWorks presentations of her kids’ weekly spelling words, which rotate on their desktops throughout the day. She says their spelling test scores have absolutely skyrocketed, because the kids see the words all day long. This example and similar technology integration efforts are beginning to pay big dividends for everyone. Other teachers see these things happening, and say, “I want to do that, too!’’

Extra Tools for the Teachers

As the Magnolia district acquires more notebooks and software, the IT team realizes the demand for their services will increase exponentially. But armed with Apple Remote Desktop, iSight, and iChat, the team won’t have to worry about spreading themselves too thin: Thanks to their Apple tools, they can be in the thick of things throughout the Magnolia district.

“With the Apple technologies, we’ve decreased our response time, which means the problems are getting solved much faster. That makes the teachers much more willing to experiment with technology.”

— Ronn Waters, Teacher on Special Assignment (Instructional Technology), Magnolia School District

“Now that we’ve shortened our response time, everyone’s computers are getting fixed faster and everyone’s happier,” says Waters. “Students — and teachers — are collaborating; they’re motivated. And they’re excited about learning. Our teachers all know how to teach. Apple’s just helped us give them some extra tools for their toolbox. And that’s been very cool.”