Profiles in Success: Westside High School, Westside Community Schools
Omaha, NE — Superintendent Ken Bird was pretty sure Westside Community School District was on the right track. But now Dr. Bird has confirmation that implementing a 1 to 1 learning program at Westside High School was a sound decision: An independent team of researchers from the University of Nebraska, Omaha has found that the distribution of Apple notebook computers to all students and teachers has had a dramatic, transformative effect on teaching and learning. As the first school in Nebraska to introduce a 1 to 1 learning program, Westside is charting new territory for other educators in the state and the country.
In September of 2004, Westside Community Schools handed out the Apple notebooks to more than 2000 students in grades 9 through 12. The distribution was the culmination of several years of planning, consultations with other schools that had implemented a 1 to 1 program, a visit to Apple’s Cupertino campus, and an intensive communications effort with the local community. “In all cases,” says Dr. John Crook, principal at Westside High School, “the move was intended to provide the best possible learning environment for students.
“Our central goal was to improve our students’ critical thinking,” says Crook. “We felt that the notebooks would complement that skill by delivering content in a very dynamic, compelling way. What we’ve found is that the notebooks are an extremely powerful tool that help us maintain our focus on curriculum, instruction, and achievement.”
Research Data Makes Supporter Out of Skeptic
Crook admits he had been skeptical about reports of improved academic achievement related to the use of notebooks. For that reason, he was one of the strongest advocates of the university researchers’ work.
We’ve found that the Apple notebooks are an extremely powerful tool that help us maintain our focus on curriculum, instruction, and achievement.
— Dr. John Crook, Principal, Westside High School
In the spring of 2005 the team interviewed approximately one-fourth of the students at the high school; most of the school’s teachers also participated in the survey. All were asked about how they felt about their use of the notebooks and their technical skills, how the school environment has changed, and other questions. Crook says the research team’s findings have now convinced him of the notebook computer’s value.
Says Crook, “I’m not one to get excited about the latest technology bells and whistles, or claims that notebooks help kids do more. More what? I want to see hard data in specific areas. Well, now we have it! Sixty-two percent of our kids said they’re writing more essays, 61 percent said they’re completing their assignments more easily, and 63 percent believe they’ve increased their overall learning with the notebooks.
“The teachers are benefiting as well, Crook continues.”A full 73 percent told the interviewers that it’s easier to do enrichment activities, and 44 percent said it was much easier to accommodate kids with special needs. Those are very compelling statistics.”
Notebooks Encourage Students’ Responsibility
Bird and Crook feel the notebooks ideally support Westside High School’s unique modular class system, which is used by only a handful of schools in the U.S. Instead of conventional 50- or 60-minute classes slotted on a student’s daily schedule, classes can be anywhere from 40 to 80 minutes in length and might meet twice weekly, or twice daily. When students are not in a class, they visit any of the school’s Instructional Materials Centers (IMCs) for independent study in a particular subject, and to chat with the teacher on duty if needed.
Objectives
- Replace student’s dependency on computer labs with 24/7 computer access
- Enable individualized learning
- Measure impact of 1 to 1 learning on students and teachers
Solutions
- 2100 wireless* Apple notebook computers for all students in grades 9-12
- 165 Apple notebook computers for teachers
- Apple Professional Development
Results
- Apple notebooks ideally support school’s modular scheduling system
- No additional staff members were hired for notebook rollout
- 61 percent of students say they are completing their assignments more easily
- 63 percent of students believe they have increased their overall learning
*Internet access requires a wireless-enabled computer, a base station or other access point, and Internet access (fees may apply). Some ISPs are not currently compatible with AirPort. Range may vary with site conditions.
Recent Profiles
Cartersville City Schools
When administrators with Cartersville City Schools saw an iMac running both Mac and Windows applications, they changed their purchase plans.
ABC Unified School District
ABC Unified School District can manage all of the computers in their 29 schools, whether those computers are Mac- or Windows-based.
Bemidji State University
According to Brian Allen at Bemidji State University, “With the Intel Macs... [students] really have two computers for the price of one.”
The Gillispie School
Laura Sanderford and her students are energized by their use of Keynote and iLife to explore math and physics in a project about roller coasters.
Arizona State University
According to Chief Information Officer Dr. Adrian Sannier at Arizona State University, “An iTunes U decision is the easiest one a university CIO can make.”
