District Administration - February 2011 - (Page 53)

The Arrival of the iPad Mobile devices also continue to develop. Most notable of late was the dramatic arrival of Apple’s iPad tablet. Released in April 2010, millions of the portable touchscreen tablets were sold in the ﬁrst several months. Many saw the potential for education applications immediately, iPad pilot programs in schools began appearing all over the country soon after the device came to market, and hundreds of Web seminars, conference workshops and professional development resources began appearing, focused on making the best use of the groundbreaking technology in schools. Gagliolo purchased 40 iPads within months of its release for Arlington County. “ ere is a tremendous amount of excitement about it,” she says. “ is is the easiest technology to use and implement that I’ve ever seen. We use them in one of our elementary schools as a pilot program, but an ideal future goal would be to have a set for every classroom.” e Long Beach (Calif.) Uniﬁed School District is in the midst of a yearlong pilot program in partnership with publisher Houghton Miﬄin Harcourt, testing the company’s new iPad application, HMH Fuse: Holt McDougal Algebra 1, on 140 of the devices between a middle school and a K8 school. e application enables students to answer practice questions, take notes, or watch video lessons on the device, and for teachers to track student performance in real time. “So far, response to the pilot has been excellent,” says Superintendent Christopher Steinhauser. “Students, parents and teachers are very excited about the potential for this new technology.” e success of the iPad has spawned a new computing segment, and competing touchscreen tablet computers are now available from Research In Motion, Samsung, ViewSonic and others, with many more slated to be released this year. Device-Agnostic Future Are tablet computers like the iPad the future of mobile learning? e experts say such a question reﬂects the old paradigm, a device-focused mentality that mobile learning will soon make obsolete. “I emphasize with all the districts I work with: Don’t www.DistrictAdministration.com SOMEWHERE there, › Somewhere outOUT THERE, AN ADmINIStrAtor ANADMINISTRATOR WILL INSPIRE HER STUDENTS her FACuL INSPIre TO CAUSE AN EFFECT. StAFF to CAuSe For more than 35 years, Nova Southeastern University’s ideas, approach, and programs have inspired leaders to inspire the people around them to change the world. Here, you can advance your career and improve your abilities at your own pace with our unique training and degree programs offered online, on-site, or on campus. › Master of Science in Education › Educational Specialist Doctor of ›Educational Education Leadership Educational Leadership Educational Media Educational Technology Exceptional Student Education Gifted Child Education Educational Leadership Technology Management and Administration Instructional Technology and Distance Education Special Education › › 888-857-4785 www.FischlerSchool.nova.edu / District Admin ARE YOU READY TO CAUSE AN EFFECT? Nova Southeastern University admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, and national or ethnic origin.Nova Southeastern University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, Telephone number: 404-679-4501) to award associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees. 11-156-09PGA February 2011 53 http://www.FischlerSchool.nova.edu/DistrictAdmin http://www.FischlerSchool.nova.edu/DistrictAdmin http://www.DistrictAdministration.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - February 2011

District Administration - February 2011
Contents
Going Out of Print
From the Editor
News Update
Technology Update
Safety & Security
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Successful Strategies for English Language Learners
Mobile Goes Mainstream
Virtually Possible
Problem/Solution
New Products
Product Focus
Superintendent’s Insights
Crisis Response
Student Counsel

District Administration - February 2011