Last winter I convinced my building principal to let me purchasethree3 Barnes & Noble Nooks. To start out, I choose the students that I would allow to check them out and loaded them with all of this year’s Gateway Nominees. This seemed to go really well. So well in fact that I was allowed to purchase three more. Did I choose correctly? That still remains to be seen. However, students that I have allowed to check them out love that they don’t have to wait on the paper copies of the books. They can finish one and immediately start another.
Recently I approached the Technology Director of the district to ask her what I should be spending my money on, technology wise. She is always full of great ideas. And best of all, she is always very supportive. Her suggestion was to buy iPads. All of the elementary and middle schools have purchased some to be implemented into the curriculum. I like the idea, but how would we use them in the high school? I talked to a few teachers and after brainstorming with them, we came up with ACT and Advanced Placement test prep. After spending a large portion of my budget, we are now the proud owners of fifteen iPads. I am still waiting for the ability to purchase a few of the applications needed before we go “public” with them. If this goes well, we will purchase another fifteen next year. We have even discussed the idea of getting a new flat screen TV to allow for the interaction of the iPads.With all the new tech out there, it remains to be seen if I am wasting time and money. However, I don’t want to look back and regret not trying anything. So I am marching forward!!!
