iPads handed out to Sikeston R-6 students for Project iLearn

SIKESTON -- Sikeston High School seniors were among the first group of students to receive their iPads Monday during an orientation for the new school year.

"I'm excited!" senior Suzanne Sauceda said as she followed instructions to set up the iPad she'll use in all of her classes this school year.

Having all but one set of her textbooks downloaded to her computer tablet is what she will enjoy most about using the iPad her final year of high school, Sauceda said.

But Monday wasn't Sauceda's first time being exposed to the device. She has an iPhone and has used her grandmother's iPad before. The teen said the two Apple devices operate similarly.

Sauceda's mother, Rhonda King, was with her daughter on Monday as the district required parents to accompany their children in order to check out the tablets.

"I think it's a good idea," King said about Sikeston R-6's 1:1 initiative, Project iLearn, being implemented in the district this school year. The initiative puts iPads in the hands of all students in grades 9-12.

"They're keeping up with the times. Kids today are more in-tune with the technology and this will make it fun to learn," King said.

Monday's orientation was strictly for seniors. In addition to parents accompanying the students, they also must pay a $30 user fee before receiving the devices.

Upon arrival at orientation, students and parents were given a checklist of things they need to do: fill out paperwork, take pictures, pick up their textbooks and check out their iPads. The iPad checkout included attending a brief sessions on the use and setup of their iPads.

Shannon Holifield, academic leader principal for Sikeston High School, said so far the checkouts are very uneventful.

"The comments have been very positive," Holifield said. "I even had one student stop me this morning and say: 'Thank you for getting these.'"

Band students in grades 9-12 were the first group of Sikeston's students to receive the computer tablets so they could use them in band camp being offered this week. About 75-80 of those students checked out the iPads late last week, Holifield said.

Holifield noted a "help desk" located in C-building will be open before and after school and during school hours this year to assist students with their iPads. It will be staffed by about 20 students in grades 10-12, who are also helping at this week's orientations.

Superintendent Tom Williams was on hand for senior orientation Monday morning and said he's only just beginning to hear student feedback.

"After talking to some of the students, they're pumped up about it -- using the iPads in an educational setting," Williams said. "It's a learning process for the teachers and the students, but it is the way to go."

Senior Martwan Hill, who is also the vice president of SHS' student body, said he thinks using the computer tablets will make the learning process easier.

Hill said this will help keep students' attention.

Hill's mother, Vanda Dixon, said she loved the idea of students using the computer tablets to learn in the classroom and at home.

"I think the students can really relate to the technology," Dixon said.

Hill also said he thinks becoming familiar with the tablets will help beyond high school, such as for use in college.

Hill said last year when he and other students first heard about the possibility of the initiative being implemented in the district, they didn't believe it would happen.

"Now that it is, I think everyone is excited," Hill said.

Josh Eifert, a junior at Sikeston High School and help desk student, said he previously underwent training in order to assist his peers with the tablets.

"It's going to be interesting to see how it turns out," Eifert said.

The teen said he's most excited about recording notes from teachers via the iPad instead of writing them down.

He suggested his peers spend the days leading up to the first day of school to become familiar with their iPads.

"If they know how to use it, it will certainly help us and the teachers," Eifert said.

After working through a minor setback in setting up his iPad -- he'd forgotten to use capital letters for a login -- senior Clay Porter was still getting the hang of his new educational tablet Monday morning. He had enlisted help desk student, fellow senior Dylan Klingeman, for assistance.

"He's showing me how to use Facetime," Porter said of the feature that allows users to talk face-to-face.

Both teens said they were excited about using the computer tablets in their classrooms.

And then Porter made a realization: he would no longer be able to use the age-old excuse that the dog ate his homework.

"I won't be able to say, 'My dog ate my iPad,'" Porter said, pretending to be bothered.

Porter shrugged his shoulders and said he was actually excited about his senior year using an iPad in his classes.

"I'm happy about it," he said -- and went back to working on his newly acquired iPad.