Franklin third-graders participating in their own 1:1 initiative

Just before Christmas break, Franklin Elementary School got a step ahead of the rest of the Cape Girardeau School District with delivery of the same convertible laptop devices Central High School students received in January as part of the 1:1 initiative.

The ASUS T-100 TA devices, which can convert from laptop to tablet, were given to 66 third-graders at the school. Principal Rhonda Dunham said they were purchased with Title I federal funds after discussion with Sherry Copeland, assistant superintendent for academic services for the district.

The cost per computer was the same as at the high school -- $400 -- and the price includes increased battery life, touch screens and headphones. The only difference between 1:1 at Franklin and the program at Central is the third-graders don't get to take the devices home with them, Copeland said.

" ... The research will show that the 1:1 is a remarkable way to enhance student learning, and so if we could bring that down to elementary and try it here, that was the best way to meet our students' needs," Dunham said.

Dunham added she's already seen an increase in student engagement, a decrease in behavioral problems and improvement on tests given at the school. When the new Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium tests take effect in 2015, they will be administered by computer.

Copeland said SBAC is the test associated with the Common Core curriculum. According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website, the Missouri Learning Standards include the Common Core State Standards, a set of "high quality academic expectations" in English language arts and math. The standards define the knowledge and skills all students should master by the end of each grade level to be on track for success in college and a career, the site said.

Third grade seemed like the opportune time to start students on the computers as it is a pivotal year for children, Dunham said.

"The curriculum starts getting a little more rigorous; it's a little harder for the children to grasp. They're doing multiplication and division ... and emotionally, they're going through some times because they're no longer the babies and they're not quite big enough to be the top dogs. It's kind of like being the middle child, I guess," Dunham said.

Third-graders will keep their computers when they go to fourth grade, and a new batch will be purchased for 75 students entering third grade next year, also with Title I funds, Dunham said.

Among other things, Dunham said, students use the computers for their classroom lessons, to do research, write letters and take assessments, such as iReady. Copeland said iReady is an electronic assessment that constantly monitors students to see what they know and don't know.

The laptops are incorporated into much of the technology at Franklin, which includes 87-inch Promethean boards -- interactive whiteboards and document cameras.

"The children like that. It's very hands-on. We are able to stream activities from the computer to those boards," Copeland said. "As I said, they're multi-touch so you can put two children up there and they can work together. Those teachers also have learner response systems [clickers] in their classroom. ... Teachers can ask questions or put questions up on the board and children can answer on the system immediately. It grades it. They get instant feedback on the progress of the student, so it's another quick way to assess students while you're teaching."

Although she was apprehensive at first, third-grade teacher Gail Siebert said she loves having the computers in her class of 19 students.

" ... I grew up in the age where we didn't have computers, so it was a little frightening at first but after we got started, it's wonderful. As you can see, the engagement is at 100 percent. They're all totally engaged. It takes away from any behavior issues; it's wonderful."

For 9-year-old Keontae Dixon, it makes learning fun.

"It helps us learn. Sometimes when we do our lesson, we get to play a game. Like sometimes we research about tigers and then we get to play San Diego Zoo," Dixon said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

215 N. Louisiana Ave., Cape Girardeau, Mo