Charleston County School District looks at possibility of giving every student an iPad

Angie Moffatt never had used an iPad, so she wasn’t sure what to think when she learned her kindergartner would be getting one at school.

The West Ashley mother felt excited that Dillon would have access to the technology, but she didn’t know how he would treat it. Her concerns disappeared this past year as she saw the device being used in his classroom, and she thinks every student should have the same opportunity.

“Kindergarten is a great time to start,” she said. “(The iPad) gives individualized instruction so it can meet the children where they are and take them as far as they can go. Dillon understands apps and how to work it. These are things we’re having to learn as adults to keep up, and he’s getting that education at such a young age.”

Charleston County school leaders are exploring the possibility of giving every student in the district an iPad. They started testing that idea this past year with a $2.1 million investment, and they plan to delve deeper into the project this coming school year with another $1.35 million.

A third-party review that covered some of the first-year implementation showed mostly promising results, and Charleston school officials are calling the technology a “game changer” for the way teachers provide instruction and students learn.

“A year ago, we saw the capability, and it’s even exceeding our expectations,” said Kristen Brittingham, a district technology specialist. “In so many ways, this is going to be the tool that pushes us over the edge to really be where we want to be, and it’s going to get students and teachers motivated.”

Read more in tomorrow’s Post and Courier, and get the latest education news by following @Diette on Twitter or go to www.facebook.com/diettecourrege.