Some other school technology initiatives

By Linda Vanderwerf

May 31, 2011 at 11:00 PM

Some other school tech initiatives in the area include:

Willmar

Willmar is boosting its wireless capabilities in its school buildings, particularly at the 1,200-student senior high. The district is implementing some iPads in classes, but will be moving cautiously toward a one-to-one initiative. The district is working to develop a strong wireless network and wants to make sure the iPads are used to improve the curriculum for students.

NLS

NLS has a Minnesota Intelligent Rural Community Grant which its used to develop its Connected Cla-ssroom, a cart holding 30 Apple iPad2s and an Apple MacBook Pro laptop for management. The school has adapters to connect the iPads to SMART Boards, projectors, TVs and computers. The iPads are registered in the district's library system and have been circulated 1,025 times so far. The district plans to develop a Community Education class so that people can use an iPad2 to see if it's something they would like to purchase.

YME

YME is adding 130 more iPads and its entire PK-12 campus will be wireless for the start of the 2011-12 year. Also, the secondary science program will be online providing an up-to-date "real time" curriculum."

BBE

BBE is researching new technology and the idea of one-to-one student devices and may be moving in that direction in the near future.

Hancock

Hancock has a number of technology initiatives in its district. They include multimedia laptops in the art department, college-level computer classes offered through Alexandria Technical College and other courses for college credit.

BOLD

BOLD Schools are testing iPads. The district is also expanding its SMART Board deployment and working on expanding its wireless capabilities.

By Linda Vanderwerf

In 42 years in the newspaper industry, Linda Vanderwerf has worked at several daily newspapers in Minnesota, including the Mesabi Daily News, now called the Mesabi Tribune in Virginia. Previously, she worked for the Las Cruces Sun-News in New Mexico and the Rapid City Journal in the Black Hills of South Dakota. She has been a reporter at the West Central Tribune for nearly 27 years.

Vanderwerf can be reached at email: lvanderwerf@wctrib.com or phone 320-214-4340

Some other school technology initiatives

Some other school tech initiatives in the area include: Willmar Willmar is boosting its wireless capabilities in its school buildings, particularly at the 1,200-student senior high. The district is implementing some iPads in classes, but will be ...