Yesterday Director Jim Costello unveiled the LKDSB’s new three-year Technology Enriched Learning Plan (TELP) to the Trustees.
The TELP has evolved over the past three years as the Board has been piloting a number of technologies and strategies in its classrooms in order to better engage students and improve their achievement.
The TELP builds on the Board’s Engagement Model and provides a three-year roadmap with multiple opportunities for students to use laptops and tablets at every grade level. One of the highlights of the plan calls for every Grade 7 student to receive an iPad mini beginning in September 2015.
“Worldwide data shows that the majority of people are now using mobile devices instead of desktop computers,” Costello stated. “By allocating our I.T. funding into mobile technology, we are recognizing this shift in how people learn and communicate. Investing in every Grade 7 student is in keeping with the Board’s philosophy of equity for all.”
In June 2014, the Board approved the expenditure of $4M over the next two years to improve technical infrastructure and bandwidth across the system to support increased usage of mobile technology. The plan also calls for significant increases in staff professional development.
“It is critical that our staff be trained in the use of mobile devices so that they can engage students in learning activities that are both relevant and meaningful to the learner,” Costello stated. “This will ensure that our graduates are prepared for life after secondary school, regardless of their pathway.”
The plan is available on the Board’s website at www.lkdsb.net.
