109 Board Gets Technology Demonstration

The following information is provided by Deerfield Public Schools District 109 Communications Director Cathy Kedjidjian.

Sue Ferdon, the technology coach at South Park Elementary School, showed how South Park students use Nexus7 tablets during a presentation at the Deerfield Public Schools District 109 Board of Education meeting Monday at the District office.

The District is moving toward a one student one electronic device model.

Ferdon explained how the school rolled out the tablets. The fifth grade tech crew, part of the school’s service club, helped load the apps and organize the home screen on each device. The students gave up recess time to load the apps.

Ferdon said how impressive it was to see how quickly those students learned how to set up the tablets. The school “test drove” the tablets with XtraMath. First, a coach worked on the tablet with a teacher, and then the teacher worked with one student, then a small group of students, then a whole class.

“The kids really went to town,” Ferdon said. “We noticed it was so much easier for the kids than it was for grownups.”

Kindergarten classes will use the tablets next week. Other classes regularly check out the four bins of six tablets each. Full carts of tablets will be ready next week. She described other apps, including Voice Recorder for fluency checks, Math Workout and Duolingo.

Kedjidjian’s complete report of the Board meeting can be found on the District’s website.

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