School districts continually face new challenges with budget cuts, demands related to student performance and test scores, and a new generation of students. The students have changed how they learn to include kinesthetic learning through the use of cell phones, iPods, and the internet. Western Heights recognized this change in students and addressed the issue in the summer of 2009. They planned and deployed a major roll out of Intelligent Classroom technology, which included the preparation of teachers with training. As part of the Intelligent Classroom the school district implemented new Dell teacher computers, projectors, eInstruction mobile interactive white boards, screens, eInstruction student response systems and a MediaCAST IP TV video distribution system.
The Western Heights school district has long been an early adopter of technology, and has education appropriate technology throughout the district. One of the key elements of the project was accountability at all levels. Teachers did not receive their mobile interactive white boards (Mobi) or student responders (CPS System) until after they had received training. After the teachers were checked out on the equipment, they were given “homework” to do in the classrooms and report back to the curriculum development team at Western Heights.
Feedback from the teachers was almost instantaneous. Regarding the eInstruction mobile interactive white board called the Mobi:
"I don’t think I will catch any of my students napping anymore!!! – Elementary Teacher, John Glenn"
"I really don’t get excited about technology – as you know well….but I really like this mobi thing! Middle School Math Teacher"
Feedback from the teachers was also positive regarding the new IP TV and Video Distribution system with Media Rich Curriculum (MRC) called MediaCAST:
"I love the media cast. We have watched several videos about the water cycle and explorers. It is amazing and the kids love it! :) – Teacher, Winds West 5th Grade"
"Our teachers love the Media Rich Curriculum that is now available to them without checking out the AV cart. - 7th grade teacher.
The student responders or “Clickers” have also had a financial impact for the district. The CPS Student Response System by eInstruction can help the interaction with the students, and track test answers to each independent student. These test scores are kept electronically, freeing the teachers from using paper on every single quiz or test. Superintendent Joe Kitchens is looking to save money in every area of his district, and encouraging his teachers to use the student responders saves the district money. Mr. Kitchens allowed for only half of the paper that is normally allocated to his teachers because of the system.
The Curriculum Development Staff at Western Heights headed up the project. Kimberly Race and her team had a huge project to deploy. Kimberly said “We held our teachers and vendors equally accountable”. The teachers were not given their equipment until they attended professional development training hosted by our department. At the end of the year Kimberly Race indicated that “only a handful of teachers out of the 270 or so did not use the technology”. The installing vendor, United Systems, coordinated the products from Dell, eInstruction, and MediaCAST. We gave United Systems an A+ on the roll out of the 350 Dell Teacher computers and an A for MediaCAST. Projectors and other peripheral equipment were also installed by United Systems to provide a complete package. Although there were a few bumps in the road due to coordination with construction and Summer cleaning, they stayed with the project all the way through, even well beyond being paid. This accountability was one of the elements of success.
The Western Heights school district is continuing to evaluate and improve the Intelligent Classroom project. United Systems has stated that the most important part of technology in the classroom is the teacher, well Western Heights just added accountability for the teachers, district, and vendors to the definition.