Donors' Plaque installed near the main entrance of the school.

What is it?

Arcola Community Unit District #306 has purchased over 700 iPads, iPad cases, keyboards, a Powersync Cart, and Apple TVs (which allow teachers to project images from an iPad to a large-screen to enhance instruction) from funds raised by a community group.

This community group has also supported the purchase of a supplemental instructional program called e-Spark. A separate community-based group called Project Success is also supporting the pilot with the purchase of headphones.

There were several core principles the district used in developing how the technology would be distributed and what would be included in the pilot. Those principles include using the technology:

• Across all grade levels K-12.
• Across a variety of subject areas (such as math, language arts, social studies, science, etc.).
• In a variety of classroom settings and in a variety of ways within the classrooms.
• With teachers that are ready for the change in classroom instructional design that comes with the use of iPads.
• Personalized to meet each student's ability and pace.

All classrooms (K-12) in the district are currently using the iPads in a true 1:1 setting (where each student and teacher have their own iPad for daily use).

Preliminary results from the pilot program in the spring of 2014 were very encouraging. In a pre-assessment test of 40 second graders, students were reading at grade level 2.6. The post-assessment test (conducted 6 weeks after the start of the 1:1 Individual Digital Learning pilot) placed the students at just above the 3rd grade level.

The numbers also increased in math. Pre-assessment statistics showed the second graders at 2.9 (slightly below the third grade level). Post-assessment math statistics were at 3.6.

News

Thank you Amazing Arcola!

Thanks to the following generous contributors, $642,881.00 has been pledged.

Roll-out

On October 1, 2014 the school presented the students with their iPad device. A large celebration allowed everyone to experience and realize the significance of this amazing school-community partnership.

Media Coverage

Open House
May 14, 2014 - 5:00 PM
May 15, 2014 - 8:30 AM

Pilot Information

Bethany Wellbaum's 4th Grade

WCIA-TV
May 7, 2014
May 14, 2014

Mattoon/Charleston Journal-Gazette & Times-Courier
May 12, 2014
May 16, 2014
December 23, 2014

WICD-TV
May 12, 2014
December 19, 2014

Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette
May 18, 2014
December 19, 2014