The Oxford School District is adopting a 1:1 digital initiative, a program that integrates technology for instructional purposes. With news of other schools in Mississippi like the Clinton School District taking the technology initiative, Oxford Superintendent Brian Harvey wanted to jump on board as well.
“The Oxford School District is in the process of adding the new technologies,” said Brian Harvey, Oxford School District’s superintendent.
The district has begun the planning stages for a wider implementation of new technology into Oxford schools’ curriculum. A meeting was held last Thursday to plan the initiative, which has not yet been named.
The school district has been preparing for implementation of a 1:1 initiative for two years. Harvey said the school district would have liked to implement the initiative last year.
“We had some other things we had to devote our time with, as you can imagine with the construction of the new high school,” Harvey said.
Two years ago a group of Oxford School District officials traveled to Cupertino to an Apple executive briefing, where they learned more of the 1:1 initiative.
“Some high school and curriculum folks and central office administrators went to Cupertino to learn more about their products,” Harvey said. “It did not start the discussion of our 1:1 initiative, but it furthered the discussion.”
Another group, including two Oxford School District board members, traveled to Chicago last spring for another briefing.
“We have really ramped up our efforts moving forward for the 2014-15 school year,” Harvey said.
Some of the money from a city tax increase is being used for the 1:1 initiative.
“We are also looking at cutting costs in some other areas to apply some previously budgeted funds to this initiative,” Harvey said.
Elizabeth Kelley, a sophomore elementary education major at Ole Miss, believes a tax increase is appropriate for education.
“I think that it is very important that schools keep up with the technological advancements in this world,” said Kelley. “These new products are essential in keeping up with all of these advancements if the schools have the sufficient funds.”
Harvey believes the new technologies will be very beneficial to the students’ learning experience.
“The 1:1 initiative is something that is becoming more and more common,” Harvey said. “I can speak for our district in that in order to prepare our kids to be college and career ready, an initiative like this is necessary.”
In the Clinton Public School District, students from elementary school through the 12th grade received Apple products for in-class and at-home use. Students in kindergarten through the 5th grade received iPads, whereas students from 6th grade through the 12th grade received MacBook Pros. According to Clinton’s website, the implementation of these products is a part of Clinton’s 1:1 Digital Learning Initiative that was adopted for the 2013-14 school year. The 1:1 program integrates technology for instructional purposes.
Jackson State University has take a similar technology initiative as that of Clinton Public Schools. The university recently issued iPads for every first year student, including online students. According to the Associated Press, the distribution of iPads is a part of Jackson State’s second annual scholarship program in which Jackson State partnered with the Mississippi e-Center Foundation. The foundation will be tracking the student’s progress through the Apple product in an ongoing study.
“I was very excited when I found out I qualified to receive an iPad, “ said Angela Parr, a Jackson State University student. “It’s small but just the right size. It does what I need it to do and it is portable and convenient.”
According to the U.S. Department of Education’s website, Mississippi has a 62.7 percent graduation rate compared to the nation’s 75 percent graduation rate. Both Harvey and Kelley believe the new initiative would be a progressive move for all of Mississippi.
“I think for the state of Mississippi, it is extremely important to take every action that they can to advance their student’s knowledge and well-being,” Kelley said. “And taking a step in technology gives the students the technological resources to provide them with the opportunity to increase the test scores and literacy to Mississippi students across the state.”
Harvey believes that this issue applies to Mississippi as well as the rest of the United States.
“I think this is something that not only Mississippi, but also all of the United States should implement,” Harvey said. “Times change, students change, the days of going to the chalkboard and writing notes have come and gone. We have to get kids engaged and involved with what they’re learning.”
