Elementary students to have access to iPads | Renton Reporter

The Renton School District will add 10 iPads to each elementary school, as Renton Reporter reports. 

Photo: courtesy Renton School District Facebook page

With school out for summer, the Renton School District has its sights set on next year.

Students in kindergarten and first grade classrooms across the district will have access to iPads.

Photo: Ellen Dorr

Ellen Dorr, director of digital learning for the school district, said each class room at each elementary school will have five iPads for students to use and learn with.

She said the big picture for the district is to be intentional with how technology is used and the increasing number of devices in the classroom.

“We don’t want younger ones to always be on screens,” she said. “We want it to be for learning purposes.”

Why iPads?
Dorr said that iPads have a lot of features that are specific for younger students. She added these tablet-type devices are easier for younger students to use.

Two years ago the district added 3,000 devices, Dorr said, including Chromebooks.

And this past year, she said, the school district used a 1:1 ratio at Dimmitt Middle School with laptops. (For a full story on the laptop pilot program, visit www.rentonreporter.com/news/laptop-program-teaches-students-digital-citizenship/.)
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Source: Renton Reporter