iPad Information for Schools

List of 7 frequently asked questions.

• Who buys the iPads? Are they leased or owned?

  Families are responsible for purchasing iPads for their daughters, and the School will provide support for those students receiving financial aid who also qualify for iPad support. The iPad is designed to be an individual device, and purchase by the end user ensures the greatest amount of flexibility and control over content. It also allows for the purchase of AppleCare+, which we highly recommend.

• How was the strategy rolled out?

  Dana began its iPad initiative with a pilot program. In the spring of 2012, iPads were given to interested faculty. During the 2012-13 school year, iPad carts were available for faculty to sign out and use in class. This program was supported by faculty trainings (required and optional) and project idea sharing throughout the year. Additional faculty were given iPads, and faculty enthusiasm prompted discussions about the future of the project. The Technology Working Group conducted several surveys and visits to other schools using iPads, and a final decision to go 1:1 with iPads was reached in the winter of 2013. Dana Hall hosted three parent informational meetings to share the various ways the iPad had been used, discuss why we wanted to move forward with the iPad initiative, and to answer any questions. Students arrived with their iPads in the fall of 2013, and training sessions for both faculty and students were built into orientation and opening days.
  
  Please view the "iPad Implementation Timeline" link under Additional iPad Resources on the right for more information.

• What technical support was put in place to support the iPad initiative?

  The School has an extensive network of academic technology support that has played a crucial role in the implementation and current success of the iPad initiative at Dana Hall. Each division, Middle and Upper School, has a dedicated Educational Technologist (ET) who oversees the advancement and support of academic technology in the division. These individuals also teach and advise students, and are fully integrated into the faculty and the life of the School. Each academic department also has an Educational Technology Facilitator (ETF) who has the equivalent of one course release in order to provide additional academic support unique to his/her discipline. ETFs work closely with the ETs to provide a cohesive support system for training, support, and goal setting for the School. The ETs and ETFs also collaborate with Dana's Technology Department, which oversees and supports all hardware, software and network infrastructure. In addition, the School's librarians support all students and faculty in their work with iPads, and maintain a cart of 32 iPads in the library. Dana Hall also has a student group, the “Ed Techies,” who offer consistent support for the entire community.

• Has iPad use by teachers been mandated?

  No, Dana Hall did not mandate the use of the iPad. We did, however, provide many levels and layers of professional development for our teachers. Teachers engaged in required and optional trainings, workshops and discussions, led by our experts as well as outside experts. Teachers continue to attend required and optional professional development.

• How do you deal with apps? Are there core apps? Who is responsible for buying them?

  The School has purchased core apps for the students (listed below). The School has also required a number of free apps. In addition, each department is allotted a budget for department-specific and course-specific apps.
  
  

  MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Required Free: Evernote, Google Drive, Nearpod, Skitch, Socrative
  Required Paid (by Dana Hall): Book Creator, Explain Everything, Fun Collage, iHomework, iMovie, Keynote, Notability, Pages, PDF Expert, PicCollage, Smart Notebook, Whiteboard
  
  

  UPPER SCHOOL
  Required Free: Evernote, Google Drive, Google Earth, Nearpod, Skitch, Socrative
  Required Paid (by Dana Hall): Explain Everything, Keynote, Notability, Pages

• What were some of the unforeseen challenges?

  With any new program comes unintended consequences. We learned a number of things, big and small. Here are a few particulars that we have learned: 
  
  1. Running a pilot program with iPad carts can have many successes, but there are also many difficulties and challenges with carts. 
  
  2. With a large international student population, it is important to recognize that the iPad App Store differs by country. While there is an easy “fix” to get students on the American store when at school, it is important to recognize this from the start. 
  
  3. Availability of eTextbooks, diversity of platforms, and start-of-the-year distribution.
  
  4. Be sensitive to the issues and logistics of getting iPads to students receiving financial aid.
  
  5. Recognize the challenges of many students/faculty seeking access in the same venue at the same time. Wireless access is key.
  
  6. Going 1:1 iPad allows faculty and students to adopt Schoology with enthusiasm.

• What type of training did you provide students, faculty and parents?

  Dana has offered, and will continue to offer, full-day/half-day faculty trainings, division trainings, department trainings and consistent “Tech Talks.” Our training has taken various forms, including: hands-on workshops that focus on iPad familiarization and individual apps; pedagogical discussions surrounding iPads in the classroom/classroom management; and content-specific trainings within departments.
  
  

  Dana students engaged in trainings throughout its 2013-14 Orientation and Opening Days, which involved everything from iPad setup to basic functions to core app training. Dana offered trainings during its weekly X-Blocks as well as Class Meetings. We also have a student group, the Ed Techies, who provide consistent support in our student-run Tech Tank.
  
  

  Before implementation, Dana offered three parent education nights. We shared information with parents about the upcoming iPad program, and students showcased work from our pilot program.