Floydada I.S.D. can certainly boast that our technology is a byte above the rest.  FISD

has a total of 645 new Apple MacBooks this year and a reputation as being a

forward thinking school district.

Technology immersion began 3 years ago with a TIP grant (Technology Immersion Pilot)—a federal grant awarded to TEA who in turn awarded the grant to 22 junior high schools, 1 high school, and 1 K-12 school. Floydada Junior High School was one of the junior high schools who received the 1:1 grant (one laptop to each student). The goal of TIP is student success—the vehicle just happens to be a wireless laptop.

Floydada Junior High School was the first TIP school to rollout Apple iBook laptops on October 6, 2004.  Now in its 4th year of technology immersion, FJHS has the reputation of being one of the top TIP schools in the state.

In Year 4 of implementation, the main focus of FJHS TIP is seamless integration of technology into class lessons.  Teachers have a good working knowledge of the hardware and software.  They are concentrating more and more on creating lessons in which students use higher-level thinking skills—which in turn will continue to improve student success and result in higher TAKS test scores.

After witnessing the student excitement and teacher buy-in at FJHS, FISD administration requested that the TIP program be extended to the high school with local money, and the school board voted unanimously to fund the project.  Now in its 3rd year of integration, FHS has discovered that its reputation in technology integration is growing as well.

A year ago, the administration made another bold decision—to issue laptops to all elementary teachers to use as teaching tools in their classrooms.  Many elementary teachers are recognizing the importance of utilizing the Internet and other technological  resources in their teaching and the students are benefiting from the experiences.

This past summer, the administration was given an opportunity to rollover the 2- and 3-year-old Apple iBooks into brand new 13-inch Apple MacBooks with built-in iSight cameras and up-to-date iLife and iWork software.  Again, that forward thinking toward the most current technology will benefit all teachers and students.

Both FJHS and FHS have seen phenomenal increases in test scores and student success.  The cause of the increases stems from not only improved teaching by our teachers, but also the resources we have available to our teachers and students due to the technology we have and the access to resources we did not have before.

One of the reasons the 1:1 program has been so successful at FISD is the ongoing staff development over the years.  Continuous staff development has been critical to providing teachers with the confidence they need in using the technology in their classrooms.

Another goal in continuing technology integration at FISD this year is teacher collaboration with educators among the campuses of FISD and other 1:1 campuses in the area.  The vertical teaming is allowing a greater understanding of the continuity needed from one grade level to another in each subject area.  Collaboration with teachers from Post, Amarillo Highland Park, Wellington, and Childress provides everyone with more ideas for integrating technology into class lessons.

Floydada ISD’s reputation of being in the forefront in teaching with technology is apparent.  About 12 schools have traveled to Floydada to observe teachers and students at work and to talk with administrators and teachers about using technology in the classroom.  Floydada has been very instrumental in at least 5 of those schools deciding to become 1:1 schools.