In September 2005, St. Michael’s joined several other Sudbury Catholic District School Board elementary schools in the exciting new “Learning with Laptops” program. At our school, sixteen wireless laptops can be used by students in grades JK to 6 to greatly enhance their skills and provide them with the latest in mobile technology.

The Apple iBook is the best-selling laptop computer in education. Created with students in mind, the iBook features integrated wireless networking and a durable design. Students and teachers have access to essential productivity and digital learning applications, including AppleWorks, Safari, iLife, and Apple’s award-winning suite of digital media learning tools.

Training hours purchased from Apple Canada support classroom teachers in the implementation of this technology to improve student learning. During the 2006 - 2007 school year, the focus of the program will continue to be writing in the junior grades. Teachers and students receive in-service sessions and ongoing classroom support from Apple personnel and a Special Assignment teacher linked to the project.

Thousands of students in more than 400 schools across Canada and the United States are using Apple learning solutions to reinforce the fundamentals and develop 21st Century learning skills. They and their teachers have learned to use technology as the foundation of learning, research, collaboration, communication, and creative self-expression. St. Michael School is extremely pleased to be part of this exciting and innovative program.

Once our grade 6 students move on to St. Francis or Marymount Academy, they will join all the other grade 7 and 8 students in our Board who have access to the latest computer technology both at school and at home. “Our Board is the very first Board in Ontario to give every grade 7 and 8 student a wireless computer” says Zandra Zubac, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. She goes on to say, “Through our partnership with Apple Canada, we are championing new innovative and successful technological ways of delivering education to our students”.

In a presentation to Sudbury Catholic District School Board Trustees and Senior Administration, Robert Kennedy, Education Development Manager from Apple Canada noted that the introduction of the wireless laptop program in both the elementary and secondary schools has had a dramatic impact on student learning and student achievement. “Recent Provincial test results from the five schools who integrated the wireless laptop program into their literacy curriculum indicates a 15 to 25 percent increase in their grade 5 and 6 writing achievement EQAO scores” stated Kennedy. “The reason for this positive improvement can be directly attributed to the fact that students are engaged by technology which translates into fewer behavioural problems, better attendance, punctuality, and more time for individualized learning,” concluded Kennedy.