Santa Monica, Education, Technology, Schools, Culver City

Echo Horizon School Pilots Two New Technology Programs

Posted Jul. 21, 2013, 8:52 am

Mirror Staff

Echo Horizon School has long been on the forefront of integrating cutting-edge technology into the classroom learning environment, in order to nurture literacy, critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration.

Last year, the Culver City school joined 43 other schools nationwide in renewing its Apple Distinguished School designation. It was the third year in a row the school received this distinction.

Each year, the school looks to expand the technology infrastructure in ways that enhance and facilitate teaching and student learning.

Building on its existing 1:1 laptop program in grades 3-6, during the 2013-2014 school year, the school will pilot two new 1:1 iPad programs.

All 4th grade students will have both a laptop and a new iPad mini.

“The idea behind this program is to allow students the freedom to determine which device they select for a particular project. Additionally, with the plethora of new educational apps, there are certain enhanced learning opportunities available only on the iPad,” said Director of Technology/ Director of Curriculum, Elaine Wrenn.

An example of this is an app called Subtext, which allows teachers to embed questions, quizzes, and peer discussion sessions within the text of an eBook.

This allows teachers to gauge real-time reading comprehension and provides interactive experiences to the literature students are reading.

The school will also pilot a new 1:1 program in the Pre-Kindergarten classroom.

The demonstrable success of iPad integration at this level has lead the school to invest and expand the existing program, allowing each child use of an iPad to enhance and augment their learning.

Children use apps such as iWriteWords to learn and reinforce letter formation and practice phonemic sounds.

They also use the StoryKit and Doodle Buddy apps to identify numbers, practice counting, and to record different learning experiences through individual narration and photos.

“This puts storytelling in the hands of the child. It has been great to see the children able to record an experience, such as a field trip, share it with their parents in a fun and innovative format, and feel so proud of their accomplishments,” said DHH Pre-K teacher Jessica Aguillon.

There are still a couple available openings in the Pre-Kindergarten program beginning this fall.

Those interested in learning more about the Pre-K program at Echo Horizon School are encouraged to contact Director of Admissions, Lisa Glassman at 310.838.2442.