South Putnam asking for input on digital learning initiative

Parents and community members are encouraged to fill out a short survey to provide input within the next two weeks as South Putnam teachers and administrators move forward with the 1:1 initiative.

The South Putnam Teacher Tech Team came together last week asking members of the community to take a survey for the Digital Learning Initiative. The goal is to get a better understanding of the points-of-view of parents, grandparents and those residing in the South Putnam school district.

Tona Gardner, director of Curriculum Instruction and Technology Integration, said the goal is to have personal learning devices in the hands of every high school student next school year. These devices will be used in the classroom and be taken home.

The following school year, the Digital Learning Initiative will be expanded to the middle school.

"We've not selected exactly what that device that is going to be yet. I know that's usually the first question, 'What are the students going to be using?' Followed by the second question, 'How much is it going to cost?' We don't have that answer this evening because we haven't finalized the question yet. We wanted to come to you as parents, grandparents, family members and community members to get your input before we finalize these decisions," Gardner said.

Once the community input is taken into consideration, the technology team will put together a proposal to present to the South Putnam School Board.

The proposal will include a device, cost to students and a set of guidelines to ensure students are using the devices to better enhance their learning abilities.

Community members have two more weeks to complete an online survey or paper surveys that are available at each school.

The online survey can be found at www.sp1to1together.weebly.com or can be accessed through the school's website homepage.