The Manhattan Beach Unified School District has begun preparations to implement a pilot program that integrates Apple iPads into the classrooms of up to 40 teachers across every school in the district. The MBUSD Board approved the program at its June 15 regular meeting.

“The iPad pilot certainly is the main focus of this school year,” said Dr. Michael Matthews, MBUSD superintendent. “The idea is to try a different system of delivery where students have more constant access to technology.”

The program was recommended by the MBUSD Technology Committee that met throughout the 2010-2011 school year as part of an updated technology plan for the district. The district hopes that the use of tablet devices will strengthen students’ individual learning experience through increased participation and collaboration and through access to tools such as e-texts, video, and innovative education apps.

“I want to be able to show that students are able to learn using 21st century standards and that we can really take teaching to a different style,” said Karina Gerger, teacher on special assignment for 21st Century Education.

At each of the five elementary schools, one full grade will be chosen to participate in the pilot. All teachers in that grade will be expected to incorporate use of the iPads into their curriculum for up to an hour per day. To be selected to participate, a grade level of teachers must submit a joint application to Carolyn Seaton, director of education services.

“One of the exciting parts of the pilot is that the technology is moving so fast, and there are lots of applications,” Matthews said. “We’ve got some really innovative teachers who will be able to harness that.”

Eight teachers will be selected from both the middle and high school to participate as well, and the principals and administrative teams at each site will be responsible for selecting which classes to use. The district hopes to focus on science at the middle school and algebra at both schools. According to Gerger, wireless internet access is currently being installed in each pilot classroom.

If there is enough funding, iPads will also be used in Algebra I classes. In this case every student will be assigned an iPad, with the textbook installed on the device and all assignments either assigned or completed on it as well. The district has not made a decision yet on whether such a one-to-one program will be put in place.

“It looks like we may be doing Algebra I,” Gerger said. “If we do, that would be a pilot in and of itself.”

The full cost of the pilot is expected to be approximately $500,000, which buys 20 class carts for iPads, an iPad for each participating teacher and IT support staff member, one laptop computer per cart and 25-35 iPads per cart. Funding for the project has already been allocated from various non-general fund revenues the district collected in 2010-2011.

Gerger is responsible for overseeing the pilot this year by arranging training, visiting classrooms, holding monthly meetings for all teachers involved and collecting data on the program’s results. District staff will make reports on the status of the pilot to the board of trustees in November, January and March of the 2011-2012 school year.

“I think all the teachers that are involved are very excited,” Gerger said. “We will be bringing teachers together and discussing what they are trying in their classrooms so they can share their thoughts and ideas.”

A handful of apps have already been selected, from basic word processing and presentation software to a note-taking program, a whiteboard simulator, and Wikipedia. One session of professional development has occurred so far, and participating teachers have taken their iPads home in advance of a two-day training session to be held in August.

“The process is moving very quickly,” Gerger said. “It’s been a smooth transition. I think the challenge is going to be the beginning of the year and making sure that all of the technical pieces are running.”