Case Study: Cherry Creek School District
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Transforming Education
with Technology
A case study by M&A Technology
on the Cherry Creek School District
Overview
Today’s students need 21st century skills if they are to thrive in the global
economy. One of the best ways to ensure they acquire these skills is a learning
environment with a 1:1 student-to-laptop computer ratio. Such a learning
environment seamlessly integrates information and computing technologies
into K-12 education, enabling each teacher and student to use Internetconnected laptops at school and at home. Since many universities, colleges,
and trade schools require students to own a computer, it makes sense to have
K-12 students use them in preparing for college and the workplace.
For teachers, having their own laptop enables them to access and employ a
wide range of educational materials and teaching methods, using technology
across the curriculum. With the proper networking and software, teachers can
also view and manage what students are doing on computers and communicate with them individually and in groups. For students, laptops facilitate
inquiry- and project-based learning, allowing students to develop valuable
workplace skills such as critical thinking, research, and collaboration through
the use of online learning programs and research resources, as well as modern
software collaboration tools.
For many school districts, a major barrier in achieving a 1:1 student-to-laptop
ratio is working out how to fund and implement it. The Cherry Creek School
District in Aurora, Colorado, took this challenge head on with a comprehensive
plan for 1:1 e-learning.
Case Study: Cherry Creek School District
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The Cherry Creek School District
Cherry Creek School District is Colorado’s fourth
largest school district with approximately 50,000 K-12
students and 3,600 teachers. It has 59 schools and
programs, including 39 elementary, 11 middle schools,
seven high schools, one charter school, one magnet
(K-8), and the Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary
Learning (K-12).
Before the recent technology initiative, the district’s
schools ranged widely in technology implementation.
If a principal was a technology advocate, that school
would typically spend more on technology. Teachers used computers of various types and vintages for
attendance and grading. Elementary schools typically
had one tech lab; middle schools had up to three; and
high schools had up to six. Some schools had invested
in laptops on carts to bring the computers to classrooms on an as-needed basis.
The District’s Goals in Improving
Education through Technology
Seeking to provide a “world class” curriculum for all
students, the district’s goal is to ensure every student
will be prepared for college or other post secondary
options. This means providing students with the
knowledge and technology skills for living and
working in the global economy.
The district’s technology integration goals also tie in
well with the U.S. Department of Education’s National
Educational Technology Plan 2010. Calling for a revolutionary transformation in education, the plan states
that “technology-based learning and assessment
systems will be pivotal in improving student learning
and generating data that can be used to continuously
improve the education system at all levels.”
Case Study: Cherry Creek School District
The Guaranteed & Viable Technology Program
To start the technology transformation in its schools, the
district developed what it called the Guaranteed & Viable
Technology (GVT) program. It’s based on a paper by
Chief Information Officer Ben Startzer entitled “Rethinking
Technology: A Comprehensive Plan for Increasing Student
Achievement Through Information and Technology Systems.”
The program’s goal is to meet the National Education
Technology standards for 21st century learning (see
www.iste.org/standards.aspx). The “guaranteed” in the
name refers to the commitment of the district to make
sure that technology tools are accessible to all teachers
and students and ready at all times.
The GVT program involves moving from a site-based
technology model to a centralized system using standardized
student computer platforms. The advantages of such a
centralized system include everything from high volume
buying at lower prices to ensuring equality between schools
in the quality and quantity of technology equipment.
Implementation
In November 2008 the district’s community approved a
ballot measure providing USD $203.5 million to renovate
and improve schools throughout the district. A portion of
these funds were specifically dedicated to implementing
the GVT program.
From the start, the district realized that how technology is
selected and implemented is critical. Establishing a 1:1
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student-to-laptop model of learning requires more than
putting computers in the hands of teachers and students.
There has to be a strategic vision and process that enables
teachers and students to incorporate the selected technologies in nearly every aspect of teaching and learning.
The Selected Platform
In M&A Technology, the Cherry Creek School District found
a partner well versed in 1:1 e-learning and offering a truly
transformational platform for students that exceeded what
a standard laptop could provide. This convertible laptop,
the M&A Companion Touch, functioned as:
• An e-reader that would enable replacing physical textbooks
with e-books
• A tablet for writing, note taking , performing math work,
and drawing
• A notebook computer for typing papers
• A webcam that could operate as a camcorder, camera, and
document camera
• A classroom-tough computer that can take the daily abuse
of life in the classroom, student backpack, and home
Equally impressive, the Companion Touch is powered by an
energy-efficient Intel® Atom™ processor that provides up to
8.5 hours of battery life. It also has a 10-inch water-resistant
touch screen, water-resistant keyboard and touch pad,
integrated camera, and the ability to withstand a fall up to 24
inches (60 cm). The unit’s rubberized surface makes it easy to
grip. A large stylus with replaceable tip enables writing and a
retractable handle makes carrying easy.
“There has to be a strategic
vision and process that enables
teachers and students to
incorporate the selected
technologies in nearly
every aspect of teaching
and learning.”
Case Study: Cherry Creek School District
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Through volume buying, the cost of the selected convertible laptop comes in under $500
each. According to District Instructional Technology Coordinator Ned Gilardino, this is actually less than what a student “spends on typical school supplies (pens, paper, rulers, binders,
calculators, etc.) over a three-year time span”—the projected lifespan of the computer. A
portable computer like this also simply makes sense for students. It can go anywhere the
student goes and thus is much more available for use than a desktop computer that never
leaves a room.
“The mobility of
a tablet is one
of its biggest
advantages.”
Software
Software is as critical as the computer platform. Beyond the obvious productivity suite
of word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, and desktop publishing software supplied
by Microsoft Office and an Internet browser, students need applications that inspire
and give creativity an outlet. For this reason, a wide variety of software was selected.
Applications include:
• Google Sketch-Up for 3D CAD work
• Audacity + LAME MP3 encoder for audio recording and mixing
• WebCam Companion 3 for capturing photos, recording videos, and editing
• Comic Life for creating stories in comic book format
•A
dobe Flash Player, Adobe Shockwave, iTunes, QuickTime and Microsoft Silverlight
for media playing
• Windows MovieMaker for movie making and creating podcasts
• Picasa for organizing, editing, and sharing photos
• Microsoft Paint for drawing and painting
• Nvu for web design
• Google Earth for geography and other subjects requiring map skills
•M
yScript handwriting recognition technology for converting handwritten text,
drawings and mathematical symbols entered through a pen, a stylus, or a finger
into their digital counterpart
Case Study: Cherry Creek School District
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In addition to these applications, a host of academic, assessment, and testing applications
were chosen:
•C
licker software to enable students to give teachers immediate response to questions
and pop quizzes wirelessly from their convertible laptops
•M
AP Test Taker for taking Measures of Academic Progress® tests
• E xamView Test Player for computer-based testing
•D
iigo for web highlighting, sticky notes, and online bookmarking
• S MART Sync classroom management software student version
Teachers get additional applications for administration, recordkeeping, testing, and assessment. The teacher’s version of SMART Sync classroom management, for instance, allows
them to view each student’s screen, making it easy to monitor each student’s activities and
provide guidance and support throughout the lesson. Teachers can communicate privately
to individual students or groups. Teachers can also display one student’s screen to show
how that student completed an assignment or black out screens to get students to pay
attention to something else in the classroom.
The Pilot
The district designed a pilot to test the GVT program with teachers first. Teachers at two
district schools were issued M&A Companion Touch convertible laptops for evaluation in the
2009-10 school year. The unit passed with flying colors—very few computers were returned
for repair, demonstrating their ruggedness and quality. July 2010 saw another 450 units
deployed. Teacher response was 80 percent favorable. This triggered the board to approve a
full evaluation by all teachers starting Sept. 24, 2010. Ultimately, because teachers multitask (having several applications open at a time) and need bigger screens to view multiple
windows, the district plans to issue more powerful computers to its teachers.
Grandview High School mathematics teacher Sandy Sundine had this to say about the
Companion Touch after using it in the classroom:
“The mobility of a tablet is one of its biggest advantages. I can not only teach with the
tablet and have all the tablet’s interactive tools, but I can also move around the room with it
and access the Internet and other files without having to go to another computer ... Having
tablets in my classroom allows students to interact with the board without getting up …
Students feel less intimidated when they don’t have to get up to go to a board.”
2010-11 School Year Rollout
Recognizing that teachers have different computer skills and experience, the Cherry Creek
School District developed a website full of resources (see the Welcome to GVT video) for
professional development to help teachers get up to speed. Rather than forcing hours of
workshops and training on busy teachers whether they need it or not, the site provides selfpaced training modules, video tutorials, and FAQs the teachers can assess as necessary. A
key part of the strategy is requiring the teachers to use the computers to access the training
materials. This helps them get familiar with the computer immediately.
Case Study: Cherry Creek School District
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Rollout to Students
The district is expecting a few years of transition as it works to achieve a full 1:1 studentto-laptop ratio. In the 2011-12 school year, parents will be strongly encouraged to buy M&A
Companion Touch laptops for their Cherry Creek students. Parents will be able to purchase
the selected laptops directly through M&A for the same price the school buys them. The
district is also looking into purchasing units through state funding, local funding, bonds,
and other means for use by students of families who cannot afford them.
This will be a transformative change for students. Nearly the only thing students will need
to bring to and take home from the classroom each day is their computer. It will enable
their use of 21st century tools and methods in everything from classroom learning,
projects and testing, to unleashing their creativity in art, filmmaking, photography,
music, presentations, and more.
“All students graduate
with the knowledge
and skills they need
to succeed in the
21st century.”
Benefits of 1:1 Student-to-Laptop Ratio
Teachers in 1:1 e-learning environments say increased computer access makes assignments
requiring computers and online resources more manageable and meaningful for their
students. Commonly reported benefits for 1:1 e-learning include:
• Greater engagement with the material and less disciplinary problems
• More inquiry-centered and exploratory learning
• Higher degree of responsibility and self-esteem from being entrusted with a computer
• Greater comfort with technology and mastery of it
•B
etter organization because assignments, notes, textbooks, and other documents are
all in one place (their computer)
• Improved communication with teachers because they can chat back and forth with
the teacher privately
The Future
The Cherry Creek School District is no longer waiting for the future of education to come to
it. The district is making the transformation today. According to Startzer, the district “is on a
path to reach our goal of elevating the performance of all students and closing the achievement gap between the highest- and lowest-performing students. By leveraging technology,
the district is helping ensure that all students graduate with the knowledge and skills they
need to succeed in the 21st century.” In offering advice to other districts considering such
a transformation, Startzer’s colleague Gilardino says the central vision needs to come from
the top. He says the biggest battle usually is “just getting people to accept change.”
Case Study: Cherry Creek School District
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Case Study: Cherry Creek School District
Learn More
For M&A Technology’s K-12 programs, see: www.macomp.com/k12.asp
To learn more about Intel’s commitment to education, see: www.intel.com/education
About M&A Technology
M&A Technology, a leading solutions provider since 1984, offers a wide range of custom technology
solutions that are based on innovation to improve productivity and reduce the total cost of
ownership through technology. Our ISO 9001-2008 certified manufacturing facility offers a
flexible platform for contract manufacturing that is focused on the customer requirements and
the quality of our products. In addition, M&A Technology offers custom-built servers, mobile
products, workstations, and high performance computers that are all made in the USA. More
information is available at www.macomp.com.
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