The seventh grade faculty worked over the summer to explore ways in which the iPad will allow us to push the seventh grade curriculum forward in support of our progressive mission. What is most exciting about this project is not the technology in and of itself, but rather how the technology is pushing us to look at the curriculum and how we teach it in all kinds of new ways. Questions that in the past we have considered, but not fully addressed, are finding their way back on to the table as we consider “what if . . . ?” This truly is an experiment and while we have laid out a solid foundation for this work, we know that our most profound learning are likely to come from the ongoing conversations, reflections and evaluations of the seventh grade students and faculty. To add to the depth of this investigation, a researcher from Pratt Institute will be documenting our experience and providing additional objective feedback to us.

At the same time, the ubiquitous presence of iPads in the seventh grade has already forced us to look at technology use more broadly and to consider how to best make all of our digital resources available at any time and from any device. This may end up being the most exciting dimension of this project. Not only will it change how we work now, but it will also change how we prepare students to embrace a future that they will help to define.

To give you a sense of some of the work that we have already accomplished, here is an overview of some of the behind the scene changes that this project has set in motion:

• Projection systems supporting iPad display mirroring
• Wireless AirPlay support for streaming audio visual content from any iPad to the classroom projection system
• New printers designed for iPad, email, and remote internet printing
• Document scanners and network shares designed for quick conversion and distribution of paper-based materials to digital
• Enhanced wireless network coverage and bandwidth increases necessary to accommodate the additional data traffic the iPads will generate
• Re-design of our file server system based so that a student can work on a project anytime using a desktop, laptop, or iPad (on-campus or from home) thereby using the appropriate tool they choose to produce the best work.
• File shares carefully designed and organized for easy access to any file from any network device (Macs, Windows devices, iPads, iPhones, Android devices, etc.)
• Configuration of several new network servers to support new network services to enhance our existing curriculum, and allow it the freedom to develop in new exciting ways. This includes:

• Annotation servers that provide the ability to instantly share both student and teacher notes on digital media.
• Audio/video streaming servers to provide a means to host, distribute, and archive all student produced multi-media content.
• Media distribution servers to host and distribute digital versions of existing paper-based content like textbooks, novels, and worksheets. (This to both make use of the iPad as an excellent reading device, and to curb the ever escalating consumption of paper.)

• Our new LREI Connect information system is also supported by the iPad. Students are able to organize their curricular life through a wide variety of shared calendars and to-do lists. Whether working alone, or in groups, these tools are in place to help teach important organization and time management skills.
• While proper and respectful use of digital tools and networks has been an ongoing conversation in the middle school, we expect that the regular use of the iPads will help to reinforce and establish important skills connected to digital citizenship.

We expect that even this year this project will have important trickle-down and trickle-up impacts on programs in the other middle school grades as well. I look forward to keeping you posted on the progress of this exciting project.