Technology is an integral part of our current society. It alters the way we interact with others and redefines the very limits of human capability. Living in such a society, it is inevitable that technology also changes education. Over the past 30 years, we have seen the impact of computer technology on education as it allowed students to extend their learning beyond the classroom through access to a variety of resources and collaborative tools. Since the introduction of the Plato Computer in 1980, technology in classrooms has improved by leaps and bounds, as the Apple iPad was introduced to schools in 2010.

Recognizing both the importance of technology literacy and the advantages technology offers to students, iSchool Initiative devised a way to further expose students to technology while providing them with a quality education: personalized learning though mobile technology. Currently implemented at schools in seven countries and 42 states across the United States, iSchool Initiative's services has now found its way to Fulton County. There has been a lot of talk about this new, revolutionary method of teaching students on the basis of personalized learning. But what exactly is personalized learning, and what does it mean for our students?

iSchool Initiative

To give a bit of background, iSchool Initiative is a company that was established by Travis Allen in 2009. When his high school teachers discouraged Allen from using his iPhone as a classroom tool, he was inspired to create the iSchool Initiative, in which he envisioned schooling based entirely on mobile devices and downloaded apps, replacing the traditional classroom setting and physical supplies. iSchool is now dedicated to infusing mobile technology with America’s public schools to enhance students' educations.

In 2014, the company implemented its program to fourteen schools of Anderson School District One in South Carolina. The company handed out 7,600 iPads to students and trained teachers and administrators to use them. Each device had OtterBoxes for protection as well as restricting features, which gave teachers "the ability to control what students can do with their devices at a given time." To further address concerns on safety, security and proper usage, iSchool held workshops for teachers, students, administrators and parents to inform them of the initiative and walk them through its execution. Since then, it has expanded its services to schools throughout the nation, including Fulton County, as well as the world.

Personalized Learning

Personalized Learning is the "efforts to tailor lessons to students of different ability levels." Through personalized learning, teachers will be able to identify and help struggling students to catch up to their peers while encouraging excelling students to continue moving forward. It essentially gives all students a chance to learn at their own pace.

One example would be using adaptive math software that continually give students problems at their level. Teachers may then utilize programs that automatically grade assignments and analyze data , allowing them to adapt their lesson plans accordingly and changing them to fit their students' needs. Another example would be giving students the choice of how to approach a general assignment (such as reading about a particular subject) by encouraging them to explore different sources of information through their devices; in this way, students would not be forced into a uniform method of learning but instead find what is best for them.

Personalized learning does not only allow teachers to be more efficient, but also more effective. It also give them a chance to optimize their preferred method of teaching, whether it be teaching in large groups or one-on-one settings. For teachers that prefer instructing large groups, they can use data compilation to address the needs of the class as a whole. For teachers that specialize in working with small groups or individuals, they can assign tasks for students on their own devices while going from student to student to help them at his or her level.

Another important aspect of personalized learning is for students to take ownership of their education. As students will be able to determine on their own what they need help with and what kind of help they need, they can proactively strive for complete understanding in school and a solid foundation to prepare them for the future.

Progress in Fulton County

The operation of iSchool Initiative in Fulton County became possible through the SPLOST one-cent sales tax, a special-purpose local-option sales tax that can be administered by any county in GA to fund public facilities and programs.

In 2014, Fulton County schools completed "readiness rubrics" and divided into "roll out groups," detailing 12 to 18 month time frames during which schools are to have personalized learning planned, developed and implemented. All schools were required to be “ready” in the following areas: personalized instruction (making plans on how to incorporate devices into academic instruction; educating students to properly use their devices), infrastructure (ensuring a solid support system to accommodate all devices) and device readiness (selecting devices; developing security plans; setting a device distribution timeline). Schools will choose one of four devices for their students: Apple iPad, Microsoft Surface, Dell Latitude and Dell Chromebook.

Actual implementation of iSchool began in January 2015 and is planned to last until September 2017. By then, Fulton County will have 65,000 devices in circulation among students (one device for every 3 elementary students and one device for every middle and high school students) that would allow schools to “meet every student where they are, so that every student can achieve at a high level."

Points to Consider

There are many advantages to such technology-infused programs including immediate feedback and teacher assistance, efficiency through automated grading and analysis of student performances, effective teaching through flexible teaching methods and promotion of technology literacy.

Concerns pertaining to digital learning, however, will always be present. Common concerns include distraction in the classroom, decreased social interaction between peers and teachers, cheating and proper education on using the devices. These are all valid concerns, especially when we are dealing with a generation of students overly familiar with technology, as well as with its many tricks and loopholes.

Proposed solutions include restrictive features on what students can access on their devices, lesson plans that combine group work and individual assignments and informative workshops for teachers, administrators, parents and students. While these are sound proposals, what a changing learning environment truly entails is the need for teachers and administrators to adapt the way they approach teaching and supervise school systems to fit the new situation. For when students are entering the classroom with a new set of tools, teachers and administrators must demand attention to a new set of rules that actively encourage personalized learning and proper usage of devices, but at the same time ensure that the privilege of using them will not be abused.

The idea behind using mobile devices to pave the way for personalized learning is a noble one. It is the application of the program (not just the distribution of devices, but also adapting to a new way of learning), that is bound to be trying. In the end, however, iSchool Initiative may very well be the key to “revolutionize the American education system and promote a culture of lifelong learning" as it continues to serve as a leading force in the “Digital Learning Revolution.”