2013 Innovators

In the Ritenour School District, an ITEF grant helps transform arts education by integrating STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math). In this multi-grade, multi-year project, students use Apple iPads, MacBooks, LEGO® Robotics and Story Starters to increase understanding of literacy, math, engineering, robotics and computer programming while enhancing their creative thinking and understanding of the arts. Some students learn about Shakespeare and make stop-motion animations of famous scenes. Others study mythology, research a chosen character then create a digital presentation for their class. Above all, these students are fully engaged with STEAM while using art as a core.

The LHS Center for Immersive Learning (CIL) is an extracurricular activity that teaches students advanced math, engineering and science through robotics, with the help and support of mentors and faculty advisors. The CIL program is already wildly popular with LHS students: the school’s favorite “mascot” is a T-shirt throwing robot — built by students — that slings shirts to fans at home football games. Now, through the grant, the program has added 3D elements – computer modeling with high-definition visualizations, printing, digitizing and Virtual Reality immersion methods, enabling the students to do even more and succeed in robotics competitions.

This grant connects high school students to the Internet when they are at home by providing remote access points (RAPs) that they can check out from the library. Thanks to ITEF, secondary students who lack Internet access at home can now log in on a temporary, as-needed basis. As FHSD expands its use of web-based curriculum, assessment and instruction, these access points and devices will play a critical role in student success.

The grant also allows FHSD to provide web access and devices on school buses. This maximizes learning for students, with long bus rides. Students log on to tablet computers with apps that support student literacy and numeracy skills. Partnered with their bus service provider, the tablets are checked in and out to students daily and used during the school day for intervention or extension activities. The apps on the devices are the only programs that students can access. The students are given certain tasks or assignments while classroom teachers and parents check them for completion and accuracy. Schools then use these reports to prepare lessons, view individual student achievement and more effectively meet the needs of the students.Bonus: IL will partner with River Roads Lutheran to bring robotics to underserved students.