– iVCS –
The Valley Christian iPad Learning Program
The 1-to-1 Program
Valley Christian Schools (VCS) is committed to educating “each unique student in cooperation with the Christian community so that he or she is equipped and inspired to make a difference for Jesus Christ in the world.” (VCS Mission Statement). Making “a difference” today and in the future includes being not only knowledgeable and skilled in technology, but also being able to ask related discerning questions and provide Biblically-based answers. God has blessed VCS with a strong technology program, led by an exceptional technology staff. We believe now is the time to put learning technology into the hands of every student.
In September 2012, Valley Christian School implemented an iPad 1-to-1 Program for the 7th and 8th grades where each student has an iPad. Beginning September 2013, the program will expand to our High School campus where all 9th to 12th grade students will have iPads.
This program has four key parts:
- Student resources: students have access to an amazing multi-media “encyclopedia” accessible anytime and anywhere.
- Student productivity: students have powerful and versatile tools to gather, create, manipulate, and collaborate in their school work.
- Teacher resources: teachers have an even more extensive toolbox of resources in order to develop lessons and materials.
- Management of learning: assessments, record-keeping, and communication are more transparent, more current, and more comprehensive.
Forward Thinking
We have researched successful programs implemented in several other countries and schools around the United States. We are one of the few in Southern California have a program in place now, though many others, if not most, will follow. Early results show that dramatic educational improvement is accomplished via iPads for students who are either struggling or are advanced and want more depth and breadth in learning.
The start-up costs for this program, particularly the training and infrastructure, were obtained by the enormous generosity of our extended Valley Christian community. The other costs include the iPad itself, and its program services. Our research shows the most effective plan is for the student to own his or her iPad – and be able to take it home or on to high school or college with them.
iPad Learning Program and Costs
The major VCS iPad Learning Program elements are below, for details refer to the program details page:
You Own the iPad. Every student either brings or purchases their own iPad through the school. We have carefully worked out several leasing options, and our lowest cost lease-to-own plans start at less than $20/month.
A Tech Fee that Supports You. Valley Christian charges a Technology Fee for each student that is also $15/month ($150/year). The Tech Fee pays for on-campus support, core educational software, filtering, and management control tools.
Equal Access for All. Students who bring their own iPad have it configured before school starts in August and are only be the assessed the Tech Fee.
Cost Savings Downrange. We are still exploring all the evidence, but other programs who have adopted iPads have experienced cost savings through less expensive digital textbooks, less printing costs, and the wide spread use of creative and collaborative applications in each area of study.
