Quebec’s Eastern Townships schools to buy 5,000 Apple notebooks

In its efforts to provide its students with the best learning experience, the Eastern Townships School Board announced today an innovative Enhanced Learning Strategy that will provide every student in its schools with an Apple portable computer. This will be the first board-wide laptop initiative implemented in Canada.

The first stage of the Board’s three-year Enhanced Learning Strategy will begin when school starts in September 2003, with the first deployment of 1,630 wireless iBook computers to students in grades 5 and 6, as well as to level 5 students in its secondary schools. By the third year of the program, all Eastern Townships students, from the 3rd grade of elementary school to the 5th level of high school, will be given their own portable computer to use during the school year.

The Enhanced Learning Strategy has three main objectives: to facilitate higher student academic achievement; to empower educators in the development and implementation of curriculum; and to provide a flexible and accessible technology-based educational solution that engages students and fires their imaginations to strive for excellence.

“In the United States, both the State of Maine and the Henrico County School Board in Richmond, Virginia, took this comprehensive approach, and in two years, they have had quite a positive experience. After careful analysis of these two initiatives, the Quebec Ministry of Education gave us a green light to launch a project of this type,” explained Ronald Canuel, Director General of the Eastern Townships School Board. “Our project is consistent with the Quebec government’s educational reform and should serve as an important and positive example of the government’s strategy to better enhance learning for Quebec students.”

Over the next three years, the School Board will acquire over 5,000 portable wireless computers under a partnership agreement with Apple Canada. “This program is not just a matter of acquiring computers, but rather of a long term collaboration between the Board and Apple,” said Ronald Canuel. “Apple has a long history of delivering innovative technology solutions to schools and understands how to maximize educators’ technology investment.”

Along with the hardware and software, Apple will offer both technical and curriculum integration training to ensure a smooth deployment of the technology within Quebec’s new pedagogical standards. “Portable computers are not a panacea,” observed the Director General, “but can act as a lever for change in the learning environment. Through effective use of technology, teachers will be better supported to assist their students in achieving their full potential.”

In preparation for the return to school in September 2003, the School Board will roll out the first phase of its implementation strategy next month by introducing laptop equipment in three schools, two elementary and one secondary. At the same time, the Board will engage in extensive discussions with its stakeholders and begin its own internal training program for students, educators and administrators, and parents.

“One of the immediate advantages of students having their own portable computers is to encourage learning at all times without limiting it to the school context,” explained Dikran Husseindjian, National Director – Education Market for Apple Canada. “Not all students learn in the same way, or during the same hours. By having such flexible learning tools at their disposal, they can model their program to their particular needs. This approach better motivates students to attain higher levels of achievement.”

“Our community is proud of the Enhanced Learning Strategy” concluded Ronald Canuel. “Beyond the school, this regional social and economic development project has received the unanimous support of the Council of Commissioners. With such a consensus around a project, important conditions for success are already in place.”