LCHS was recently awarded a federal grant to improve academic achievement in AP classes through technology. Pictured are AP teachers: (l-r) Carolee Hobbins, Sheila Wilkes, Lee Robinson, Randy Smith, Kathy Thomas, Heather Yarbrough, and Carol O'Neill. Not pictured is Mark Hill. LCHS was recently awarded a federal FY 2010 Engaging AP (Advanced Placement) Students Through Mobile Handheld Computing Grant.

The primary goal of the $64,580 grant is to improve academic achievement through technology by enhancing resource and data offerings to be used by students both inside and outside the classroom.

The grant marks an effort by the high school to begin a journey:

(1) To increase enrollment in AP classes, thereby providing a broader spectrum of learners with access to college-level courses in the supportive atmosphere of a high school classroom.

(2) To increase the diversity of students who choose to enroll in AP courses to more accurately reflect the demographics of the school as a whole.

(3) To maintain or improve the quality of AP programs as measured by AP exam scores.

To accomplish these objectives, LCHS will use the grant to purchase iPods, which are handheld devices capable of retrieving audio and video data.

Primarily, teachers will be able to use the technology to download a variety of applications (apps) from the Internet for classroom instruction, which can be accessed on each student's iPod.

According to Guy McDeavitt, technology coordinator for the school system, "A teacher may also create images and/or vocal recordings that explain or enhance the lesson. These enhancements can then be downloaded to the iPods.

"A teacher may save a component of a math lesson on a file; it might feature both an audio and video presentation of the activity. By downloading the file to an iPod, those AP students, who need a review, would have access to the lesson at any time. Students can also take practice tests on the iPods.

"We're dealing with 21st century learners - they are not geared toward chalkboards," McDeavitt continued. "Their methods of absorbing information are very different from those of previous generations. This technology will help keep our students more engaged with the subject matter."

He went on to say, "With this technology, we will have access to information that normally, we could not offer our students because we simply don't have the resources. This grant will give our students another opportunity for virtual learning."

The grant funds will be appropriated as follows: $45,206 will be used for equipment; $16,145 will go towards staff development for the AP teachers, who will use the new instructional technology; and $3,229 is earmarked to fund the evaluation process.

Among the items of equipment that will be purchased with the grant funds are:

.. Eighty iPods.

.. Forty-eight Netbook computers. These are like laptops, but more basic. The Netbooks will allow the students to access the Internet for small group projects.

..Two Apple laptops, which will be used to disseminate the lesson files to the student iPods.

.. Two iPod charging stations. Each station has the capability of charging 48 iPods at a time.

.. A server in which to store the iPod files.

In accordance with the terms of the grant, the school must take delivery of the equipment by February 5, 2010.

The grant to enhance the AP program at LCHS was written by Brian Campbell, the system's assistant superintendent for instruction and curriculum; Guy McDeavitt; Dr. Becky Barden, high school principal; and AP teachers Randy Smith, Lee Robinson, Kathy Thomas, Carol O'Neill, Carolee Hobbins, Sheila Wilkes, Heather Yarbrough, and Mark Hill.

"We are very excited about the potential growth in achievement that integrating new technology in our classrooms will allow," said Sheila Wilkes, who teaches AP English Literature. "The world of technology is constantly changing, and to pursue a post-secondary degree, students must be up to date on much of the latest technology in order to achieve in college classrooms.

"We are very fortunate that this grant will allow our AP students at LCHS to begin learning to incorporate technology into the classroom before they go to college."

In her comments, AP English Language teacher Lee Robinson said, "I look forward to the possibilities of individualizing instruction as well as to the ways we can use the devices for measuring both quantitative and qualitative responses to practice test questions."

Currently, the high school offers eight AP courses: Biology, English Language, English Literature, United States History, Music Theory, Psychology, Statistics, and Calculus.

According to Assistant Superintendent Campbell, "Today, students are experts at using iPods for entertainment. Now, with this grant, we have the opportunity to utilize this technology to increase interest in AP courses. Using iPods in the classroom is definitely a cutting edge instructional tool."

Other counties in the area receiving the Engaging AP Students Through Mobile Handheld Computing Grant were Richmond County, Warren County, and Elbert County.