Santa Margarita Catholic High School Implements One-to-One Tablet PC Program

Santa Margarita Catholic High School is proud to announce the full implementation of the school’s One-to-One Tablet PC Program this fall. The new program will put a Windows 8 Tablet PC, loaded with educational software, in the hands of every student and teacher at Santa Margarita providing a richer, more immersive educational experience that will better prepare students for college and the professional world. However, the focus is not merely on the technology, but effectively incorporating the technology into the curriculum. The program will foster a collaborative, student-centered classroom environment inspiring enthusiasm and ownership in student learning. 

Santa Margarita began implementing the program during the 2012-2013 school year with select faculty receiving a tablet PC and undergoing training. Staff positions were also created to effectively rollout the program, train faculty and best integrate the technology into the classroom. As of the beginning of the 2013-2014 academic school year, every faculty member received a Lenovo Thinkpad Helix PC and is currently participating in extensive training with the device and all related software programs as well as planning how to successfully incorporate the technology into their curriculum. SMCHS has also introduced the Learning Portal in recent years, a custom learning management system, delivering digital content and allowing students to interact with their teachers and classmates outside of the traditional classroom.

“We are very excited to bring this program to SMCHS which will empower student-centered learning and will offer opportunities for instruction that were not possible before,” said Principal Ray Dunne.

The school’s Administrative Board, upon recommendation from the school’s One-to-One Committee along with student input and extensive research and analysis, approved the purchase of the Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga tablet PC for students in this initial phase of the one-to-one program. That research and analysis included a review of iPads, Android-based tablets, and traditional laptops, in addition to tablets PCs including the Thinkpad Yoga tablet PC. Students will utilize their tablet PC as part of the One-to-One Program with the option to purchase the device upon graduation. The Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga tablet PC is a fully-functioning computer capable of everything from creating and editing videos and graphics to digitizing student writing. The tablet PC is the tool of choice for anyone that wishes to draw anything such as science diagrams, geometrical shapes, formulas, or maps with digital ink. OneNote, part of the Microsoft Office Suite that will be loaded on all machines, will allow students to organize and search their electronic handwritten or typed notes with ease. The tablets can even translate digital handwritten notes into computerized text if desired. Gone are the days of seven different binders filled with unorganized notes and papers. OneNote allows this information to be organized and retrieved all in one convenient location. In addition, as our school takes the next step with our One-to-One Tablet PC Program, about 50 percent of student textbooks and classroom resources will be in a digital format for the upcoming school year. The tablet PC enables teachers to present information in ways previously not possible meeting the needs of both visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners.

The tablets will run on the most recent version of Microsoft Windows, allowing both students and educators to consume and upload data, connect and collaborate. For example, students can make comments and take notes on top of teachers’ Power Point presentations, highlighting and circling digitally as they would with paper and pen. All tablets will be loaded with classroom management software, an interactive teaching tool used to maximize class time, foster collaborative learning and promote effective studying. Features include collaborative note-taking, the ability for students to easily share their work with the class and student response tools. Teachers will also be able to maintain control of the digital classroom and foster responsible computer use through thumbnail views of student screens and the ability to only grant access to specific programs and websites within the classroom.

“Technology is an inherent and essential component of the lives of today’s students,” said Sean Basford, the school’s Director of Educational Technology. “From the day they are born to now, and certainly into the future, students’ worlds are regularly influenced by technology. To stay relevant and competitive moving forward, today’s students need to become more adept at thinking critically, solving problems creatively and using technology to explore the curriculum through real-world examples and evidence that speaks to them and their interests.”

The school’s One-to-One Tablet PC program is the next step in enhancing technology in the classroom at Santa Margarita. While students have worked on laptops in select classes for many years, the full implementation of the One-to-One Tablet PC Program will provide Santa Margarita students with access to information, resources and interactive capabilities which were previously not possible enriching the classroom and student experience.

For more information about the program visit http://edtech.smhs.org/

What is included in the SMCHS One to One Tablet PC Program?

• A dynamic curricular experience
• Tablet sleeve
• Access to spare tablets for quick exchanges
• Access to replacement parts (battery, power cords, and styluses)
• Latest Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Publisher, Outlook, etc.)
• Classroom management and collaboration software (DyKnow)
• Antivirus protection
• Learning Portal Online Learning Management System
• On-site repairs and technical support at the SMCHS Tech Service Center
• Accidental Damage Protection
• Warranty
• Wireless network access in every classroom with technical support
• Fast internet connectivity
• Internet Content Filtering
• Upgraded robust infrastructure, storage, and security
• Extensive faculty training on the use of the program
• Student training on the use of the program.
• Use of a state-of-the-art Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga

• Ten-Finger Multi-touch screen
• Intel Core i5 or more
• Windows 8.1 64-bit
• 12.5” FHD Display
• 4GB Memory base
• 128GB Solid State Drive base