Christmas has come early for USD 428 in the form of a nearly $13,000 grant from Cox Communications.
Dan Brungardt, USD 428 business manager, said the money will be used to purchase 20 iPads and a 20-user cart at Great Bend Middle School.
“Ryan Axman (director of technology) attended a meeting and learned of a grant opportunity,” Brungardt said. “Cox was looking for innovative uses of technology in schools. These computers will introduce students to emerging technologies and will also provide instruction and reinforcement of the school’s curriculum.
“Cox is excited to support USD 428 and the students at Great Bend schools,” said Janet Barnard, Cox Central Region senior vice president and general manager. “It is our pleasure to provide the latest technology equipment to the teachers, staff and faculty in Great Bend to help them develop comprehensive lesson plans to better shape the educational future of Kansas children.”
“The goal is that each day the iPads will be used by students during the after-school program for either tutoring or enrichment activities,” Brungardt said. “The iPad carts will be used by regular and extended-years program students daily.”
He added that when students are using technology as an instructional tool they are in an active role rather than the passive role.
“The student is actively making choices about how to generate, obtain, manipulate or display information,” he said. “Technology use allows many more students to be actively thinking, making choices and building skills than is typical in teacher-led lessons.”
Brungardt noted that the district is very appreciative to be a grant recipient. The only expense to the district is about $300 for software.
“It’s nice when education can partner with business to enrich the lives of students,” he said.