Peace River North School District Announces Results of Wireless Computer Writing Program Research Study

FORT ST. JOHN, British Columbia—January 13, 2004—School District 60 (Peace River North) today announced a 22% increase in its English scores as a result of its Wireless Writing Program (WWP) research study, which confirmed that its computer-based writing initiative substantially improved the academic achievement of grade six and seven students, particularly in the area of written expression. The initiative involved providing a laptop computer for each of the students involved. The results of the study showed that effectively integrating technology into the classroom improves students’ writing ability, their performance and attitudes, classroom learning environments, and parent satisfaction with schools.

“In one year, as a result of this program, we saw student’s scores improve dramatically with 92% of our students meeting provincial education standards for writing, compared with a pretest score of 70%. This represents a gain of 22%,” said David K. Vandergugten, Principal of Technology Services, School District 60 – Peace River North. “Also important is that we had an increase of 18% in the number of students exceeding the provincial writing standards.” It was based on these results that the Board of School Trustees made the decision to implement this program with all grade 6 and 7 classrooms.

“At the outset, we asked, ‘What would happen if students had constant access to their own personal laptops?’ From our experience, and from the research information we received, we know the Wireless Writing Program is making a difference to learning, and that’s why we decided to extend the initiative to all grade 6 and 7 classrooms in the district,” said Ron Samborski, Superintendent, School District #60 – Peace River North. The district currently has 1,250 iBooks deployed to students across the district. The study, initiated in February 2002, involved five classrooms of grades six and seven students and measured the impact of using wireless Apple iBook computers on their achievement levels in written expression. Data showed similar improvement at all achievement levels for both boys and girls. Teachers and parents reported that the writing program had a particularly positive impact on the attitudes and confidence of the children involved, often boys, who were struggling with motivation and attention problems.

“My son’s writing has improved with the writing program,” said Ms. Darlene Arnaly, a parent of a student at Charlie Lake School. “My son is left-handed so he hasn’t always liked to write, but with the writing laptop program, it’s been a godsend. He’s learned so much and done so well, now he’s teaching others.”

The study’s methodology involved pre and post testing using the BC Performance Standards and systematic monitoring of the program’s impact through assessment of student work, teacher, parent and student surveys, classroom observations, individual teacher research projects, and formal and informal interviews.

Teachers described the program as transforming and reported high levels of change in their teaching practices. The program provides students with more choice and responsibility, and enables teachers to give increased feedback on student writing and engage students in self-evaluation. They also reported that the iBooks greatly helped make their classrooms more efficient and collaborative.

“This program has increased the inclusion of everyone in the classroom,” said Toni Thompson, teacher at Charlie Lake School.” I have students now actively involved in their education. I have fewer classroom management problems and the students’ work is now better organized and there are fewer cases of lost homework.”

“With this program, I’ve been able to grow tremendously, recharge my career and my love of teaching,” added Al Wilson, teacher at Alwin Holland School.”

Working with educational consultant Dr. Sharon Jeroski, Research Director at Horizon Research & Evaluation, the research study continues this school year. The current phase of the program now being implemented involves all grade 6 and 7 students at all schools in the district. This follow-up research will further examine how the integration of technology affects students’ academic achievement, organizational skills, motivation, and work habits.

“Peace River North School District has done an amazing job in planning and integrating the use of our technology into the classroom to enhance the learning process for its students,” said Lynne Zucker, Sales Development Manager, Education, Apple Canada. “By continuing to work closely together in providing further teacher professional development and ongoing support, we strongly believe the positive results of their study will continue.”

“This writing program has been a great catalyst in demonstrating the importance of children having access to their own computers to learn and grow so they can achieve their goals later in life,” said Vandergugten. “As the program expands to more grades in the district over the next few years, we’ll be able to have more students enjoy the benefits of improving their written expression through the use of technology.”

Peace River North School District is noted for its innovative educational practices and the excellent cooperative relationship with its educational partners. The district encompasses rural, semi-rural and urban areas and has a population of 5600 students, served by 20 schools of varying sizes. The schools range from the one-room country schoolhouse to an ultra modern senior secondary with over 850 students.

For more information about the Peace River School District and its Wireless Writing Program, you can visit its web site at www.prn.bc.ca

For more information, contact:

David K. Vandergugten, M.Ed
Principal of Technology Services
School District #60 – Peace River North
Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada
250-262-6011

Press Contact:
Tara Hendela
Apple Canada
(905) 513-5853
[email protected]