School District 161's Technology Initiative

On Monday Jan. 23, Board of Education meeting featured a presentation of the district’s proposed Technology plan, the “21st Century Learning Initiative”. Superintendent, Mr. Craig Doster, and the district’s technology team proposed a five year plan for implementing the initiative. The 21st Century Initiative is on the cutting edge of education and school technology.

District 161‘s technology committee created a motto for this paradigm shift in 161 students’ education; “21st Century Learners Today; Leaders Tomorrow.” The goal of the district is for students’ to graduate from the kindergarten through 8th grade with the knowledge, pride, and resources to succeed in the work force beyond education.

The plan suggests a restructure of the district’s technology infrastructure, providing teachers with Apple laptops and classroom technology, and within the five years each School District 161student will be provided with one to one technology such as MacBook laptops or iPad tablets. The 21st Century Initiative was devised in connection with the district’s Strategic Plan, the Common Core standards, and research-based analysis. Research of schools with one to one technology, has shown an improvement in student learning and achievement, facilitates differentiation of instruction, fosters problem-based learning and inquiry based learning, increases student engagement, and extends learning beyond the classroom. Above all, the 21st Century Initiative prepares students for a workplace that is technology rich and driven. 

In addition to technology advancements the committee proposed a communication-based program, eChalk, be brought into the district. eChalk provides each school in the district and teacher with a website easily accessible for parents and students. During the eChalk presentation board members viewed a sample eChalk page and it’s user-friendly capabilities. eChalk allows teachers to easily post links, assignments, message boards, online quizzes, and more for parents and students to use at home. 

The 21st Century Initiative, if passed, will make School District 161 an Apple Spotlight School placing the district in the 5% nationally of schools with this technology. Flossmoor School District 161 will be the first of it’s kind in the south suburbs. 

The next school board meeting with be held on Monday February 13th at Normandy Villa in Chicago Heights. The board will be voting on the technology plan at this meeting.