Teaching through technology: iPads at Drayton Hall Elementary

Nestled among the historic plantations along Highway 61 in West Ashley, you find Drayton Hall Elementary School, one of several schools, leading the way when it comes to technology in the classroom. They're our Cool School of the week.

Five-year-old kindergartener Dillon Moffatt likes to read, and at his school, there's an App for that. Dillon is among more than 800 students here at Drayton Hall. This year, the entire school, teachers and students from child development to fifth grade are using iPads. Principal John Cobb says a few grades used the iPads last year, but this year it's school wide. Cobb says, "I'm very excited. This is a district initiative to explore one to one learning. Cobb says the goal is to keep kids involved and excited about education. He says, "As we know, education has become mobile, and therefore we want to explore to see how we can engage and help kids. We are able to explore. We are able to keep kids involved in education. We are able to keep them excited. When you have teachers and students engaged achievement is going to go up."

Teachers download the Apps, so they're in control of how the iPads are used. Students in Karen Bullock's second grade class are studying weather on their iPads. Bullock says, "I can work with the kids on their own level. It's really cool. It's really cool. It's so much fun, and half the time they don't know they're learning because they're having such a good time. It's really cool." Students can't download Apps or take iPads home. Five-year-old Tahra Brandon says, "I learn how to do math." Kindergarten teacher Kristi Meeuwse says, "Having the iPads allows me to individualize each child's learning. We have several children on a lot of different reading levels, ability levels, and the iPads allow me to use the Apps to individualize each child right where they are. It's not just a game. It is a tool that helps create a learning environment, and the teacher's role in it is critical. It's not just free play. They are very engaged. We have almost no discipline problems during the time we're using iPads, because they are so engaged."

Parents are excited about the technological leg up. Joyce Malloy says, "It's certainly a new wave of educating our children, and I think it's a very positive, positive, experience."

So in addition to the school's cool saxophone playing principal, what makes Drayton Hall Elementary cool? Seven-year-old Abby Presnell says, "Because we have the iPads." Seven-year-old Sunni Owens says, "They have lots of good teachers, and we can make good friends." Seven-year-old Addison Stoudennire says, "We have really good teachers." Five-year-old Dillon Moffat says, "I have the coolest school."

Drayton Hall Elementary has high student achievement. The Red Carpet school made "Adequate Yearly Progress" (AYP) for the past five years. They received the Healthy School Award from the State Department of Education. They also have strong support from parents.

This year, several schools in Charleston county will use iPads school wide. Funds for the iPads come from the Classroom Modernization Budget and a School Improvement Grant.

We want to hear about the good things that are going on at your school. Send an email to Octavia at omitchell@wcbd.com, and tell us all about it.

Maybe your school will be the next Cool School of the week.