CDW-G Wireless 1:1 Solutions Bridge Educational Technology and the Core Curriculum to Improve Student Performance
Catskill Central School District and the De La Salle Institute Harness Technology to Teach Both 21st Century Skills and the Core Curriculum
VERNON HILLS, Ill. and SAN DIEGO, Calif. - July 6, 2006 - CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G), the government and education subsidiary of CDW Corporation [NASDAQ: CDWC] and a leading supplier of brand-name Information Technology (IT) products and services to governments and educators, announced successful one-to-one computing initiatives at the Catskill Central School District, Catskill, N.Y., and the De La Salle Institute, Chicago, Ill., during the National Education Computing Conference (NECC). Both programs harness technology-focused professional development and classroom technology integration to improve student performance.
"Classroom technology will become as fundamental to the teaching process as pen and paper are today," said Chris Rother, group vice president, CDW-G sales. "Both Catskill Central School District and the De La Salle Institute underscore the recent results of CDW-G's Teachers Talk Tech® survey, validating that when teachers receive quality technology-related professional development, they understand technology's ability to fundamentally change the classroom and are better able to integrate technology into the curriculum. The result is better student performance in both technology and the core curriculum."
Catskill Central School District
Catskill Central School District recently completed the first phase of a three-year program that provides laptops to every teacher, and gives middle and high school students access to laptops via mobile laptop carts in classrooms. Beyond just equipping administrators, teachers and students with 856 laptops, 124 desktops, 20 tablets, 124 monitors and 55 laptop carts, the solution provides learning tools and instant access to student data to drive improved student performance. All 160 teachers in the district have received extensive professional development to help them prepare to use technology throughout their lessons.
The program builds upon CDW-G's success with other districts in the area. "We wanted to bring this technology to Catskill to improve education for our students," said Kathleen Farrell, Catskill Central School District superintendent. "They need to understand technology and know how to use it whether they become scientists or writers or teachers. Working in partnership with the technology experts at CDW-G, we now have a program that gives our students the opportunity to develop the 21st century skills that employers are looking for."
Through a secure wireless network, students will use laptops in every subject during the school day. Using the schools' servers, students can access their work, research projects and Web sites, and communicate with teachers more effectively. Software designed to assess student performance gives teachers a real-time understanding of student progress, enabling them to respond with either individual instruction or adjust lessons for the entire class. The technology will also enable teachers to validate that learning objectives have been met. The expanded technical capacity will help the district meet No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requirements by improving teachers' ability to disaggregate student data.
De La Salle Institute
The tablet program at the De La Salle Institute in Chicago has been five years in the making. Beginning this fall, every member of the freshman class will have his or her own tablet PC with pre-loaded software and text books, including algebra and the Bible. "Our overall goal is to increase student achievement and prepare our students for success in college," said Jorge Peña, associate principal for assessment and learning technologies at the Catholic high school. "The technology will be used in every subject because the tablets free students from strict keyboard entry, especially in science and math, and they free teachers from having to stand at the lectern, creating a more interactive and personal educational experience."
The school developed a five-step program that would ensure success. "We first envisioned this program five years ago," Peña noted, "and have worked to make sure that all the pieces fit together to benefit our students."
First, they developed a long-term technology plan that addressed the current state of technology at De La Salle, as well as professional development that emphasized instructional technology strategies. Next, the school assessed the technology skills of its faculty and provided on-going professional development sessions focusing on instructional strategies using tablet PCs and wireless-LCD projectors. De La Salle also consulted with other schools that had student tablet PC or laptop programs to understand best practices regarding curriculum development, instructional strategies, classroom management and technology infrastructure. De La Salle then worked with CDW-G to find the best products and pricing for the program. The final step of the program will be complete when students receive their tablet PCs this fall.
"Both Catskill Central School District and the De La Salle Institute understand that technology is another classroom tool that, when applied thoughtfully, can have a tremendous impact on education," said Rother. "They have invested the time and resources with professional development and technology planning to make their programs a success."
About CDW-G
CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G), a wholly owned subsidiary of CDW Corporation (NASDAQ: CDWC), a FORTUNE 500 company, is a trusted technology advisor and solutions provider to federal, state and local government agencies, as well as to educational institutions at all levels. CDW-G responds with a sense of urgency to customer technology needs, delivering best-in-class solutions from top-name brands such as Cisco, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Sony, Symantec and Toshiba. CDW-G focuses on building strong customer relationships with its knowledgeable account managers and technical specialists who provide extensive pre- and post-sales support.
For more information about CDW-G product offerings, procurement options, services and solutions, call 1.800.863.4239, or visit the CDW-G Web site at CDWG.com.
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