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McAllen ISD Distributes 22,000 Mobile Devices to Students And Teachers

  • By Sharleen Nelson
  • 02/07/13

In a district-wide initiative designed to promote and facilitate mobile learning in the K-12 classroom, McAllen Intermediate School District has distributed more than 22,000 mobile devices.

The goal of the challenge-based learning initiative, Transforming Learning in the Classroom, Campus and Community (TLC3) is to provide McAllen ISD instructors and students opportunities to take advantage of the most up-to-date technologies in the classroom and ensure that every student and teacher in the district has access to a mobile device.

So far, the district has distributed more than 6,000 iPads in 14 of its 32 campuses with plans to provide its 25,000 students and teachers district-wide with mobile devices in the 2012-13 school year.

To assist in the distribution of the devices as well as provide technology integration training to support the goals outlined in the initiative, McAllen has partnered with Atomic Learning to train educators and students in technology concepts through the use of step-by-step tutorials, technology integration projects, technology skills assessments, and workshops that cover technology trends such as using mobile applications and accessing and using cloud-based technology.

"Atomic Learning is a key partner in our dedication to providing our teachers the highest quality technology training resources available and supporting our students with anytime, anywhere learning," said Carmen Garcia, director of instructional technology at McAllen ISD in a prepared statement.

Headquartered in the Hidalgo County community of McAllen, TX, McAllen Intermediate School District serves roughly 25,000 students at three high schools and an early college program, seven middle schools, and 24 elementary schools. The district's operating budget for 2012-2013 is estimated at $14 million.

Founded by a group of educators, Atomic Learning partners with schools and districts to train teachers and students to effectively use technology in the classroom. For further information about Atomic Learning, visit atomiclearning.com.

About the Author

Sharleen Nelson is a freelance journalist based in Springfield, Oregon. She can be reached at [email protected].

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