Teachers "Hit The Tablets" During Technology Training

School is quickly approaching, and that means students will be hitting the books.

But first, teachers are the ones in the classroom. They are, for a modern term, “hitting the tablet” while learning about new technology.

More than 40 teachers are spending part of this week at Central Tech High School learning the basics of an iPad.

It’s a part of the district's new “iPad 1-to-1” initiative that provides each of the 1,000 students from kindergarten to second grade at four district schools with their own iPad. Funding was provided through a grant to the district.

"We're trying to move from the old chalkboard and chalk and get that tool in their hand,” said Tim Sabol, director of elementary education for Erie’s Public Schools. “We’ll Still use textbooks, still use traditional approaches, but at the same time, start to incorporate some new technology to keep them current with the way things are going."

The schools receiving grants for the new iPads are Harding Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Lincoln Elementary and Wayne School.

The goal is to help level the playing field and bring the iPads to students who might not already have them. The tablets might take some getting used to for the teachers, but teachers’ hope the kids will find it to be a fun new way to learn.

"I think it's really going to be engaging for them. It's going to help them to be motivated. I see them being more on-task with things,” said Debra Neugebauer, a second-grade teacher at Wayne School.

"The iPad initiative is a perfect opportunity and perfect example of how you can individualize education for students,” said Kathleen Farnham, principal at Harding Elementary.

The teachers will learn the basic operations of the iPad before integrating the technology into their classrooms this October.