Tablets enrich learning in Hitchcock Catholic school classrooms

A student uses an iPad in the classroom at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Hitchcock. A recent grant helped the school purchase 50 iPads for their students to use in classrooms. (Submitted photo)HITCHCOCK — When Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Hitchcock received a grant, worth almost $12,000, from the Charity Guild of Catholic Women in Houston to buy iPads for every student, they were thrilled.

The school was able to purchase 50 iPads — one for every student — and 50 free keyboard cases through a third party. Trouble was, the third party didn’t provide support, and the school didn’t have the resources to facilitate full use of them.

That was until St. Cecilia School mom, Kasey Powers, offered her services to schools in the Archdiocese to set up, use and manage the devices free of charge for the early grades.

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School took her up on the offer, and Powers and her team’s support services have enabled the school to enrich the teaching and learning experience. Now, teachers are using an array of apps for reading, math and science as well as for communication.

Powers, who has a background in teaching, is part of the Apple education team that supports schools across the country by providing training and support to help them use Apple technology in meaningful ways.

“Having a resource like Kasey who also understands Catholic schools — she comes in with a Catholic perspective, has been great, and it’s free,” said Cindy Jones, director of Educational Technology and Resource Stewardship for Catholic Schools.

Powers and her team offered to provide their expertise free of charge to schools that needed help setting up and using their iPads at an in-service day for Catholic schools’ technology educators last October.

Since then, several schools have taken advantage of their offer, enabling them to enhance the teaching and learning experience.

The administration of each school selects technology resources that will optimize its students’ learning. Jones said her job is to provide the resources for instruction, such as in-service days. She said most schools adopted iPads for younger students because they are easier to use.

“Having that device is very beneficial to the students and the teachers,” Jones said. “Apple has thousands of applications out there, and Kasey is able to provide information about what applications to use.”

Powers, who is taking OCIA classes to convert to Catholicism, said Catholic education is extremely important to her family, and she is happy to help out.

“What I value most is that his school provides an education rooted in faith, helping shape his academic growth and his spiritual foundation each day,” Powers said of her son, who is in prekindergarten.

As well as Our Lady of Lourdes, Powers and her team have been assisting other schools in the Archdiocese, including St. Francis de Sales and Assumption Catholic Schools in Houston.

“We try to pour back into the communities that are investing in us,” Powers said.

With technology being such a huge part of education, Powers said their job is to work with school leadership to help with their vision and mission. She said they can help educators with purchasing technology equipment, show them how to use the devices to the fullest extent and how to update them.

“Many of our schools already have Apple products, but often share with us they’re not sure where to begin, or how to best leverage them.” Powers said. “Our goal is to help maximize that investment by collaborating alongside each Catholic school and serving as trusted advisors for their leadership teams and educators through intentional use of technology. iPads help bring learning to life through meaningful, purposeful experiences that enable schools to make a lasting difference.”