Press release from Oldenburg Academy

The Apple iPad will be given to Oldenburg Aca- demy students next year.

(Oldenburg, Ind.) - Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception recently announced that all students and faculty members will receive an iPad for the 2011-2012 school year.

“Each year our administrative team, technology committee, and board of trustees consider what students need to enhance their educational experience for success in college and the workforce,” said President Sr. Therese Gillman, OSF. “The overwhelming answer has been ‘technology.’“

“Oldenburg Academy spent a considerable amount of time researching the pros and cons of laptops and iPads,” said Mrs. Bettina Rose, Principal. “The iPads were chosen because of their potential in providing interactive applications for curriculums in the fine arts departments, online textbooks for all courses, the ability to do research immediately, and replacing necessities like graphing calculators. We are excited to see how implementing iPads will help prepare OA students for successful, tech savvy, adult lives.”

“Other schools are using iPads for certain classes, but we have not found another school that offers iPads for all students,” said Gillman. “Oldenburg Academy’s entire campus is already wireless and our web infrastructure was just strengthened with grant money, so this is a great time to take the leap to iPads."

“The iPad fits well with our Franciscan beliefs. It is our hope that they will help us become a ‘greener’ school,” said Gillman.

Faculty members will receive iPads in March 2011 so they can receive training, become familiar with using them, and begin researching potential classroom applications. Students will receive their iPads at the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year.