A Learning Revolution
In April of 2012, The Grosse Pointe Academy Technology Committee presented a plan to support student-centered, experiential learning in the 21st century – and to ensure the unimpeachable quality of the “Academy Advantage.” This visionary plan led to the complete overhaul of Technology and Technology Services and was beholden to the generous financial support of our families and friends who donated a surplus of a half a million dollars through coordinated paddle raising campaigns at our annual auctions over the past three years.
The First Paddle Raising supported The Grosse Pointe Academy with the funds necessary to purchase two iMac labs, Macbook's for faculty and staff, document cameras and projectors, building wide wifi, and five shared iPad Carts. Additionally a Technology and Learning Specialist was added to the staff to provide, in-house on-going professional development. The growth mindset culture of GPA allowed for a smooth progression of transformative learning. So much so that the next year, the school went 1:1 in iPad integration and the faculty held an iPad EdCamp to share their learning with each other.
In 2013-2014, the Grosse Pointe Academy continued the development of student centered learning by ushering in a STEM program. Through the paddle raising in May of 2013 we were able to open an Innovation and Design Lab complete with a Fab Maker's Lab, Lego Robotics for Grades 1-8, a 3D printer, and ready made experiments that extend existing grade level science and math curriculums. This same school year, our middle school began REAL Learning (Real World Experiences and Applied Learning) with elective classes that focused on problem solving in areas of interest and passion. Students practiced blood typing and solved CSI crimes, created their own iPad Apps, presented balanced journalistic broadcasts on hotly debated school topics, deepened our sustainability movement, and created their own campaign to raise awareness and collect donations for a local animal shelter in need.
We moved from STEM to STEAM in the 2014-2015 school year. In addition to our already outstanding liberal arts classes we added a branch of the Detroit Children's Choir and a Suzuki Strings program in association with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Creative Movement continued to be taught starting in our Early School and continuing into Fifth Grade. Design elements were incorporated into our STEM explorations and robotics. Instead of simply putting our garden to bed in winter, we installed several student projects and pieces to continue the beauty throughout the year.
Supportive Links:
iGPA Technology
iPad Information
1:1 Frequently Asked Questions
Educational Links
Digital Citizenship Links
Below you will find documents outlining each Paddle Raising.
The First Paddle Raising supported The Grosse Pointe Academy with the funds necessary to purchase two iMac labs, Macbook's for faculty and staff, document cameras and projectors, building wide wifi, and five shared iPad Carts. Additionally a Technology and Learning Specialist was added to the staff to provide, in-house on-going professional development. The growth mindset culture of GPA allowed for a smooth progression of transformative learning. So much so that the next year, the school went 1:1 in iPad integration and the faculty held an iPad EdCamp to share their learning with each other.
In 2013-2014, the Grosse Pointe Academy continued the development of student centered learning by ushering in a STEM program. Through the paddle raising in May of 2013 we were able to open an Innovation and Design Lab complete with a Fab Maker's Lab, Lego Robotics for Grades 1-8, a 3D printer, and ready made experiments that extend existing grade level science and math curriculums. This same school year, our middle school began REAL Learning (Real World Experiences and Applied Learning) with elective classes that focused on problem solving in areas of interest and passion. Students practiced blood typing and solved CSI crimes, created their own iPad Apps, presented balanced journalistic broadcasts on hotly debated school topics, deepened our sustainability movement, and created their own campaign to raise awareness and collect donations for a local animal shelter in need.
We moved from STEM to STEAM in the 2014-2015 school year. In addition to our already outstanding liberal arts classes we added a branch of the Detroit Children's Choir and a Suzuki Strings program in association with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Creative Movement continued to be taught starting in our Early School and continuing into Fifth Grade. Design elements were incorporated into our STEM explorations and robotics. Instead of simply putting our garden to bed in winter, we installed several student projects and pieces to continue the beauty throughout the year.
Supportive Links:
iGPA Technology
iPad Information
1:1 Frequently Asked Questions
Educational Links
Digital Citizenship Links
Below you will find documents outlining each Paddle Raising.