Ottawa High School will continue to serve as a pilot school for an iPad learning initiative.

The Ottawa school board, in a split 4-2 vote, agreed Monday night to continue the pilot program with Kansas City, Mo.-based Lumen Touch’s Students Achievement Management Curriculum software through the remainder of the school year. But the board stipulated that no software purchase would be made until the district could complete a thorough study of the program. The company is not charging the school district a fee for serving as a pilot school during the 2012-2013 school year.

Ottawa High School will continue to serve as a pilot school for an iPad learning initiative.

The Ottawa school board, in a split 4-2 vote, agreed Monday night to continue the pilot program with Kansas City, Mo.-based Lumen Touch’s Students Achievement Management Curriculum software through the remainder of the school year. But the board stipulated that no software purchase would be made until the district could complete a thorough study of the program. The company is not charging the school district a fee for serving as a pilot school during the 2012-2013 school year.

The SAM software provides a platform for a paperless, one-student-to-one-mobile learning device experience — often referred to in education circles as a one-to-one learning solution. The software can be used on iPads, laptops and other mobile devices, according to Lumen Touch representatives.

OHS is using iPads as the mobile device of choice to run the SAM software in two of its math classes.

SAM is a centralized software product that organizes, manages and maintains curriculum in one integrated solution, Mark Brigman, executive vice president of partner development for Lumen Touch, said in a recent interview. 

Susan Ward, school board president, said Tuesday she wants to ensure the program meets the district’s curriculum standards.

“My concern is that we have a clear direction, from a curriculum standpoint,” Ward said Tuesday. She cast one of the dissenting votes Monday night along with board member Marge Stevens. “This [SAM software] can be used on laptop computers and other [devices] — it’s not just for iPads. So, I want to make sure we are using the right platform.”

OHS students who recently were polled in math teacher Kristi Miller’s Algebra 2 class said they think the one-to-one learning initiative is the wave of the future. 

“I like that we can do everything on the iPad — there’s no textbook to carry around,” Katie Wooge, OHS sophomore, said in an earlier interview.

Students in the algebra class craft their answers to lessons described in detail on YouTube videos 13-year educator Miller has self-produced as part of the school’s new iPad course initiative with the SAM software. Math teacher Keith Lane’s geometry classes also is testing the software.

“Feedback from students and teachers has been phenomenal,” Ryan Cobbs, OHS principal, said in an earlier interview. “The level of engagement is very impressive to see, and with this one-to-one system, students are allowed to work at their own pace, which improves their learning.”

Board president Ward said she would sign off on the program if the questions about the curriculum and platform are adequately addressed.

“I think it’s an exciting educational tool for the students,” Ward said.

Doug Carder is senior writer for The Herald. Email him at dcarder@ottawaherald.com