Culture of Learning
Culture for an educational institution starts at the top. For Northeast Mississippi Community College, that began when our leadership team noticed students were facing challenges caused by the rising costs of textbooks and outdated, obsolete computer infrastructure. It was time to rise to the challenge and meet student needs in an equitable and forward-thinking way.
President Ricky Ford and the leadership team met the challenges head-on and Northeast's 1:1 iPad initiative was born. Every student now has the opportunity to purchase an iPad for their studies, and as a result, the college's culture has shifted to a student-centered environment. Faculty dive deeper into instruction with technology, students learn in a personalized and engaging way, and other areas of campus such as athletics, the band program, and the Success Center have harnessed the creative tools of the iPad. We earned the honor of being named an Apple Distinguished School in 2019, again in 2022, and we haven't stopped pushing the boundaries of technology in education.
Goals
Three important goals were considered when addressing the challenges students were facing in higher education:
- Equity – All students must have access to learning materials on day 1 of classes. Learning materials include course materials AND a means by which to access those materials. We want to ensure every student has the tools and support they need to be successful.
- Relevance – We want our students to be exposed to and experienced with the latest technologies so they are well prepared to enter university programs and/or the workforce.
- Affordability – The tool we provide to students must be affordable and of high quality. An equitable, student-first mindset means we put systems in place for success – even financially.
With the availability of over 200,000 educational apps, the mobility and accessibility features offered, and the protection against malware, iPad was chosen as the primary learning device for Northeast. Further, the single device would allow instructors more freedom and confidence in redesigning curricula with a technology core. Instructors can rethink their classrooms and create an environment where learning is more interactive, engaging, and student-centered.
Distinguished School Status
With such positive results infusing technology into teaching and learning, Northeast has become a national leader of technology in the classroom. In 2019, we were recognized as an Apple Distinguished School (ADS). We were the fourth community college in the world to be honored as an ADS and eighth in the nation among all higher education institutions. In 2022, we were again recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for our continued commitment to growing and learning new ways to use technology across campus. Apple Distinguished Schools not only inspire creativity in the classroom but challenge instructors and students in the areas of collaboration and critical thinking using innovative technology with documented results of academic accomplishments.
Moving Forward
At Northeast, technology isn’t confined to the classroom. In addition to academic instruction, technology has infiltrated many aspects of campus life. The Student Success Center and Library harness top-of-the-line technology to create a collaborative and supportive learning environment, athletic programs have infused technology to grow and improve, the arts and music departments have taken advantage of this powerful teaching tool for performances and exhibits, and technology has even spread into administrative functions such as monthly board meetings and program reviews. Documents are shared through Apple Books and iPad is used to access all required materials for the meetings, saving thousands of dollars on copy cost. Our use of technology also infiltrates the community through Northeast’s Mobile Learning Conference, BRIDGES, and the Career Development Academy. Through continuous reflection and evaluation, we are working to build the capacity and community to never stop growing.