UVA Wise Named an Apple Distinguished School for Second Term in a Row

Since launching the innovate2eleVAte initiative in 2019, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA Wise) has continued to bolster their commitment to innovative teaching and academic success by implementing cutting-edge digital tools into the classroom. Through a campus-wide effort to push the digital learning envelope further, the College has developed a culture of innovation, which has resulted in UVA Wise being named an Apple Distinguished School (2024-2027) for a second consecutive term.

The College at Wise was first honored in 2021 (2021-2024) as an Apple Distinguished School for its 1:1 iPad program, an initiative that provides each full-time student, faculty and staff with an iPad, Apple Pencil and smart keyboard in order to bridge the digital divide for students. Since then, UVA Wise faculty, staff and students have taken full advantage of the world of possibilities that begin on the touch screen of the iPad. 

From developing their own textbooks with faculty guidance and publishing their own music to participating in interactive experiential learning math labs, students have never been more engaged. UVA Wise’s first-year experience now also allows for students to craft digital portfolios that showcase milestones, to interact with advising materials, to access guided course reflections, and to store placeholders for capstone projects. 

“At UVA Wise technology isn’t just a tool, it’s a gateway to new ways of learning and creating,” said UVA Wise Chancellor Donna P. Henry. “We have adopted a forward-thinking approach to education that enriches learning experiences and meets each student’s’ unique needs by incorporating iPads into the classroom.”

Through semiannual technology innovation showcases, where both faculty and staff share exemplary practices and demonstrate the impact of technology in the classroom, the entire college community has been able to learn and create new opportunities for students.

Building Student Success

Donald Sorah, UVA Wise associate professor of music, has created multiple pathways for students to engage with the material in his classroom. In his Everyone Can Create Music course, all projects are created using the iPad, and students even have the opportunity to have their music released on major music streaming platforms at the end of the semester. 

His efforts with iPads led to him being named UVA Wise’s first-ever Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE) in May of 2023. Since earning ADE distinction, Sorah has managed to innovate even further, especially in his Music Appreciation class, where he and his students worked together to develop their own textbook for the class. Sorah found that, in doing this project, students were more engaged with the material and developed a deeper appreciation of the variety of musical styles presented within the course.

Wendy Martin and Rachel Clay-Keohane, both instructors of mathematics at UVA Wise, have fundamentally changed the way students learn in their classrooms. 

By creating workbooks and math labs within the iWork’s suite, both Martin and Clay-Keohane have made challenging, real-world math relatable for students. In their math education courses, they have also made it a point to demonstrate and emphasize to future teachers how important and useful iPads can be to them once they enter their own classrooms.  

“Using an iPad has allowed me to engage with students more instead of spending all my time writing equations on the board with my back to them,” said Martin. “Now I am able to view specific documents alongside of the students and work collaboratively in a way that engages everyone.”

One of their most highly favored experiential learning projects is their Dollywood project on the Numbers app. At the end of April, Martin and Clay-Keohane took nearly 50 UVA Wise students to the park to collect data, analyze ticket prices and find the fastest walking routes through Dollywood on their iPads. By analyzing the data in real time, students were able to see math in a different perspective. 

In Summary

“We see the Innovate2eleVAte initiative improving student engagement by integrating iPads into academic life. This program has fostered innovation and enhanced learning outcomes. As an Apple Distinguished School, UVA Wise exemplifies how technology can strengthen pedagogy, preparing students to become future leaders through dynamic and interactive learning experiences,” said UVA Wise Associate Provost of Academic Programs and Curriculum and Apple Liaison Sabrina Qureshi. 

Molly Perry, an instructional designer at the College, has worked diligently with faculty and staff to ensure they are not only comfortable using their iPads, but are taking full advantage of the best educational apps on their devices. 

“With the amount of innovation happening, UVA Wise is becoming a vast community of idea-sharing professionals in a way that really enhances the classroom experience for everyone involved,” said Perry.