In the future, every child, every young person and every teacher at a Heilbronn school will receive a tablet or other mobile device free of charge as part of an educational concept. The city of Heilbronn is thus launching the "Heilbronn Digital Education Offensive" project. For several years now, the city has been systematically expanding the digital infrastructure of its schools as part of its digitization strategy, making them fit for the future. "With the 'Heilbronn Digital Education Offensive', we are now taking the next step: providing our approximately 20,000 students with devices without their parents having to pay for them," says Mayor Harry Mergel. "As far as we know, this is unique in Germany for a large city of this size."
Equal opportunities are still one of the main goals of Heilbronn's education policy. Scientific studies show time and again how closely social background is linked to digital participation. This is set to change in Heilbronn: "The 'Heilbronn Digital Education Offensive' is a huge step towards educational equality," Mergel is convinced.
The city is working with the federal government, the state and the Dieter Schwarz Foundation. "We are happy to support the city of Heilbronn in the digitization of schools," explains Silke Lohmiller, managing director of the Dieter Schwarz Foundation. "In our view, the basic requirement is a well-thought-out concept of how mobile devices can be used effectively in teaching. This is where aim supports the qualification of teachers."
Comprehensive digital equipment for all Heilbronn schools
The "Heilbronn Digital Education Initiative" project runs until 2030. By then, the tablet PCs and laptops should be available to all schools run by the city of Heilbronn - from primary to vocational schools. The city has already provided internet connections and comprehensive WiFi as well as digitally equipped classrooms in most schools and has equipped classrooms digitally, for example for presentation technology. The city is also increasingly taking over the IT support that has previously been provided by teachers. In the future, they should be able to devote themselves entirely to teaching.
The school management decides on the use of digital devices. The prerequisite is the approval of the majority of teachers. The pedagogical concept of a school is of great importance in this regard. The school can apply to participate informally by email to the School, Culture and Sports Office with a maximum two-page usage concept.
Therefore, the “Heilbronn Digital Education Initiative” also includes the qualification of teachers so that they can effectively implement technical and pedagogical concepts. “Investments in digital educational infrastructures, pedagogical concepts and the targeted qualification of teachers go hand in hand,” says Social Affairs Mayor Agnes Christner.
The Academy for Innovative Education and Management Heilbronn-Franken (aim) offers support to school management and teachers. The focus is on thematic training, individual advice on conceptual issues and qualifications for the teachers and teams at the schools.
Personalized devices remain the property of the city
"Digitalization is shaping our world," Agnes Christner is convinced. "Where, if not in our schools, should the necessary digital skills be taught and learned?" That is why Heilbronn schools are already working with tablets, for example iPads in class, which are then available in the classrooms and can be taken out of a charging case as needed.
New to the “Heilbronn Digital Education Offensive” project is the so-called 1:1 scenario, which means that every child is provided with a personalized device. Legally speaking, the devices remain the property of the city of Heilbronn. However, the students are allowed to take the devices home for school purposes, such as homework.
The devices are equipped with Mobile Device Management (MDM) so that the tablets can only be used for school purposes. Resale is also excluded. The experience of the Heilbronn school authorities shows that students have handled the devices provided to them very responsibly in the past.
The “Heilbronn Digital Education Offensive” was presented to the school management, parent representatives and student representatives of the Heilbronn schools on Tuesday, October 24, in the forum on the education campus.
