Washburn Elementary School kindergarten student Nicole Agousso shows off the Apple iPad she was given in class Wednesday afternoon. For a video of the first day with iPads at Washburn, visit sunjournal.com/ipadrollout.

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AUBURN — Educators from across the United States and as far away as Chile will be here this week to learn how kindergarten students are using iPads for reading and math.

From Wednesday through Friday, the School Department is hosting educators in a sold-out Leveraging Learning: The iPad in Primary Grades Institute.

It's the first national conference examining the educational benefits of the iPad tablet computer, School Committee member Thomas Kendall said.

The conference will be held at the downtown Hilton Garden Inn.

On opening day, keynote speakers will be former Gov. Angus King and Maine Commissioner of Education Stephen Bowen. Former Auburn Superintendent Tom Morrill, who proposed Auburn buy all of its kindergarten students iPads before he retired last year, will also tell Auburn's story.

Bowen and King will talk about learning in the past, present and future.

King is a big supporter of Auburn's iPad for all 285 kindergarten students, a $240,000 plan that has been controversial with some taxpayers. King is adamant about the advantages technology provides for students, and is a big supporter of Auburn's iPads for kindergartners.

When governor 10 years ago, King pushed for legislation to give all Maine public school seventh-graders laptop computers, a plan many legislators initially balked at, but one that passed. Today, state taxpayers provide laptops for seventh- and eighth-graders. Most experts consider laptops a success, saying the technology enhances student learning.

Throughout Maine, about half of the state's high school students have laptops paid for in part by local taxpayers.

This year, Auburn is giving kindergarten students iPads in two phases: half of the classes received iPads in September, the rest will get them next month. The School Department will compare test scores to see how students with and without the technology learned.

It's expected that those with the iPads learned more. Teachers have said students are more engaged and learning numbers and letters better with iPads. Teachers also say the technology allows students to learn at their own pace.

If the test data show technology did boost student learning, Auburn plans to secure grant money to pay for iPads this fall, releasing local taxpayers from that cost.

On Thursday and Friday, the conference will explore how Auburn brought iPads to kindergarten, as well as looking at curriculum, assessment, data and research. Kindergarten classroom teachers who have used iPads with their students will share what they've learned and what they've experienced.

Jeff Mao will offer leadership lessons from 10 years of the Maine Department of Education providing laptops for middle school students. During one afternoon, a panel of national experts will work with Auburn teachers using iPads in classrooms.

And several of Maine's students considered leaders in technology in education, including Oak Hill High School senior Chris Jones, will talk about schools designing environments that support students.

Auburn schools will allow some conference attendees to visit classrooms and see kindergarten students using iPads.

For more information, go to http://institute2011.auburnschl.edu/Agenda.html