6 weeks Into Our 1to1 Initiative

6 Weeks into our 1to1 laptop Journey!

MFL MarMac High School is now 6 weeks into our 1to1 laptop initiative.  Our “BLAST” off  (Bulldog Laptops Accelerating Student Technology) was held for grades 9-12 on August 17-18.  That was the day that it became educational practice instead of educational planning.

Last spring, all K-12 teachers received new MacBooks.  We held 2 days of training in iLife and iWork for all K-12 staff.  August 18-19, we held 2 days of technology training.  The HS had Apple come in and worked on Integrating Technology into the Curriculum.  The K-8 had AEA personnel in and worked on age appropriate technology integration.

The 1to1 is a HS initiative, but Technology Integration into the Core Curriculum is a K-12 professional development focus.

We have had 2 days of Professional Development covering How technology integrates into the Characteristics of Effective Instruction.   Deb Henkes, Jason Martin-Himer, Amy Holst and Sarah Seick did a wonderful job of exemplifying and modeling the Characteristics of Effective Instruction.  They didn’t lecture to us about not lecturing.  They modeled and teachers appreciated this.

I have been amazed at how quickly our staff has responded to the Board of Education directive.  Teachers are trying new techniques and students seem to be responding and seem more engaged.

I have seen:  Blogs; Wikis; Outstanding classroom websites; Movies; Paperless classrooms; Flipped classrooms; BackChannels for students; Fast Math; Collaborations with other schools with Skype; Prezi’s; and many other tools to engage students into the curriculum.

We have come farther on this journey than I had ever dreamed we would be at this point.  We need to keep in mind that this will always be a journey and not a destination.