Athens, Ga. – A one-day interactive conference designed to enhance participants’ understanding of strategies for implementing one-to-one educational/technology environments will be hosted by the University of Georgia College of Education July 20.
The Power of One: Personalizing Learning on 1:1 Devices Workshop will provide school administrators, curriculum directors, technology coordinators and teachers with practical, personal perspectives on how to initiate, implement and sustain a one-to-one technology initiative. Session topics will include BYOT or Bring Your Own Technology to school programs, Netbooks/MacBooks/Laptops and iPads, community engagement, policies, pedagogies, technology infrastructure, professional development, funding and organization.
Speakers will include administrators, technology coordinators and teachers from the following school districts on aspects of these learning strategies:
Mooresville Graded School District, 1:1 MacBooks for Five Years
Through the vision of Superintendent Mark Edwards, Mooresville Graded School District started planning in 2007 for a transformation they called Digital Conversion. More than 4,500 laptop computers have been deployed to every 4th-12th grade student and all licensed staff across the district. Students and staff have access to these machines 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for all 180 school days. The laptops have significantly enhanced the level of student interest, motivation and engagement.
Elbert County High School, 1:1 Netbooks and eTextbooks
Elbert County Comprehensive High School was one of only five schools in Georgia to be awarded a technology grant for eTextbooks. The grant provides each high school student with a netbook that includes a wide range of digital content, such as interactive text, video links, sound files and graphics that is not available in a traditional textbook.
Forsyth County School District, State Leader in BYOT
Although multiple personal devices in the classroom present challenging managerial and technical issues, Forsyth County Schools provide a supportive environment in which students can use their own technology. FCS believes that BYOT increases student engagement, maximizes instructional time and generates authentic connections to life outside the school day. Teachers who wish to ramp up their skill set and/or comfort level with this increasingly popular 21st century methodology can take advantage of district-sponsored professional learning courses, school-based mentoring and support, and a variety of digital resources.
Greene County High School, 1:1 iPads
In January 2012, the Greene County School System implemented a major component of its School Improvement Grant with the distribution of iPads to all Greene County High School students. Whether at home, on the school bus or in the classroom, students can use the iPad to access their school work, turn in assignments, communicate with their teachers, complete research projects and explore new interests.
The workshop will be held at River’s Crossing, 850 College Station Road in Athens. The cost of registration is $125, which includes workshop materials, refreshment breaks, lunch and parking pass. The deadline for registering is July 11. To view the workshop flyer, see www.coe.uga.edu/events/files/2012/05/Workshop-Flyer.pdf. For more information and to register, see www.coe.uga.edu/events.
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