Future Ready Learning

SETTING FUTURE GOALS: GUIDANCE ON ASSESSING YOUR CURRENT SITUATION
These questions address many of the important considerations for districts as they
begin the development of a comprehensive plan for learning with technology. More
detailed information and guidance can be found in the U.S. Department of Education’s
Future Ready Schools: Building Technology Infrastructure for Learning.
• What is your vision for learning that the technology infrastructure will be
supporting?
• ●What digital learning content, tools, and resources will be supported?
• How many and what types of devices will be supported?
• What kind of professional development will teachers need to become proficient
with digital learning?
• What is your current network capacity?
• What is the current state of your physical infrastructure?
• What resources are available to fund this transition?
DEVELOPING A MULTI-YEAR APPROACH: BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL
DISTRICT’S (BCPS) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR LEARNING WITH TECHNOLOGY
To achieve its goal of ensuring that every school has an equitable, effective, digital
learning environment and that all students and teachers have the personal technology
they need to participate fully in connected learning, BCPS has developed and is implementing
the Students and Teachers Accessing Tomorrow (S.T.A.T.) initiative.
S.T.A.T. is a multi-year plan for the transformation of BCPS that includes the following
eight conversions:
1. Curriculum. BCPS teachers are creating a digitally enhanced curriculum that
redefines how to deliver instruction in a learner-centered, blended learning environment
while raising expectations and that places greater emphasis on critical
thinking and analytical skills.
2. Instruction. All BCPS teachers will facilitate learning that includes the use of technology
where appropriate. BCPS One, a fully integrated technology platform that
brings together all of the district’s programs and initiatives, offers a single interface
for students and teachers to access blended curriculum content, including
digital resources for teaching and learning.
3. Assessment. BCPS One will give teachers the ability to access and administer curriculum-aligned
formative and summative assessments easily, as well as access a
system-wide grade book, with real-time access for students and parents.
4. Organizational Development. Intensive job-embedded professional learning
opportunities continue in the initiative’s 10 pilot Lighthouse Schools, which serve
as model demonstration sites with a Teacher Leader Corp turning their classrooms
into learning labs.
5. Infrastructure. BCPS currently is updating its infrastructure to support S.T.A.T.
by issuing mobile devices to instructional staff and students and by updating
networks to ensure all schools are fully wireless. In addition, BCPS has partnered
with the Baltimore County Public Library system to enable students to access the
BCPS network in any county library.
6. Policy. Current BCPS policies are under review and revision to reflect a systematic shift
in language that emphasizes empowering students and staff over mandating rules.
7. Budget. The significant changes necessary within BCPS to engage a growing and
diverse student population and prepare students for college, career, and life will
require substantial financial investment.
8. Communication. BCPS uses several communication outlets to provide information
regarding S.T.A.T., including district and school websites, newsletters, social media,
BCPS-TV, and Parent University.
OFFICE OF Educational Technology
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