Learning the Lay of the Land in a Laptop Classroom
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The 21st Century classroom is a technology-rich, interactive, fast-paced environment that presents standards based curriculum in new, engaging ways. Education specialists at NC State University led teacher and administrative teams through two intensive three-day institutes focusing on best practices to enhance and assist 1:1 initiatives currently in North Carolina’s schools.
The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation (FI) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction held the third annual Leading Innovation: Implementing Effective 1:1 Learning Technology Programs Institute, July 7-9 and July 14-16. The Institute enabled participants to explore best practices for 1:1 implementation as well as teaching and learning in a 1:1 environment.
Superintendents, principals, technology directors, instructional technology facilitators and lead teachers attended classes directed by educational specialists at the FI. “You are in the hands of some of the best in nation to lead and support your professional development,” said Mark Sorrells, Senior Vice President at Golden LEAF Foundation.
Administrators attended sessions to discuss how to manage change effectively, secure buy-in from parents and the community; provide technical support and professional development for teachers; create a strategic plan; and address funding issues. Teachers participated in content-specific sessions that addressed designing and teaching rigorous lessons 
leveraging some of the latest tools in technology.
Teams devoted time to facilitated discussion of how to plan and implement effective 1:1 learning technology initiatives. “Networking with other 1:1 schools and sharing information was most beneficial,” commented one district administrator. “I enjoyed the opportunity to engage with the personal, one-on-one help,” stated one teacher. “It was nice to have the time to work with the tools we were shown and then have the time to meet with our entire group for school planning,” said another teacher participant.
District and school leadership teams participating in the Golden LEAF Foundation Readiness Initiative and the IMPACT-Continuation Program attended. Click here for more information about the 1:1 Learning Collaborative.
