February 1st
February 1, 2012 was Digital Learning Day, a day of nationwide celebration of innovative teaching and learning through digital media and technology that engaged students and provides them with a rich, personalized educational experience. (Digital Learning Day. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.digitallearningday.org/)
The State of Maine makes every day Digital Learning Day as we’ve had a 1:1 computing program for 10 years in our Middle Schools and over half of our High Schools. To hear Commissioner Steven Bowen talk about the success of Maine and MLTI, please visit http://www.maine.gov/mlti/dld/
On February 1, 2012, Governor LePage released an Executive Order, “An Order to Expand Opportunities for Digital Learning”, directing the Maine Department of Education to develop a plan for expanding the digital learning opportunities available to Maine students. Governor LePage’s executive order directs the Department to consult students, parents, educators, technology experts and others in crafting a plan for expanding access to digital learning statewide and training educators to leverage the power of technology to offer students engaging, customized educational experiences.
Among other topics, the plan will likely address how students can access online classes as part of their educational experience, how schools can leverage online resources to allow students to study topics schools might not be able to offer in-house, and how students can learn to use online resources effectively when conducting academic research.
“Maine has been a leader for more than a decade in providing students with laptops that they use to personalize and enrich their educational experiences,” said Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen. “Now it’s time to think about how we want Maine’s digital learning program to evolve so more of our students can use technology to learn anytime, anywhere and in ways that are meaningful to them. We also need to have a plan that addresses how our teachers can stay on top of the most effective practices for integrating technology into everyday instruction.”
Read the full press release and see a copy of the Executive Order online at http://www.maine.gov/mlti/dld/
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