July 22, 2009
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Lower Merion School District has long recognized the potential for technology to improve and enhance the educational experience of our students. Early technology implementations in the mid-1980s focused on the installation of computer labs at each school. In the early 1990s the vision expanded to include more computers in individual classrooms and libraries. The late 90's saw an emphasis on ensuring that every teacher had a computer and that all classrooms were networked and had access to the Internet. The next progression in our technological development is a "1-to-1" initiative where every high school student will have access to their own laptop computer at any time. This initiative, which has been in the visioning and planning stages for years, will become a reality at both high schools at the start of next school year (Fall 2009).
The major goals of this initiative are to provide students with 21st Century learning environments both at home and in school, and to give all students access to technology resources. We have the opportunity and the responsibility to utilize research-based, technology-enabled practices to inspire and capture the imagination of our students. LMSD seeks to create a learning environment that fosters deeper cognitive development through inquiry, real and relevant project-based learning, and differentiated instruction – all supported by continuous access to digital technologies. Students will have the ability to work on projects and research both at school and at home. They will have 24/7 access to the software that they use in school. We believe that the laptop is an essential tool to assist them in thinking critically, analyzing data, solving real world problems and publishing their work.
The funding for this initiative has been made possible through the support of $721K in state grants as well as local funding, (LMSD was one of the first 21 school districts in the state to receive grants through the state's "Classrooms for the Future" initiative.) In the past few years, the District has provided every high school Math, English, Social Studies and Science classroom with laptops in carts. The latest round of state and local funding enables us to address the goal of equity of access for all high school students.
A committee consisting of high school teachers and administrators, technology personnel, parents, and students has developed a comprehensive plan to address the complexities of the project. Staff development for teachers has been a top priority; the District’s nationally recognized tech mentoring program assists teachers in infusing technology into instructional practices. The District has also installed and developed a robust and stable infrastructure and wireless access throughout the District to make this possible. With that said, we know that students and parents will have many questions and we have addressed a number of initial questions in the attached FAQ. This document will be posted in the technology section of the District website, http://www.lmsd.org/, and updated as questions come in from the community. Information about 21st Century learning can be found at http://www.21stCenturyskills.org/ and the Classrooms for the Future PDE initiative can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/4lzfax. Additional communications about the 1-to-1 initiative will be mailed to District families this summer.
This is an exciting initiative and one that we believe will continue the LMSD tradition of improving learning through technology. Districts and schools around the nation have been implementing 1-to-1 initiatives for more than a decade. We have taken a measured approach to implementation, electing to move forward at a time when we could fully maximize our opportunities and resources. I am pleased to announce that our time is now.
Sincerely,
Christopher W. McGinley, Ed.D.
Superintendent
