Alabama District Adds Digital Resources To Support 1:1 Program
Alabama's Baldwin County Public Schools (BCPS) has adopted a digital content in an effort to support project-based learning, differentiated learning, and more.
With 30,000 students at 45 schools, the district provides Mac Book Airs for each middle and high school student, and launched the new service, Knovation's icurio, in a limited rollout of 8,000 students last year. The initial implementation was part of the district's Digital Renaissance program and included deployment at seven district high schools and an elementary school.
Icurio provides 330,000 Common-Core-aligned digital learning resources designed to help "teachers and students effectively use technology in the learning process," according to a knovation news release. "icurio also addresses the unique learning needs of all members of the school community, including general education students, English language learners, gifted students, students working below or above grade level, and those having reading challenges or other special needs."
Features of icurio include:
- Universal Design for Learning support;
- The ability to address learning outcomes by class, lesson, and student;
- Content including games, images, simulations, text, videos, and more; and
- Free access to SAS Curriculum Pathways, Defined STEM, and BrainPop.
As part of the implementation, Knovation will also be providing professional learning through the district's Digital Renaissance Leadership Academy, which provides instruction "to teachers on how to incorporate project and problem-based learning in instruction," according to a news release.
"As we work to transform our curriculum and instruction with both changes in pedagogy and our move to a 1:1 learning environment, icurio plays an important part in helping our educators plan and differentiate our challenge-based learning projects,” said Janice Simon, instructional transformation specialist for BCPS, in a prepared statement. “The curation of the content assists teachers and students with efficient access to the best digital learning resources available. For example, with a simple click we can find robust digital materials for any readability level, which really helps us address individual student needs."
More information about Baldwin County Public Schools is available at bcbe.org.
About the Author
Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].