Blake is delighted to announce that at its November 9 meeting, the Blake Board of Trustees approved the recommendation from the School’s Technology Advisory Committee to implement an Upper School 1:1 laptop program starting in the fall of 2010. Next year every Upper School student will be issued a school-owned MacBook laptop, complete with the software that supports the curriculum, for use at home and away from school.

The decision to move to a 1:1 laptop program stems directly from our mission (to provide students with an excellent, academically challenging education in a diverse and supportive community committed to a common set of values. Students are expected to participate in an integrated program of academic, artistic and athletic activities in preparation for college, life-long learning, community service, and lives as responsible world citizens) and reflects the School’s commitment to preparing students for the 21st century.

The decision to move to a 1:1 program was made after carefully and exhaustively examining a myriad of factors. For more than two years, Blake’s Technology Advisory Committee has been looking at the feasibility of such a proposal, alternatives, programmatic sustainability and the impact such a move would have on new approaches to teaching. The committee surveyed Blake families and parents of students in the Upper School’s current laptop pilot program, scheduled meetings with parents, met with PK-12 department chairs, Upper School faculty and other key subcommittees of the Board on the recommendation to introduce a 1:1 laptop program for students in grades 9 through 12. This recommendation has received positive feedback from all groups, and these various sessions have been invaluable in the committee’s work to refine the plan and recommendation.

Benefits
The benefits of implementing a 1:1 program for Blake students are many including (but not limited to):

• Improves Learning — Differentiated instruction can be more readily delivered when all students have a laptop.
• Efficiency and Flexibility — Homework assignments using technology (Moodle, Internet, specialty applications) can be given with the confidence that all students can accomplish this work at home, thus maximizing discussion and conceptual exploration during class-time. More face-to-face contact time with teachers is possible compared to time spent managing computer carts and moving to and from labs.
• Technology and Information Literacy Skills — Laptop ownership results in greater skill, comfort and confidence using technology including composition, research, data analysis, production, and understanding of ethical use of these tools.
• Textbook Evolution — We have already begun to incorporate interactive electronic-based content and “intelligent” online programs in place of some traditional textbooks. This can reduce the cost of classroom materials and the weight of backpacks.
• Access — Provides an extension of classroom learning. All students are able to access remote files, school e-mail and school software from home thus eliminating compatibility issues.

Next Steps
The Technology Committee will review options and finalize the software and hardware selections no later than May 2010. Please note we plan on holding parent meetings to answer questions about the 1:1 initiative yet this winter and into the spring.

The details of the implementation and financial aspects of the laptop program will be shared out to families over the coming months as information becomes available. Watch this space as well as Bear Essentials, Parent News and your divisional publications (Parent Link, Bearometer and eFriday Folders) over the coming months for details. Please see some of the current answers to frequently asked questions here.

We look forward to sharing more details of this exciting program, including curricular enhancements and evolving School policies regarding laptop use in the coming months. We look forward to the benefits of issuing each Upper School student with his/her own laptop as a critical step in providing our students with the best education here at Blake and in preparation for their future lives.

John Gulla
Head of School

Marilyn Kelley
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