The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Region 10 advances tech in classrooms with laptops
BURLINGTON — Lewis S. Mills High School kicked off the school year by launching a one-on-one computer program environment and distributing Bak USA Atlas laptop computers to students in grades 9-12.
Bak USA is a Buffalo-based “social enterprise” company that prides itself on handcrafting their own computers in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Its mission is to build accessible technology while making high quality jobs available in the United States.
Region 10’s technology team, teachers, administrators and Board of Education technology committee spent the last two years preparing for the launch, which is phase one of a multiyear plan to improve technology at all four Region 10 schools.
“A 1:1 environment grants us the unique opportunity to transform the teaching and learning experience for all students and prepare for a strong transition to college and future careers,” said Cheri Burke, Director of Student Learning for Region 10. “We believe this improved level of technology readiness is necessary to create dynamic learning environments that support creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking within a personalized learning environment.”
To achieve these goals, every student in grades 9-12 was given a district-owned Personalized Learning Device (PLD) for his/her use during their time at Lewis Mills.
Students in grades 5-8 at Har-Bur Middle School will benefit from an improved environment for teaching and learning with an influx of laptop carts that will no longer be in use at the high school.
Burke said, “Region 10 is committed to the continual improvement of the educational environment. Our goal is to transform teaching and learning, and support inquisitive learners, innovative leaders, and responsible citizens with purposeful and responsible technology integration from preschool to grade 12.”