Enterprise IT vendor Microsoft last week said Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) will purchase 150,000 HP Elitebook 810 Revolve Windows 8.1 devices for all students and teachers over the next four years.
“Through our Student Advantage offer, the district which is already providing Office to faculty and staff, can now offer the productivity suite to students at no additional cost,” said Margo Day, vice president, U.S. Education, Microsoft, in a blog post.
As per its IT strategy — Blue Print 2.0, Theory of Action –, BCPS will provide ongoing training to educators to help them understand the conceptual changes that will take place in this modern learning environment and improve skills to increase student success.
Curriculum offices are currently collaborating on development of a framework and template for use in BCPS One, the new digital portal for curriculum and instruction, assessments, student data, reporting, and analysis.
Through Microsoft Educators Network (formerly Partners in Learning Network) educators will have access to online resources and a network of more than 11 million educators.
Students in grades K, 1, 3, 4, and 5 at the district’s ten Lighthouse Schools will begin the pilot phase of this district-wide conversion to a 1:1 digital learning environment, said Microsoft.
Meanwhile, Microsoft formally announced plans to open the first U.S.-based Microsoft Innovation Center (MIC) in Miami.
Based in downtown Miami, the innovation center will offer tools and services to startups, governments, students, faculty and the greater Miami community. In addition, the Miami MIC will serve as a gateway connecting the U.S. to the Latin America region. It will also offer Miami’s tourism and travel industry access to this talent pool, and help attract other tourism-based businesses to open offices in the city.
