LHRIC’s Model Schools Kickoff Highlights New Tech Offerings

The LHRIC’s Model Schools Department unveiled its exciting lineup of professional development opportunities for 2016-17 at its Fall Kickoff event held on Sept. 27.

They included new EDchat sessions for administrators, a STEAM Support Strand initiative and a new job-embedded professional development pilot specifically for districts located far from the RIC’s Harrison location.

In her opening remarks, Model Schools Coordinator Leslie Accardo talked about the breadth and scope of the service, which now has 49 school district members in Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties.

“You are the stakeholders of this key service,” Ms. Accardo told them, adding that the Model Schools initiative is all about fostering a community of professionals and helping them provide a learning-centered education.

When asked what kind of “shift” they wanted to see in their schools, some said it was helping teachers and others to adopt a one-to-one technology initiative, while others talked about the need for changing a district’s culture so that everyone could be excited about using 21st century technology.

Senior Facilitator of Educational Technology Randy Hall reminded participants about the successful implementation of the Bright Bytes Clarity platform and championed their efforts to strengthen and improve the use of technology for teaching and learning.

The platform helps districts in their strategic planning and decision-making regarding the use of instructional technology and its impact in their classrooms. Over the last three years, district leaders throughout the local region who have used Clarity have gained insights into the experiences and needs of over 121,000 students and 31,000 faculty, noted Mr. Hall.

The BrightBytes Clarity platform is provided at no cost to districts as a benefit of membership in the LHRIC Model Schools Core Service program.

Mr. Hall stressed the 4Cs associated with the software platform, including creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking. In an effort to get them actively engaged with each other, participants were asked to think about ways they have embraced Clarity, how it differs from grade to grade in their schools and what they plan to implement this year.

A number of 15-minute “lightening lessons” were also offered as well as a glimpse of new products and services that school districts can avail of.