Edgecombe County Public Schools is committed to integrating technology tools and skills into the teaching and learning process across the district. We know that our students will have to be able to incorporate new skills not only in their classrooms of today, but also in higher education and the world of work and careers of the future. We also recognize that our students are digital natives, used to an environment full of electronic information and tools such as smartphones, electronic gaming devices, the internet, and the like. It is our responsibility to incorporate these realities into the teaching and learning process at all levels of the district.

Listed below are some of the efforts that we are using in our schools to enhance teaching and learning with the use of technology tools. Those efforts include the 1:1 laptop program in our high schools, the incorporation of interactive boards in lower grades, handheld devices, and the use of Web 2.0 tools in teaching and collaborative efforts so that teachers and administrators can effectively use these tools to positively impact student achievement and instructional delivery.

District Leadership Team members participated in 21st Century leadership training that modeled the tools needed to lead change. The focus of the training was to assist administrators in closing the digital disconnect between administrators and teachers and teachers and students. The outcomes explored during the training are listed below:

• Understand the difference between 20th Century versus 21st Century Education and identify specific steps to lead this change.

• Reflect upon e-Leadership strategies and principles (to include the need for change, the fear often associated with change and discussion of how to meet resisters and make postivie change) that help charge forward and create a culture of e-Learning.
• Examine ISTE National Technology Standards for Principals and the reality of those standards that drive the work principals do.
• Assess and evaluate innovative practices with strategies to dialogue the data and discuss assessment with faculty along with sample assessment tools and rubrics.
• Discuss the 5 Tiers of e-communication and e-collaboration and reflect which level the district and school functions.

For more information visit the International Society for Technology in Education website for Administrators or Teachers.

1:1 Laptop Initiative
In 2008, Edgecombe County Public Schools embarked on a 1:1 laptop program in all high schools in the district. Teachers and students have access to a laptop computer to take advantage of 24/7 learning. This program continues to be highly successful in our efforts to enhance learning and technology skills for our students.

iPod Touch Project
A select 8th grade team will be working with the iPod Touch. Students can conduct research on the Internet, collaborate with project teammates, watch educational videos/lectures/podcasts, exhibit tours, and documentaries and try their hand at various educational applications.

Intel Teach Program (Project Based Learning)
In our district, there are 162 Intel Teachers in 14 schools. There are 21 Master Teachers. Edgecombe County Public Schools used a Train-the-Trainer model. Master Teachers at each school site provided the Intel Teach Couse to Participant Teachers at their school. Elementary and Middle School teachers received a laptop and data projector upon completion of the course. High school teachers received an interwrite Pad and a document camera upon completion of the course. To learn more about the Intel Teach program, please visit www.intel.com/education/teach/.

Virtual Public High School
ECPS was selected to be a pilot district for the NC Virtual Public School. As a result NC Virtual Public School and Learn and Earn online will provide the students with expanded academic options by offering online courses and online services such as test preparation, career planning services and credit recovery to North Carolina students. Students will now have access to courses and highly qualified teachers in subjects that they may not have available in the district. Because of the 1:1 initiative, ECPS students can more easily take advantage of this virtual learning environment. 



Additional Information and Resources

Rural and Rising Presentation

e-learning in Edgecombe video

SAS Success Story

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

WRAL-TV Laptop Program coverage

e-School News Tech Savvy Superintendent Award Press Release