BCS Continues to Lead the Way with
Cutting-Edge, Digital Learning
By: Barry Pace, Director of Technology
The Buncombe County Schools (BCS) 1:1 Digital Learning
Initiative, which launched for every BCS student in
grades 4-6 this past January, expands to all students
in grades 7-9 this September! This exciting technology
advancement has literally become the “go-to” learning
tool for the initial 5,500 participating students. Not
surprisingly, teachers across the school system report
student enthusiasm and participation definitely
skyrocketed since the Lenovo Yoga 11e Windows
Touchscreen convertible laptops were distributed.
Teachers also reported many new and unique learning
opportunities offered through digital learning.
“In the past, if a teacher wanted to implement an
activity that involved every child having a device, you
had to rely on students bringing their own devices or
checking them out from the media center,” said Enka
Middle School 6th grade teacher Andrea McCulloch.
“Now, you have a readily available tool to use for
research, electronic notebooks, interactive classroom
activities, and projects to extend learning. It
completely changes the whole classroom and learning
experience for everyone in the most engaging ways.”
This September the program expands to grades
7-9, which means almost 6,000 more students will
access learning in a whole new way, with the latest
technology in-hand, as they embark upon their
own 1:1 Digital Learning journey. Next year, all BCS
students in grades 10-12 will receive digital devices.
“This unique benefit and experience BCS is offering
students allows them to work on multi-functional
devices to complete assignments in various ways,
which provides them more freedom in their learning,”
said Sarah Knowles, a 4th grade teacher at Emma
Elementary. “They also get access to devices that
might not otherwise be available to them because
of the cost.”
BCS classrooms are benefiting from expanded digital
access, too. With ongoing support, teachers continue
to discover new and inventive ways to make learning
more engaging and create individualized student
experiences, which allows the personalization to
expand beyond the classroom toward new pathways
and course options.
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“I can only imagine how technology will develop
and become an integral part of our lives in the
future,” says Ms. Knowles. “The great thing is we
get to teach students how to be good citizens and
productive learners and contributors in the ever-
changing digital world.”