Target 3 – Flexible Learning Environments. FWSU will maximize flexible learning environments by redefining the school day, promoting learning experiences that extend beyond the school classroom, and fostering creativity, innovation, and differentiated learning opportunities for all.
Action Step -Provide students with access to content, resources, and methods for learning beyond the school day and beyond the school walls.
Indicator of Success – Staff, students and community embrace the digital, social, mobile and “always on” learning styles of 21st century students.
Over 20 FWSU teachers are now involved in a pilot project to select a Learning Management System (LMS). The selected will be launched in all K-12 classrooms next year.
So what is a LMS? It is a system that provides classrooms with tools and services needed to create a safe digital learning classroom network. There are many benefits which lead to a more efficient teaching and learning experience for students and parents. A LMS also serves as a “one stop shop” for news, announcements, messages, discussion groups, assignments, file submission systems, blogs, quizzes, projects, presentations, lessons, grading, feedback and calendaring with one user account for each participant – all these tools are available to students and teachers at the click of a button
A LMS also keeps the channels of communication open for parents like never before, and will become an essential part of operating schools more effectively and efficiently next year and into the foreseeable future. It will allow for increased student engagement in a flexible learning environment and will assist with the implementation of student personal learning plans (PLPs). Both of these essential components are mandated by Act 77 which our schools are now implementing.
Students will greatly benefit from being able to access all of the valuable school resources while at home, on the bus or at school. Some of the elements that will be part of our system are (including those mentioned above):
- The ability for parents, students, and teachers to easily access all content in one location.
- The ability to create class rosters using our current student management system (PowerSchool)
- The ability to upload and manage documents containing curriculum content.
- The ability to deliver course content over a web-based interface, facilitating a remote educational experience for the instructor and student.
- The ability to create and publish course calendars.
- The ability to interact between students using functionalities like instant messaging, email, and forums within a protected environment, monitored by the school system.
- The ability to establish methods for assessment and testing if needed.
- The ability for students to maintain their e-portfolio (PLP).
Teachers involved in the pilot will use the time to judge which of our three finalists are the most intuitive, easy to use and offer the most tools to make our students as successful as possible. The three finalists are:
If you have questions about the pilot you can contact a school administrator or ask one of our committee members. The LMS Committee is comprised of educators and administrators from all FWSU schools: Tony Hardy (GEMS), Jasmine Tremblay (FES), Mary Lynn Riggs (FWSU), Rhonda Siemons (BFA), Frank Calano (GEMS), Angelique Fairbrother (FWSU), Eric Hadd (GEMS), Dayle Payne (GEMS), Joe McSoley (BFA), Ned Kirsch (FWSU), and Vicki Pinault (BFA).
The FWSU Story 