Technology-Supported Programs at LHS
Over the past two years Liberty High School has launched a number of technology-supported programs. These programs are designed to utilize innovative technology practices to enhance learning opportunities for each and every stakeholder. The descriptions below provide an overview of several of these programs as well as links to additional information and resources where applicable.
Twitter
Liberty High School is proud to be the first school in the Carroll County Public School system to be authorized to use Twitter to communicate with our stakeholders. We use Twitter to provide timely information; more importantly, we use Twitter to tell our story. Our goal is to utilize social media to create a living record of the work being done by our staff, students, and community and to share our accomplishments towards our vision.
Open CourseWare Independent Study Courses
Did you know that students from Liberty High School are completing courses from MIT, Johns Hopkins, UC-Berkley, and other major collegiate institutions? Liberty High School is the first school in Carroll County Public Schools to offer students the opportunity to complete online courses through major universities and colleges as a part of their high school career. These courses, referred to as Open CourseWare, are college courses that universities have placed online for any individual to complete. Our students select a course under the guidance of administration, complete the class over a 9-week period in an independent study format, and then develop, complete, and present an independent research project related to the course over the second 9-week period. The culmination of the course is a presentation in front of a panel of educators, industry experts, and peers. Some previous presentations included: The Psychology of Happiness; Myths About Cancer; A Statistical Analysis of the Impact of an Increase in Minimum Wage in Maryland; and Comprehensive Study on the Nutritional and Economic Waste in School Lunch Consumption.
Flipped Classrooms
Liberty High School piloted flipped classroom instruction during the 2013-2014 school year in 4 classrooms. As the first to have a dedicated flipped classroom program in Carroll County Public Schools, LHS teachers in the pilot worked closely together to develop and refine models of flipped instruction that promoted independent and cohesive learning opportunities for students. Flipped classroom instruction is based on a simple principle: teachers have limited time to work directly with students and we need to find more efficient ways of allocating this time. In the flipped classroom teachers record 10 minute lectures to digital video and students watch these videos at home arriving to class prepared to ask questions and engage in application of material taught. The method is referred to as a flipped classroom because students acquire the content at home and practice/apply it in class --> the flip of a traditional method of instruction. At LHS this program not only supports the learner at school, but also allows parents to view course content and support the learner at home.
Professional Learning
Liberty High School is an innovator in redefining professional learning. Through the use of online modules created by teachers for teachers, digital collaborations with colleagues across the United States, and Edmodo connections, staff members at LHS are afforded a number of professional learning opportunities to capitalize on technology to build professional abilities and understanding.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
Liberty High School is working to promote personalized learning through the CCPS Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy. BYOD allows students to utilize personal electronic devices to enhance learning. At LHS, we are working hard to develop and respond to feedback from staff, students, and parents to ensure that BYOD at Liberty reflects learning in our community. The goal is for students to have access to materials that enhance and extend learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom.