Atlanta Public Schools showcased its commitment to innovation in the classroom by celebrating 100 educators who completed a unique program designed to equip educators with tools, skills, and strategies specifically related to the integration of technology and personalized learning in both virtual and physical classrooms.
The Fellows were honored at a Celebration of Learning on Wednesday, May 18 where they shared the work they created and the skills learned through this experience.
APS Superintendent Dr. Lisa Herring engaged with the crowd, reinforcing that “APS is serious about our commitment to innovation” and challenged the fellows to “jump in to what is next in technology by sharpening your ability to create, change ideas, and increase their curiosity.”
Last September, 100 APS teachers, media specialists, instructional coaches, and technology educational specialists, led by the APS Department of Instructional Technology, set out to reimagine the future of public education through technology as the first cohort of EdFarm Innovation Fellows here in Atlanta. The partnership with EdFarm – a non-profit organization focused on increasing educational equity, improving learning outcomes through technology, and preparing the nation’s future workforce for careers in the 21st Century – was brought to the area with Dr. Herring’s arrival at APS. Â
“This is an opportunity for these educators to positively impact those who they already serve,” said Waymond Jackson, CEO of EdFarm. He added that this program “puts educators and schools at the center of building talent for the jobs of tomorrow.”
All year the Fellows met monthly with EdFarm coaches to learn high tech skills with high tech tools, work on their Apple certifications, and focus on projects in areas such as equity, digital citizenship, innovation, and professional learning.
The Fellows earned badges for the completion of Learning Experience Designs (LEDs) every month. All Fellows are Apple Certified Teachers and have earned 16 Apple Teacher badges through the Apple Teacher Center, including Swift Coding and various Macbook and iPad badges that familiarized IFs with how to incorporate Apple tools (Keynote, Pages, Numbers, iMovie and Garageband) into their teaching practice.
