The Maine Department of Education has expanded the Maine Learning Technology Initiative to include teachers and administrators in high schools throughout the state.

Department of Education officials said the initiative is a critical next step in supporting Maine educators in preparing all secondary students for college, career and citizenship in the 21st Century.

While there are many subject-specific skills that are essential in making a successful transition from high school to college, there are three cross-disciplinary skills that are particularly important in this transition: autonomous reading/thinking/analysis, broad information literacy, and comfort in the use of electronic social networks. These skills reflect the rapidly changing structure of colleges and careers today, and will be emphasized in the materials and support provided by the initiative.

All educators and administrators in grades 9-12 will receive professional development, equipment and support, beginning with the 2007-2008 school year.

This initiative is an attempt at using technology as an effective tool for ongoing professional development, and helping teachers prepare their students to enter and successfully compete in the high-tech global marketplace.

Teachers at Bonny Eagle High School are receiving their laptops this month. Dennis Crowe, director of technology for SAD 6 said: “The focus of this program is about teaching and learning, not the device.”