Freedom to Learn

	About FTL
	FTL Solution Package
	Research & Evaluation
	Internet Safety Resources
	FTL Showcase Sites
	Calendar of Events
	FTL Participants Only
	One-to-One Institute
	One-to-One Blog

Freedom to Learn (FTL) is a statewide initiative aimed at improving student achievement and engagement in our Michigan schools. FTL is the catalyst for changing the way students learn and teachers teach. The demands of a 21st century educational system make this change necessary.
FTL empowers teachers to individualize instruction for every child -- truly to leave no child behind. FTL creates an environment where every child can have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), where learning occurs anytime and anywhere, where students are motivated by their own medium of expression. FTL accomplishes this new educational vision through a one-to-one learning environment, in which every student and teacher has access to his or her own wireless laptop in a wireless environment.

View an overview document about one-to-one learning environments.

View an 11-minute video about the Freedom to Learn program.

View an introduction of the School Observation Measure (SOM) and Survey for Computer Use (SCU).

The FTL program is coordinated by the Michigan Department of Education . An Overview and History of the program can be found at History and Overview .

IMPORTANT CLASS SERVER INFORMATION MARCH 31, 2008!

Please click HERE for the most recent communication providing important information regarding the Freedom to Learn (FTL) Class Server status and next steps.

ONE-TO-ONE INSTITUTE

The One-to-One Institute is a national non-profit organization that grew out of the successful Michigan Freedom to Learn program that created one-to-one teaching and learning programs in school districts across the state of Michigan. One-to-One Institute offers professional development opportunties, shoulder-to-shoulder coaching and important information regarding 21st Century Learning. For more information contact Kate Kennedy at katek@one-to-oneinstitute.org or call 517.335.0449.

HP COURSE OPPORTUNITIES

HP is making available to FTL schools a number of professional development courses as part of their educational commitment to the FTL contract. Many of these courses are geared to tech support staff, and other courses relate to Microsoft applications.

The Freedom to Learn staff would like you to look through all the courses available through HP at the HP Education & Training Site, http://www.hp.com/education/, and identify the ones you feel would be the most beneficial for either teachers or your technical support staff. Please send your ideas to Scott Wooster, swooster@gmail.chelsea.k12.mi.us.

FTL SHOWCASE SITES

Several premier FTL schools applied for, and were chosen to become FTL Showcase Sites during the 2006-07. These sites continue to be successful and participate as Showcase Sites throughout the 2007-08 school year .

ONE TO ONE PROGRAMS IN THE NEWS

eSchool News

School CIO

TechLearning

QUICK LINK TO FTL PERSPECTIVE: "WHAT IS ONE-TO-ONE?"

QUICK LINK TO PREVIOUS NEWS UPDATES

Here is your quicklink to:

FTL Progress and Results

A four page document that includes progress and results of the FTL evaluation.

Here is your quicklink to a summary of:

A Key Summary of America's Digital Schools 2006: A Five-Year Forecast

A resource guide to budgeting and planning for technology implementation in schools over the next five year.

Here is your quick link to:

Measuring the Value of One-to-One Computing: A Case Study Perspective

a 10-page article discussing one-to-one education: funding, value and resources.

Here is your quick link to:

1:1 Computing: A Guidebook to Help You Make the Right Decisions

a 44-page Special Section of the November 2005 Technology & Learning Magazine underwritten by HP, Microsoft and Intel and featuring the Michigan FTL program.