A pilot program being developed in Berkshire County to evaluate a 1:1 approach of using laptop computers and wireless communication to transform teaching and learning.BWLIBWLI

// PROJECT HISTORY

Chronology

Start Date End Date More Information
November 1st, 2003Planning meetings held between former State Representative Peter Larkin, Berkshire Connect, and Berkshire Chamber of Commerce
December 2nd, 2003Berkshire Wireless Learning Initiative (BWLI) Steering Committee meets for the first time to set groundwork for the initiative. 
February 4th, 2004February 5th, 2004Professor Michael Muir makes presentations in the Berkshires about the Maine Learning and Technology Initiative (MLTI).
February 6th, 2004Berkshire legislators write letter to Don Dubendorf, President of Berkshire Connect, requesting that Berkshire Connect, in collaboration with the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and Mass. College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), take the lead in implementing an educational technology initiative. 
March 19th, 2004Massachusetts House Speaker Thomas Finneran visits Herberg Middle School to observe a class and speak at a press event.
July 1st, 2004July 31st, 2004State designates $2 million to BWLI; governor vetoes funding; legislature restores funding. 
August 11th, 2004Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) issues request for quotes (RFQ) for technology vendors. 
September 13th, 2004

Final due date for RFQ responses. 

October 7th, 2004October 8th, 2004Interviews and demonstrations held with RFQ finalists Apple and Dell at Conte Middle School. 
October 26th, 2004Procurement review team recommends to MTC selection of Apple Computer as technology vendor.
November 5th, 2004MTC issues request for proposals (RFP) for evaluation consulting services.
December 2nd, 2004Responses due for evaluation consulting services RFP.
January 27th, 2005Leadership Forum held at Berkshire Life to announced initial pledges to BWLI. 
April 1st, 2005Berkshire Connect, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and MTC enter into three way agreement designating BTCF as fiscal agent for BWLI. 
May 19th, 2005BWLI and Apple Computer complete negotiations and execute final statement of work for project. 
June 30th, 2005

MTC selects Boston College's Technology and Assessment Study Collaborative (inTASC) as the BWLI project evaluator.

Silvio O. Conte Middle School and St. Mark Middle School distribute laptops to teachers at end of school year.

Schools an MCLA begin offering professional development for teachers, which continues throughout the initiative.  Professional development activities include group workshops, support in the classroom, courses at MCLA, and individual assistance to teachers.

August 8th, 2005August 9th, 2005Apple Computer delivers first two day professional development training to teachers. 
August 31st, 2005

Herberg and Reid Middle Schools distribute laptops to teachers at beginning of school year. 

September 1st, 2005October 31st, 2005Apple Computer subcontractors install wireless networks in all instructional areas of the four BWLI school buildings. 
October 14th, 2005Berkshire Learning Initiaitve, Inc. (BLI Inc.) is established as a Massachusetts corporation.  BLI Inc. is granted 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service, effective 10/14/05. 
October 26th, 2005BWLI offsite servers become fully operational at a facility in Maine.
October 28th, 2005October 29th, 2005Apple Computer delivers "1 to 1 101: Out of the Box" to teachers at Silvio O. Conte Middle School. 
October 31st, 2005inTASC completes their BWLI evaluation plan. 
November 4th, 2005November 5th, 2005Apple Computer delivers "1 to 1 201:  iLife for the Classroom - iTunes and iPhoto" to teachers from Silvio O. Conte Middle School and St. Mark School. 
January 6th, 2006Two "Celebration of Wireless Learning" events held at MASS MoCA and Clock Tower Office Park to celebrate project kickoff.
January 9th, 2006All four BWLI schools distribute laptops to 7th grade students this week. 
February 9th, 2006Apple provides one day training session to BWLI technicians. 
March 1st, 2006BWLI's website (www.bwli.org) goes live; website designed by Studio Two in Lenox. 
March 15th, 2006March 16th, 2006Apple provides two day training in advanced features of iTunes and iPhoto to BWLI teachers and technical staff. 
April 1st, 2006Schools begin granting permission to allow students to take laptops home. 
April 28th, 2006April 29th, 2006MCLA hosts Leading and Learning with Technology Conference. 
July 31st, 2006State designates $500,000 in additional funds for BWLI; governor vetoes funding; legislature restores funding. 
September 5th, 2006

Schools enter into lease agreement with Apple Computer for remaining 1,519 laptops.  Purchase orders submitted for laptops for 6th and 7th grade students. 

September 22nd, 2006

St. Joseph School distributes laptops to 8th grade students. 

September 26th, 2006Silvio O. Conte Middle School distributes laptops to 8th grade students. 
October 15th, 2006BWLI servers and remote servers located in Maine were dismantled at BWLI's request as they were being underutilized.  The servers were relocated to the BWLI school buildings. 
November 10th, 2006Silvio O. Conte Middle Scool distributes laptops to 7th grade students. 
November 10th, 2006Governor Romney announces $425 million in state  budget cuts, including $375,000 of the $500,000 that had been designated for BWLI.
November 13th, 2006St. Mark School distributes laptops to 6th and 7th grade students this week. 
November 30th, 2006Donor Recognition Ceremony held at Berkshire Health Systems to announce reaching $1 million in private donations.  BHS announces donation of $100,000 at ceremony; other donors are recognized for their contributions.
December 4th, 2006Silvio O. Conte Middle School distributes laptops to 6th grade students. 
December 7th, 2006December 12th, 2006Herberg and Reid Middle Schools distribute laptops to 7th and 8th grade students. 
January 17th, 2007January 19th, 2007

MCLA coordinates and hosts Mac OS X training for BWLI technical staff.

January 31st, 2007Governor Patrick restores $375,000 in funding to BWLI during the month of January 2007. 
March 12th, 2007Apple Computer conducts training session for BWLI technical staff.
April 9th, 2007Damian Bebell presents initial BWLI evaluation findings at annual meeting of American Educational Research Assn (AERA) in Chicago.
June 25th, 2007June 30th, 2007

BWLI Summer Institute held at MCLA, Conte Middlle School, and Pittsfield Public Schools.

September 10th, 2007BWLI middle schools distribute laptops to 6th, 7th and 8th grade students beginning this week.
November 1st, 2007First session of Pittsfield's BWLI After-School Academy starts this month. 
November 5th, 2007November 7th, 2007Brian Page from Apple Computer visits BWLI schools to provide training and consultation.
February 26th, 2008

BWLI announces meeting private sector fundraising goal at ceremony held at Spice Restaurant

June 27th, 2008June 28th, 2008BWLI Summer Institute held at MCLA
June 30th, 2008BWLI pilot program ends.  Schools proceed with plans to continue 1:1 programs on their own.