The Office of Instructional Technology (OIT) offers several cohort programs in educational technology for Baltimore County Public School teachers and administrators. These programs have been created to provide teachers and administrators with the skills that are needed to effectively combine 21st Century learning and the integration of technology into both teaching and learning.

OIT cohort programs are designed to use the Maryland Technology Literacy Standards for Students, Teachers, and Administrators, and the BCPS curriculum as the basis for the coursework with an emphasis on pedagogy as it relates to the use of technology in classroom instruction. It is the goal of these cohort programs to provide high quality professional development to BCPS staff that would like to become school, district, and statewide leaders in the use of instructional technology in education. Teachers must have two years of teaching experience to apply for these cohort programs.

Cohort programs are offered on a regular basis; however, all programs are not open at the same time. Following is a description of the three cohort programs that may be open and/or running at any given time:

The Johns Hopkins University’s Master of Science in Education Technology for Educators program is designed for individual teachers who have an interest in educational technology and would like to participate in a cohort program over a three-year period to complete their degree. The emphasis in this program is on leadership, pedagogy, emerging technologies, and technology integration. Students also complete an internship as part of this program.

The Johns Hopkins University’s Graduate Certificate Program in School Leadership in Technology Integration is a five course program to build capacity at the school level for technology leadership. School teams of three to four teachers and the school’s principal are eligible to apply for this program. Coursework includes technology leadership for school improvement and data-driven decision-making.

Towson University’s cohort program has been designed to provide teachers the opportunity to earn a Master of Science degree in Instructional Technology. This 36 credit sequence of courses will help teachers obtain advanced skills in leadership, research, professional development, and technology integration. Courses will focus on the infusion of 21st century skills into classroom instruction. Classes will be both blended and face-to-face and will be held in BCPS school locations.

New JHU/OIT Cohort Program for 2011-2012:
The Office of Instructional Technology (OIT), in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University (JHU), is planning to offer a Master of Science in Education Technology for Educators cohort program which will begin in late January of 2012. This program is designed for teachers who have an interest in educational technology and would like to participate in a cohort program over a three-year period to complete their degree. The emphasis in this cohort program is on leadership, pedagogy, emerging technologies, and technology integration. Students also complete an internship as part of this program.

To become a member of the OIT cohort program, there is a two-tiered application process. Prospective cohort members must first apply to OIT's cohort program and second to the JHU Graduate School. The deadline for applying to the OIT cohort program which begins in January of 2012 is Tuesday, November 8, 2011.  Teachers will be notified of their acceptance into the cohort program by November 15, 2011, and they then must apply to the JHU Graduate School by December 15, 2011.

An information meeting will be held for those interested in learning more about this cohort program. Information about costs and courses will be provided. You do not need to pre-register to attend.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011 - 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.  This meeting will be held in the Food Services Conference Room in the Timonium Office Complex at 1946 Greenspring Drive, Suite R, Timonium, MD 21093.  Enter at the Food Services entrance, Suite R, and sign in at the receptionist desk.

If you have any questions, please contact Thea Jones at tjones@bcps.org or Nadine Noon at nnoon@bcps.org or at 410-887-8918.

Information and Application Documents from the Office of Instructional Technology:

1. Application Process for Instructional Technology Cohort Program - Please read this first.
2. Application to the OIT Cohort Program – Due electronically by November 8, 2011 to Nadine Noon at
   nnoon@bcps.org

Information and Documents from the Johns Hopkins University:

1. JHU Application Instructions
2. JHU Tuition and Charges

Important:  Do not apply to the Johns Hopkins University until you have been accepted into the Office of Instructional Technology's cohort. You will receive information on how to do this correctly from JHU once you have been accepted by OIT.   JHU will not accept your application until you have been accepted into the OIT cohort program.

Please share with your colleagues who may be interested in this cohort program!  Thank you!