Personalized Learning Plan
by Chris Rogers, ITEC 7600, KSU, Summer 2018
Essential Condition - Flexible Content
My Personalized Learning Goal
After creating a finalized flexible content module in our Self-Directed Training Page with rationale, examples, and sample pathways for teachers, I will have at least 200 educators use this module as measured by unique copies or content views.
ACTION STEPS to meet my GOAL
Step One - Meet with my supervisor and get approval
Step 2 - Create a mock-up of a flexible content module in the Self-Directed Training Page
Step 3 - Meet with district Instructional Technology Coaches from Media Services
Step 4 - Meet with eCLASS Instructional Specialists and Director of eCLASS Support
Barriers to Success
With my current role in the Information and Technology department, many of my duties, such as LMS administration, fall more on the technical side that the instructional side. Although I frequently come into contact with and attend meetings with instructional people, the focus of most of these meetings and contacts is more technical. In order to overcome this barrier, I would need to request the specific meetings mentioned in my action plan and make the participants aware of the instructional nature of the meeting request. I would also need to get input from and permission from several people on our instructional side before this idea could be fully implemented.
Barrier #2: Lack of Time
With my other current job duties, such as helping with product testing for instructional applications and support tickets, it will be difficult to find time for my planning and meeting action steps. That is one reason why gaining the support and time commitment from my supervisor is my first action step. Even after clearing that hurdle, however, time is still a big factor. At the beginning of the school year, many teachers and instructional coaches are busy with setting up new course pages and copying from last year - convincing them to dedicate time to creating/modifying a new unit for flexible content will be a challenge, but one that I believe can be overcome by more technically-savvy instructors.
Barrier #3: Technical Expertise needed for Flexible Content in LMS
The features of Brightspace by D2L that allow for flexible content, release conditions and groups, are two of the more advanced features in the platform. The average teacher would have trouble using these features effectively without several one-on-one sessions with an instructional coach. This barrier can be overcome by identifying more technically proficient educators to participate. That will help to ensure that technical barriers don't prevent the flexible content pathways from being effectively presented to students in the LMS.
Timeline & Needed Resources
Meet with Supervisor - week of August 1-8
Schedule a 30-minute meeting with my supervisor to go over my plan for this project.
- 4-8 hours per week
- Proposed meetings
- Plan for monitoring and reporting results
- Have her help build excitement for this with instructional leadership personnel
Gather Resources for Mock Up Module
2 weeks - August 16-30th
Create Mock Up Module
2 weeks - August 31 - September 13
Once I have finished gathering resources, I will begin customizing my course in Brightspace by enrolling sample users, and creating groups, restrictions, and other features to model effective use of flexible content. This work would also involve documenting how I created the module in order to include those directions for teachers and instructional coaches who are copying the module. Resources needed for this phase of the project would be the previously-gathered instructional materials, access to Brightspace, and time to create.
Meet with Stakeholders
In this phase of the project, I will have the 2 initial meetings proposed in my action plan. The resources needed for these meetings will be the people mentioned and to develop a plan of action based on the results of the meeting. This part will really be determined by the feedback and direction given from the instructional leaders. Some possible action steps from the meetings will include scoping out the pilot project, identifying pilot teachers, communication plan, and adjustments to the mock up module to allow for easier copying and dissemination. There may be follow-up meetings during this time as well.
Monitor Implementation
During this time, I will follow up with instructional coaches and teachers as they use and adapt the mock up module and directions resources provided in the Self-Directed Training Page. I will make adjustments based on their feedback. During this time I may meet with individual teachers and/or instructional coaches and possibly collaborate with instructional leaders to put together a middle or high-school focused sample unit to give teachers at those levels a better idea of what flexible content looks like at their grade level and curriculum areas.
Gather Results
I will develop a comprehensive assessment for teachers who participate in the pilot with both quantitative and qualitative elements. This assessment will be designed to give feedback to me on instructional design, flexible content, and ease of use for this module and the methods provided. I will distribute the survey through the LMS using release conditions to model how teachers might personalize surveys for their students. I will use the results to help drive the direction of the project in future years. Hopefully this project will lead to a better understanding of the essential condition of flexible content by teachers in Gwinnett County Public Schools and can be a springboard for personalized learning-related projects in the future.