TECHNOLOGY-WHERE ARE WE HEADED?
ARE WE GOING 1:1?
MISSION & VISION
So, we asked the following-
1. Has the vision been articulated in our district?
No- we need to explain it to many. The 3 E's
2. What is the vision?
3. What barriers keep us from accomplishing this mission?
4. What enables allow us to reach this mission and vision?
5. What questions do other people visiting this cafe need to answer?
Comments from Group-
*College and career ready (vision)
*Learning to learn with technology
*High school feels the ratio is very low.
*Either update or go 1:1 and always update.
*No common access to know what to do with 1:1.
*Kids don't want the Dell- too slow.
*Enablers
*Students standing up and expressing need.
*Articulated vision-mission.
*Communication revisiting vision and mission.
*More push back from high flying students.
*Push back from teachers.
*Differentiated/Meaningful PD is key (ex. People in music and art and PE) attending Reading Street PD.)
*Using tech when needed.
*Make sure students are trained.
*More affluent will learn tech quickly since they have the tech at home. This will equal out over time w/tech.
*BARRIERS-MONEY, WIFI, PD, PEDAGOGY DEVICES
*Need to rethink PD-personalize it.
*Let go of control (re-PD)
*Mission is not well-defined.
*Kids care about technology. They are connected anyway, put it to good use in the classroom.
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INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICE
What barriers are in place for successfully changing instructional practices?
Why do instructional practices need to be changed? Or do they?
What would enable the enhancement of instructional practices in our district?
Comments from Group-
*Content first before add tech
*Resources
*How do we teach substitute teachers this?
*Teachers don't see value in-
1. moving toward technology-not seen a good model
2. lack confidence/belief in self
3. classroom angst
4. training expectations/availability
5. technology does not improve learning (Available 24/7; know what we can do & learn w/technology)
6. students have to be taught how to learn
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STRATEGIC PLAN
Discussion around the following-
What are the barriers to facilitating the strategic plan?
What enables the facilitation of the strategic plan?
What is the strategic plan?
What other things do we need to consider?
Comments from Group-
*Timeline to planning and implementation based on research and data
*$ Money (upgrading continuum)
*Communication-
-How do we know the plan?
-Where are we going?
-How are we getting there?/ How do we know when we are there?
*Plan or devices- need to be ready at beginning of year NOT 2 weeks later
*How do we stay relevant?
*We need to be clear in our expectation.
*Technology- pipeline that is capable of offering service
*How does Blackboard work with Kajeet?
*Longer Tech Help Desk Hours (open to families and students)
*Training-
-Resources (passive)
-Hands on PD (active)
-Remember to plan to 'induct' new staff and students
-Provide Parent Academy
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
1. List the areas teachers will need to be trained in?
2. How can we get 1000 teachers trained?
3. How can we meet the needs of all teachers?
4. What are the barriers to successful professional development?
5. What are the enablers of successful development?
Comments from Group-
*Needed for both teachers and students
*Payment for demonstrating tech proficiency NOT participation in PD.
*Enablers- Peer to Peer groups and Tech Talks
*Utilize our teacher leaders!!! Blenders have been pioneers! (-:
*Multiple options (set & get/hands on/Passive web based)
*Tech Coach Safety Net (LMS role?)
*Leadership should model use frequently and effectively
*Meaningful
*Needs Assessment
*P(Personalized) D(Differentiated)
*Awareness of what we have (i.e. Atomic Learning for staff, parents, kids)
*Possible areas of training-
1. Paperless
2. Websites
3. File management
4. Best practices (list)
5. Managing change-how to be a 21st century learner
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MEASURING SUCCESS
Comments from Group-
*Final projects using tech. Show greater understanding of subject matter.
*State assessments
*Graduation Rate
*Walk through tool
*Ask kids in person/Interview grads in "real" world
*24/7 learning
*21st century skills-collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, communication
*1-to-1 (increased attendance, project engagement)
*When students to know which tool is best for the situation (database, web tool, application, device)
*Multiple measures (state assessments, who checks out kajeets)
*Increase participation/assignment completion-
1. Quality of completion
2. Creativity of projects
(If you don't have glue & scissors/ruler @home, students are limited.
*Organization in note taking process with access to online notes. (More willing w/access all 24/7 hrs)
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WHY GO 1:1
*Easier for students to maintain a consistent platform setup the way they want/need.
*Prepare students w/21st century skills.
*Providing a device to each of my students will ensure access to technology components outside of my classroom and I will actually feel that I can use technology without losing weeks of important instructional time.
*Yes due to the availability and personalized learning.
*Digital resources enhance student learning.
*Time is right
*So much easier for students to get work done. Less time to waste on getting school technology and waiting for it to work.
*It solves many of our issues-equity, access, quality of instruction. Labs can be repurposed to better learning spaces.
*Helps keep students involved with activities and work.
*Because I would guess you carry atleast 1 device on you at all times- why should our students be different?
*Research shows far less maintenance is required for the devices if a student is responsible for their own.
*Student equity and access
*Easier to manage individual devices.
*Textbooks on line; access Blackboard, etc.
*Set an equal stage for every student
*There are times when students need to work independently and have sole ownership of their work.
*It is more reasonable considering that colleges use technology all the time . If we did it- it will just be preparation.
*To help students in the process of using technology to "Learn how to learn."
*It can help students on school work and other stuff.
*Students will have equal access; do quality work (more creative); engagement in their own learning.
*Equalize opportunity for all students to engage w/learning via technology vs being restricted to one journey to knowledge.
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WHY NOT GO 1:1
*Not needed in every classroom; depends on teacher's teaching method.
*May not be the desired/favored learning mode of all students
*Difficult on the network
*The support for devices will not be sufficient to ensure a working atmosphere of technology.
*The level of device control this district demands (where many others do not) will prevent students from truly engaging with materials because they cannot be assessed in a constant way.
*Not sure that all teachers would embrace the tool above the substitution level.
*Not necessary if we are not going to change how we use and access technology during instruction.
*Might not change the instructional practice much.
*If we can not invest in the training, infrastructure, time to shift this paradigm.
*There is no clear route to implementing in a smooth way. Just because we have not found the clear route doesn't mean that there isn't one- so do we wait or go the bumpy way to get it done?
*Cost
*Cost plus costs for training
*Cost for maintaining
*Budget would have to be increased greatly making it a burden to tax payers.
*Expensive pencil if it is not used effectively
*All classrooms don't need it.
*Some devices would sit and not be used - can we come up with a better way?
*Some students would not take it for school but for social media (that is a lot on teens now a days)
*We can live with less devices but it is not best for kids.
*No Reason
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FINAL THOUGHTS...
- Good idea as long as infrastructure is robust (everybody on WIFI).
- 1:1 doesn't mean it will help increase learning.
- Don't forget about the human infrastructure required for increasing access to devices.
- Think about classroom demands (12 books is not enough for a functional classroom) and not just what works best in the ESDC.
- When are we GOING 1:1?
- 1:1 MAKES SENSE for students.
- Access to internet after hours is paramount.
- Thanks for making personalizing learning and tech integration a priority.
- Tech access is a basic right anymore-Shame on us who are so closed to the idea of forward progress!
- Equalize opportunities for all students to engage with learning via tech vs being stretched to one path to knowledge.
- Technology is one of the many tools for teaching and learning. We need to stay focused on improving instruction. If through that improvement we identify a need for more technology, we should develop a plan, set expectations and outcomes. However, district wide adoption needs to follow the instructional needs of our students.
- Me as a student, I thank the Board because being able to check out a device was really helpful in a lot of ways.
- Technology should be a tool to learn and should not be forced in any aspect.
- How can we encourage and teach students to use technology to increase their learning?
- Every student learns in a different way. Some are visual learners, some are auditory, etc. If we go 1:1, will there be certain programs also implemented to appeal to all learning types?
- I think over time 1:1 is good. I don't think we are ready yet.
- The opportunity is a great one- more people (if possible) should have technology opportunity.
- We need to make a financial commitment - it might be painful but the investment we make in our students will be worth it.
- There's nothing we can do to help with equity and engagement more. Jump in!
- LPS needs the tools to equip students for the future.
- Thank you for supporting and providing laptops & hotspots for students to check out. This helps students with limited access to have a personal device.
- Our students deserve the very best, most progressive education. When done right, this is best served 1:1
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Information from Districtwide Technology Committee Meeting 11/23/2015
Email: jkemble@usd497.org
Website: www.usd497.org
Location: Lawrence Public Schools
Phone: 785.832.5000