This page was created by Lorena Rojas.
Executive Summary
This report is comprised of the following sections:
Introduction: This section provides the framing necessary to understand the proposed recommendations, which requires an instructional paradigm shift.
Foundations: This section highlights two resources that played an integral part in the development of each recommendation and the infrastructure requests needed to support a 21st century instructional shift.
Recommendations: This section outlines the instructional recommendations put forth by the ITI Task Force, which were developed to lead subsequent infrastructure decisions. Recommendations were informed by a great deal of discussion through independent workgroup efforts and collaborative task force learning experiences
Grade Span Examples:: This section provides classroom examples that demonstrate how instructional activities can be designed to address the aforementioned recommendations while helping students meet International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards in elementary and secondary settings..
Infrastructure Support: This section identifies District infrastructure needs that must be fulfilled to support the proposed instructional recommendations.
Funding Options: This section provides a summary of funding models that can be considered by the District to support effective instruction by leveraging digital tools.
District Efforts: This section outlines the District’s current efforts to develop an effective and sustainable model to implement personalized learning practices with digital learning tools.
Glossary: This section defines keywords that are essential to understanding the full extent of each recommendation and their implication for cultivating a District-wide culture that supports personalized learning for all learners.
Appendix: This section houses ITI Task Force information such as minutes, task force member list, resources produced and/or reviewed by the task force.
Each recommendation and infrastructure support identified were based on discussion, research, and hearing directly from District stakeholders. Two key resources that informed this work were the 2015 National Education Technology Plan (NETP) and the 2016 ISTE Standards for Students. The 2015 NETP provides the vision for instructional technology nationwide, highlighting the potential of technology to amplify instructional practices and address matters of equity and accessibility. The 2016 ISTE Standards for Students were designed by educators across the nation representing a variety of curricular background and grade levels.
Six instructional recommendations were developed around three core principles: learner agency, academic rigor, and learner-centered learning environment. Below are the instructional recommendations and the infrastructure supports needed to support the instructional vision:
Instructional Recommendations​
Recommendation 1: Enact a continuum for achieving learner agency for students and school leaders.
Recommendation 2: Support teachers in exploring curricular content that is interdisciplinary and provides authentic, real-world application.
Recommendation 3: Support personalized learning initiatives District-wide.
Recommendation 4: Integrate a learning management system (LMS) in support of a learner-centered learning environment
Recommendation 5: Design and deliver learner-driven professional learning opportunities for school leaders, teachers, students, parents, board members and community and business leaders.
Recommendation 6: Develop and adopt District-wide tools to measure lesson effectiveness.
Infrastructure Needs
Need 1: Ensure students and educators have broadband access to the internet and adequate wireless connectivity at school.Need 2: Establish a baseline minimum that every learner has access to at least one device that connects to the internet.
Need 3: Ensure interoperability between a District-wide Learning Management System (LMS) and the District information technology system.
Need 4: Ensure District leaders understand and adopt a change management approach to leveraging digital tools and resources for instruction.
Need 5: Repurpose staffing according to the instructional goals and vision to achieve personalized learning.
Need 6: Implement a process for consistent annual review and update of related policies that support the instructional vision of personalized learning.
Need 7: Establish pathways for collaborative partnerships between the Division of Instruction and key departments within the District.
In order to provide access to digital learning devices District-wide and realize the vision of the ITI Task Force recommendations, the following funding models were discussed:
- Bond Funds
- Textbook Funds
- External Partnerships
- Leasing Devices
- Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD)
- Education Technology Grant Program
- Shared-Use Device Protocols
- Online Gradebook Pilot/Learning Management System
- School Instructional Technology Plan
- Summer Professional Development Institute
- Online Course Offerings
- Ongoing 1:1 School Support
- Digital Citizenship Curriculum Development