Knights Digital Learning Initiative
Our vision for the Knights Digital Learning Initiative is that it will be student centered, utilizing a digital learning initiative that engages and prepares students for success in college, career and/or community involvement.
Our mission for the Knights Digital Learning Initiative is that technology will be routine, transparent and integrated to support the curriculum goals and will enhance student achievement.
What is a digital learning initiative?
- The passage of the 2013 10-year Capital Levy for Technology will allow for the creation of an instructional model that utilizes mobile technology devices for every student at designated grade levels commonly referred to as a digital learning initiative.
Why we are implementing the Knights Digital Learning Initiative?
- A digital learning program provides students with opportunities to develop skills for using emerging digital tools they will need to be successful in college, career and/or community.
- Utilizing a digital learning program will enhance learning experiences, increase student engagement, empower students to become self-motivated learners and foster students’ positive digital citizenship skills.
- A digital learning program provides an opportunity for timely feedback/interaction between students and teachers that are necessary for rigorous learning experiences.
- In digital learning programs, teachers will more effectively facilitate learning through the use and access to new and multiple ways of assessing student understanding.
- A digital learning program enables educators to more effectively engage different types of learners because the resources for creating, synthesizing, researching, writing, presenting, and publishing are in the hands of the learner.
What we envision as an outcome from the Knights Digital Learning Initiative?
- We believe that students’ academic achievement will improve and that we will experience trends where students outperform themselves and past students on daily classwork, course grades, and college and work readiness assessments.
- We expect that digital resources and materials will begin to replace traditional, paper-based, instructional materials.
- We expect that teachers will participate in meaningful professional development to improve their knowledge and proficiency integrating technology into their curriculum and instruction.
- We believe that students will show improvement in many areas, including Arts, academics and athletics.
How we will implement the Knights Digital Learning Initiative?
- We will create a systemic plan to ensure that the Knights Digital learning Initiative is viable, sustainable, and is not device specific.
- We will create a systemic plan that addresses the leadership, curriculum, professional development, assessment, infrastructure and support, stakeholders, financial sustainability, and a process for managing complex change.
- With the passage of the 10-year Capital Levy for Technology, we will create an implementation timeline that will go into effect during the 2013-14 academic year that will provide mobile devices for staff and mobile device carts for students in grades PreK-12. Beginning with the 2014-15 academic year we will provide 1-1 mobile devices for students in grades 11-12 and access to mobile device carts for students in grades PreK-10. Beginning with the 2015-16 academic year we will provide 1-1 mobile devices for students in grades 9-10 and access to mobile device carts for students in grades PreK-8.
- We will expand and build our wireless network and technology infrastructure to be capable of supporting the increased level demands of a mobile digital learning program.
Why we will utilize mobile device carts for students in grades PreK-8?
- At the elementary level, good instruction is a balance of large group and small group instruction.
- A mobile device cart model will be used for students in grades PreK-8 for small group instruction to reinforce concepts and individual practice.
- As students get older, collaboration between students increases and a mobile device cart model will provide opportunities for students to collaborate and publish information using digital tools.
- Presently, our textbooks are hard copies. As our digital world evolves, we anticipate a growing need for students to access digital curriculum.
Why we will utilize 1-to-1 mobile devices for students in grades 7-12?
- Individual devices at the high school level provide each student with a personal learning tool that can be adapted to various courses and learning experiences.
- By implementing a 1-to-1 mobile device model at the high school level, students will benefit from having a “one stop shop” for curriculum materials and school management tools eg. digital workflow platforms, calendar/planners.
- The phased-in implementation of 1-to-1 mobile devices will begin the process of each content area moving towards the adoption and implementation of digital curriculum.
- The 1-to-1 mobile device model will result in system-wide implementation of digital work between students and teachers, which is quickly becoming the norm within high schools, colleges, and in the business world.
Preparing teachers for the Knights Digital Learning Initiative
- We will expand our professional development opportunities and support for technology integration to assist teachers as they transform their instruction and move beyond merely using digital tools as substitutes for traditional methods.
- Job-embedded professional development and support for teachers will focus on technology integration and utilizing mobile devices for student learning.
- Using a Train the trainer model, facilitators will provide support throughout the school year, as well as during the summer months
- Technology training will ensure teachers have opportunities to develop the skills and confidence to use mobile devices and other technology they need to integrate these tools into their curriculum and instruction. Professional conferences that focus on instructional technology, such as the annual TIES Conference, will provide opportunities for teachers to collaboratively explore best practice strategies in the classroom.
Preparing students and parents for the Knights Digital Learning Initiative
- On-site orientation sessions will be provided to instruct students and parents in the basic operation, care and maintenance of student mobile devices, and inform them about the tenets of proper digital citizenship.
- Video and print-based tutorials for using mobile devices, learning management systems, and Internet-based tools will be created to assist students and parents in their use of student mobile devices for academic achievement.
Communicating to stakeholders about the Knights Digital Learning Initiative
- We will create a communication plan to ensure our vision and purpose for the Knights Digital Learning Initiative is communicated clearly and accurately.
- We will promote our vision and plans for the Knights Digital Learning Initiative in the school district newsletter, on the school district website, through social media, and regional media outlets.
- We will schedule presentations to parents, school groups, as well as business and community groups to promote the vision and plans for the Knights Digital Learning Initiative.
Measuring the impact of the Knights Digital Learning Initiative
- We will conduct pre-and-post teacher assessments to ensure technology integration proficiency.
- We will conduct stakeholder surveys on the use and impact of technology on student learning.
- We will track student achievement using local indicators, standardized test data, and college and work readiness assessment data.