FETC Session 2

Teaming + Technology + Transormation = Digital Education 

Presented by Broward County Public Schools

Angela Coluzzi, Director of Network Integration

Dr. Jeanine Gendron, Director, Instructional Technology

Charles McCanna, Principal Elementary School (NovaSchools.com)

258,905 Students

284 Schools

23,477 Instructional Staff

Implementing Technology Goals and Plans into the schools.

First question, "What does 21st Century learning look like?" They brought in all stake holders to develop a strategic plan. Moves the district forward in 4 areas

1. Infrastructure
2. Professional Development and Curriculum Integration 
3. Instructional Resources
4. Engage in the classroom

They looked at their struggling schools to see what could technology do to improve the AYP scores. Then they teamed a low scoring school and teamed them with a school that was succeeding with high AYP scores. They also adopted the NETS so that everyone was on the same page in regards to technology standards.

They are updating their technology resources to help teachers, students and schools succeed. 

Digital Classroom Tools

1. They refreshed the Teacher Laptops - Rolling refresh (4,000 laptops last summer) 
2. Teachers requested not only a Help Desk for technology, but also Teacher Help Desk for teachers to call for help with applications and support teachers in using the appropriate technology for the desired outcome. 
3. 2,200 classrooms have been equipped with projector and Interactive white board (attached or to the ceiling), Audio system,  control panel to allow flexibility and is stationed by the teacher's desk (teachers were trained on using the control panel), Amplification system (teachers have their own microphone), Document Camera, Video and Digital cameras (in each classroom). Some schools have Interactive Tablets rather than Interactive white boards. Each school was also given several Interactive Response Systems.    

Digital Curriculum and Instructional Electronic Resources

1. All textbook adoptions must have textbook online. 
2. Nettrekker DI 
3. Renaissance Learning 
4. Tabula Digita 
5. All was tied to a portal for easy access. 

  
Teacher needs were assessed and had three levels of learning 

1. Entry level skill development with Hands on Workshops and Online Tutorials 
2. Intermediate with Hands on Workshops and Online Tutorials
3. Advanced Hands on and Blended Workshops and Online Tutorials

Charles the principal is talking about using iPods and podcasting in the classroom. They have 180 iPods on 9 carts that moves around the school. The principal said it was easy to get teacher "buy in" for the project. Students focus on the assignment podcast. Critical Thinking skills are utilized on assignments. EVERY assignment since this project began in the 2007-2008 school year through today has been turned in. Students teach the teachers more than teachers teach the students. Students are excited and anxious to get to school and start working.

Integration Benefits to the Classroom

1. Motivates students (and teachers)
2. Differentiation
3. ESE students can self-remediate at their own pace
4. Teachers can connect with parents via podcasts
5. Parent Teacher conferences are more convenient for parent's schedule 
6. Parents are refreshed on content along-side students 
7. Back-ground knowledge built prior to field trips 
8. Extension of learning from field trips 
9. 100% of iPod related assignments completed 
10. Build a level of student responsibility  

On their websites they have examples of teacher and student podcasts. They used Pulp Motion (not free, but cheap) to add movement and transitions to the podcast.

One problem...they have ran out of storage space for the podcasts.