The Digital Learning Environments Event Series

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One schools story

• The Digital Learning Environments Event Series

• AGENDA
• Who we are
• Where we were
• Where we are
• Where we are going

April 2, 2009 Boston, Mass. Roger F. Harris,
Ph.D., Superintendent, CEO Lisa K. Radden,
Director of Instructional Technology
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Background
Dr. Roger F. Harris, Superintendent, BRCPS

• Opened in 1995
• 16 story high-rise
• downtown Boston location
• serving 1,240 K-6 students
• employing 350 staff
• 700 am 700 pm day
• public charter school

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Our Vision

• Boston Renaissance Charter Public Schools
  vision is to provide a viable public educational
  choice for families in the City of Boston.

The Boston Renaissance experience for students
will develop confidence, character, and a
commitment to social justice at home and abroad.
Boston Renaissance students will be nurtured by
caring and competent professionals, exposed to a
rigorous academic curriculum enriched by a
variety of art forms, taught to embrace diverse
cultures, and expected to become productive
citizens in a 21st Century global community.
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Our Mission

• The mission of the Boston Renaissance Charter
  Public School is to nurture and develop academic,
  social and emotional competence while building
  confidence, character and citizenship among its
  students.

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Our Beliefs about Technology

• We believe effective integration and the use of
  technology can
• Raise student performance in the core academic
  areas to proficient and advanced levels.
• Develop students ability to think critically,
  creatively, analytically, and collaboratively.
• Prepare students to be more competitive in a
  technology-rich 21st century global workplace.
• Expand students perspectives by connecting them
  to the community and world outside of their
  classrooms.
• Enrich our assessment practices to better monitor
  a wide range of student needs.

taken from BRCPS Technology Plan 2006-2009
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Where we were

• 1994 Horace Mann Foundation Edison Schools
  Inc. receives charter to create K-5 Boston
  Renaissance Charter Public School.
• Extended day
• Extended year
• Cutting-edge technology
• 1 computer for every family grade 3 and beyond
• 1998

• Roger F. Harris, Ph.D. selected as Headmaster to
  lead the Renaissance School.

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Where we are now
Lisa K. Radden, Director of IT, BRCPS

• Instructional Technology Department
• 1 Director of Instructional Technology
• 1 Instructional Technology Assistant
• 1 full-time Library Assistant
• 1 part-time Library Aide
• 1 full-time Technology Specialty teacher
• Operations Department
• 1 Chief Operations Officer
• 1 on-site full-time Network Manager
• 1 on-call part-time Network Assistant

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Where we are now
HP Windows XP desktops
IBM Windows 2000 desktops
A/V equipment
Mobile laptops
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Where we are now
ELA interventions
Self-paced applications study tools
h
Assessment Administration
MATH interventions
Technology Specialty lab classes
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Where we are now
How often do you use technology for professional
activities such as lesson planning,
administrative tasks, communications, and
collaborations?
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Where we are now
How often do you use technology with students for
activities such as research, multimedia,
simulations, data interpretation, communications,
and collaboration?
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Where we are now
Please complete this sentence I would
integrate more technology into the activities I
do with my students if..
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Where we are going

• The people, the processes, the skills, the
  environments, the curricula and the myriad
  components that comprise transformation hinge on
  the leadership of two groups of individuals
  administrators and teachers.

- Harvey R. Dean, President and CEO, Pitsco Inc.
Converge Magazine. Fall 2008
Renaissance (n.) a rebirth or revival.
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Where we are going
Dr. Roger F. Harris, Superintendent, BRCPS
Raising our Stars campaign 2009-2010
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Where we are going
Raising our Stars campaign 2009-2010
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Where we are going
Raising our Stars campaign 2009-2010
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Where are they going?
60 of Boston Renaissance students in 2008 left
the school to go on to attend the best middle and
high schools in Boston.
Renaissance graduates are expected to become
productive citizens in a 21st Century global
community.
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Where are they going?
Lisa K. Radden, Director of IT, BRCPS

• Online communities
• Technology-rich toyland
• 21st century workplace
• Global communities

The Renaissance School provides the foundation
for future success.
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How do we get them there?

• Working towards solutions
• Upgrade our equipment with purpose
• Build sustainable and measurable Professional
  Development models
• Support standards-based technology infusion
  across the curriculum
• Strengthen IT Department staff and operations
• Become more web-based and mobile
• Build a collaborative and safe technology-rich
  learning environment for staff, students, and
  parents
• Leverage after-school partnerships
• Select full-service technology solutions

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How do we know we succeeded?!

• Challenges!
• How do we assess the technology proficiency of
  our students?
• How do we evaluate technology integration in
  instruction?
• How do we restructure Professional Development
  time to include more meaningful technology
  training?
• How do we expand and strengthen IT with a limited
  budget?
• How do we choose the right technology
  solutions?

• Possible Solutions and Resources
• Build graduation e-portfolios explore alumni
  tracking
• Modify teacher evaluations
• Collect qualitative pre and post surveys
  computer usage data
• Run pilot programs and conduct school visits
• Collaborate between charter and district schools

What is YOUR school doing?
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Dr. Roger F. Harris, Superintendent, BRCPS
Thank you!

• At Renaissance School we believe in the adage
  It Takes a Village To Raise a Child and we
  encourage educators and caring adults from all
  across the great state of Massachusetts to
  emulate the medical professionals who collaborate
  for cures, to collaborate for the future of our
  children.
• Roger F. Harris, Ph. D. MESPA/MESPEF
  Principal Review, 2006

Boston Renaissance Charter Public School
phone [phone] Stuart Street, Boston, MA
02116 www.bostonrenaissance.org