A Whole New Generation of Learning

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A Whole New Generation of Learning

• School Leaders Development Series (VII)
• A Symposium on eLeadership Stories
• November 25, 2006

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Environmental Forces

• Information is a disposable commodity for todays
  students
• Digital age students can truly multitask and
  process concurrent streams of stimuli
• Communications has evolved to a state of
  instantaneous digital presence
• Leadership is no longer a function of position
  but the responsibility of all group members
• The knowledge worker is becoming the new currency
  of economic global competitiveness

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Guiding Principles

• KSD Technology Vision
• A comprehensive, instructionally sound,
  student-centered educational program where
  technology plays a meaningful role in supporting,
  extending, and individualizing learning
  opportunities for all students.
• Equitable
• Scalable
• Supportable
• Systemic
• Standards-based

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Who is the Kent School District?

• Kent School District located in Seattle, WA
  covers 72 squares miles and is the 4th largest
  district in Washington State.
• KSD has 27,500 students enrolled in its 41
  schools.
• KSD student population is 38 ethnic minority and
  this percentage continues to grow annually.
• KSD serves 103 different language groups and its
  English Language Learners (ELL) population is
  growing about 10 annually.

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So how does it fit together?
Equitable
Use technology appropriately effectively in the
organization
Supportable
Successful Prepare All Students For Their Future
Standards-based
Increase student engagement and academic
achievement
Scalable
Systemic
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KSD Strategic Technology Framework
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Equity

• You will see equity in learning opportunities
  supported in a number of ways.
• 13 student computer ratio in all schools
• A free computer grant program for families
  without computers in their homes
• Partnered with telecommunications company
  providing Internet access into student homes
• A student technology leadership program

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Equity

• Established community-based technology learning
  centers for after school access
• Instructionally focused technical service model -
  all support requests resolved within 48 hours or
  less with less staff.
• District network stability and uptime of 99.9
• Fiber optic metropolitan-area-network connecting
  all 41 schools for high-speed Internet access and
  data exchange.

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Standardization

• In order to get to the heart of instructional
  significance, technology must be
• Reliable stable to gain teacher trust
• Consistent to minimize training demands
• Aligned to specific skills for teachers, students
  and administrators
• Other Roles for Standards
• Used to focus discussion on the right topics
• Cost effective to support maintain
• Leverage buying power in negotiations

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Alignment is critical to success
What does that mean?
Staff Student Technology Skill Competencies
District Software Standards
Instructional Outcomes
Professional Development Models
District Hardware Standards
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Systemic Alignment
Resources
Expectations
PD Continuum
PD Activities
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Case Study Kent Technology Academy

• For 2005-2006
• 90 7th Grade Students
• 60 from our low socio-economic service area
• 38 free or reduced lunch status
• 52 minority student population
• Participants include
• 11 ELL students
• 7 Special Education students
• 9 Highly Capable students

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Guiding Principles

• Create a learning environment that
• Uses a rigorous, relevant, and engaging
  curriculum aligned to state standards
• Reflects the diversity and overall demographics
  of our district
• Incorporates new teaching strategies specifically
  designed to reach digital age students
• Evolves the role of the student and teacher in
  the learning process
• Incorporates technology in meaningful and
  transparent ways to support instruction
• Serves as a scalable model and research site for
  the next phase of tech levy initiatives in the
  district

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Program of Study

• Classes are taught in an interdisciplinary,
  project-based approach but are closely aligned to
  the state academic standards.
• Students receive differentiated lesson
  assignments and assessments for certain class
  components. While other components are to be
  completed by all students.
• All students are to maintain an electronic
  portfolio that contains both product and process
  learning samples.
• All students complete culminating projects and
  conduct public presentations at the close of the
  school year.

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Program of Study

• All parents and students are required to sign a
  learning contract and attend three after hours
  learning orientation sessions with their students
  at the beginning of the school year.
• Classes use technology extensively but still
  contain meaningful offline learning activities.
• Writing is emphasized and integrated across the
  curriculum including math.

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Logistics

• All students receive a laptop that they use for
  their school work and are permitted to take it
  home.
• They are required to pass a series of assessment
  to earn the right to take it home. We call it
  their drivers license.
• An electronic learning management system assists
  the teachers, students, and parents with
  distributing, submitting and monitoring lessons
  and assessments within and outside the classroom.
• Internet access is provided by the school
  district for all students in the academy.

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Logistics

• A laptop spares pool is maintained on site as
  well a replacement battery bank.
• We do have theft deterrent software installed on
  the laptops in case of theft.
• While we have had some damage this year to the
  laptops well within the expected range for
  normal use we did not have any laptops stolen
  or lost.
• We provide a couple desktop computers in the
  classroom that students are required to use if
  they forget their laptop.

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Results So Far
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Lessons Learned So Far

• It takes a lot of hard work and commitment to
  make something like this work.
• Great teachers are required for quality learning
  to occur.
• The biggest change was not the technology use,
  but the changes in the instructional practices
  and student attitudes towards learning.
• Whole group, differentiated learning at high
  levels is achievable, and technology can play a
  valuable role in helping this to occur
• Technology can level the playing field for
  learning opportunities with the right support
  mechanisms in place.
• The logistics in managing this type of program as
  it expands will not be nearly as difficult as the
  people issues.

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Lessons Learned So Far

• Students are not only recipients of the benefits
  of technology they are also the messengers.
• The ROI is not as important as the ROA. If
  technology goals are created within the context
  of educational outcomes then the investment will
  be realized.
• The vision must be clear, compelling, and worth
  doing. However, it takes passion to remove the
  roadblocks to make the difference in teaching and
  learning.
• To ensure equity in learning opportunity, a
  leader must be the advocate for those students
  without a voice that exist in every organization
  or entity. Technology alone will not close the
  digital divide.
• This concept is promising and worth continuing.

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Role of Leadership in Instructional
Transformation

• Provide a clear, compelling vision that engages
  all stakeholders
• Personally engage to fully understand the changes
  that are occurring
• Provide the appropriate support resources
  necessary to facilitate the changes
• Remove the roadblocks that prevent your change
  leaders from succeeding (i.e. organizational,
  political, procedural, personnel, etc)

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Role of Leadership in Instructional
Transformation

• Ensure appropriate accountability measures exists
  and are aligned with the goals to move your group
  toward the vision
• Model the new behaviors and attitudes when it is
  practical or possible
• Create plentiful opportunities to celebrate as a
  community to maintain a positive culture and
  forward momentum
• Be the positive and consistent advocate for the
  changes internally and externally

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A Whole New Generation of Learning

• Questions or Comments?

For additional information, visit our district
website at www.kent.k12.us Or email me
at don.hall_at_mindsourcetech.com