Technology Tools for 2018-2019

I am excited to share details on the 2018-2019 technology tools program which will be rolling out to schools this spring. Every other year, each school receives an allocation of “technology points” based on their enrollment. Schools are then able to spend their points to upgrade technology in their school.

This year’s model is simplified to better reflect current-day needs. With IT now covering maintenance costs, employee devices, and committing to reducing student equity challenges throughout the district by allocating funds to distance learning and the 1:Web program, school-based technology points can be specifically focused on student devices, labs, and classroom innovation needs. With the 2018-2019 technology tools update, schools will have more flexibility in how to spend their technology points.

At schools that are not in the 1:Web program, there will not be significant changes in the funding model. These schools will be able to spend their technology points on student devices, computer labs, and a new category called innovation tools.

The innovation category includes tools that are available at our newly-built schools, making sure this technology is open to everyone in the district. Some of these exciting items include: TV displays with casting capability, 3D Printers, Maker Kits, video production tools, and pen tablets.

Schools participating in the 1:Web program will also receive technology points, but without the need to buy as many student devices, they will be able to allocate more of those technology points to the innovation category.

If your school is on the cycle to update their technology tools this coming school year, the IT Ed Tech and Service Delivery teams will be coming by to talk with your principal this spring. We are excited to see how the use of these new innovative technologies will enhance the learning environment! 

One last thing - the technology point allocations at the schools will look larger this year, but the dollar amount will remain the same. We have moved away from 100 points being equal to the cost of a Windows device, to 100 points being equal to the cost of a Chromebook. This reflects the shift away from Windows devices to cloud-based Chromebooks. The increased point count should not be confused with more money being allocated.

Please chime in with any comments, thoughts, or suggestions. They are appreciated.

Andrew

District Technology Advisory Committee Update (Feb 2017)

Educational technology resources and the opportunities afforded through these tools are forever expanding and changing. In the last five years, BVSD has seen an increase in access, digital devices, and resources that provide an engaging and modern learning environment for students.

With that in mind, I understand and value the varying perspectives of our stakeholders with the implementation of these tools, including views from our students, teachers, administrators, district leaders, parents and community members. Due to the accelerated rates of change, these stakeholders often times have both collaborative and conflicting views of technology in our schools.

Because of these rapid changes, varying perspectives, and continued shifts, I felt it to be the right time to develop a sustainable organization that could provide guidance on how technology and resources are decided, deployed, and utilized in our schools and classrooms. This includes the business side of education with regards to infrastructure and security. You can read about the background in my post from December.

I sent out an email in December of 2016 to gather interest for this committee only to find that we had over 230 stakeholders interested! I worked with my team to select a representative balance of community members, parents, business leaders, BVSD teachers, administrators, and most importantly, students (view the DTAC Roster). We also formed an online forum for those not selected to continue to provide feedback and insight to the work of the committee.

The District Advisory Technology Committee (DTAC) launched on January 23rd with an overview of current and future IT services, infrastructures, programs and projects. These included updates on IT Network upgrades, expansion of 1:Web in our high schools, student data security and privacy updates, and budget information. Members were then provided an opportunity to discuss their ideas of the most critical conversations for this committee to consider in future meetings. You can review their responses here.

I will continue to share agendas and notes from each DTAC meeting on our website to maintain transparency of the work that this committee will complete and the guidance they will provide.

If you have thoughts, ideas or suggestions, please chime in below.

Andrew

District Technology Advisory Committee

As technology usage continues to expand in BVSD, the discussions and collaborations on how technology is implemented become more important. With that in mind, I’m excited to announce a new advisory committee opportunity for Teachers, Administrators, Students, Parents, Community Members, and Education Center Staff. The District Technology Advisory Committee (DTAC) will launch in January of 2017.

When I arrived at the district in 2010, the ITGC (IT Governance Committee) was up and running. It was largely a group of community members who were helping the district navigate IT communications and change in a period before cloud computing, Chromebooks, 1:Web, security (malware, ransomware, DDoS attacks, etc), and student data privacy were common topics. ITGC disbanded in 2011 after the issues of the day were resolved.

In late 2011, the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) created the Educational Technology Leadership Council (ETLC) to consider and recommend a vision for the future of educational technology within BVSD. Through the work of this council, initiatives such as the 21st Century Cohort, 1:Web and Innovative Learning Spaces began to take shape as this group determined the ideal learning environment while using technology in BVSD.

As IT & Ed Tech continue to improve on these initiatives, as well as explore the implementation of data privacy laws into existing structures, it is time to form a next generation District Technology Advisory Committee for the 2016-17 school year.

This ad-hoc committee will primarily provide guidance on current shifts in learning and the use of technology. This will include work in the following areas:

• Data Security & Privacy
• Digital Access & Equity
• Resourcing/Budgeting
• Digital Citizenship & Balance
• Professional Development
• Digital Communications Structure and Content

Meetings will be from 4:30-6:30 pm at the BVSD Information Technology offices at 6600 Arapahoe Rd. 2016-2017 meeting dates are:

• Monday, January 23, 2016
• Tuesday, March 7, 2017
• Wednesday, May 10, 2017

We have developed a short application to help form a diverse team representative of district stakeholders:

• Teachers
• Administrators
• Students
• Parents
• Community Members
• Education Center Staff

If you are interested in participating on the District Technology Advisory Committee for the 2016-17 school year, please fill out the application no later than Dec 31st. Parents, please collaborate with your students to fill out the application if they are interested in participating. Thank you!

Andrew

How Technology is Embedded in the Success Effect

By now, most readers of my blog will know about the Success Effect, but if you do not, it is the strategic plan centered around learning, talent, and partnerships for BVSD. In July of this past year, our superintendent, Dr. Messinger, published a blog detailing the work of six Priority Action Teams for the implementation of the BVSD Success Effect.

The question has come up, where is the technology goal or initiative in the plan? That is a great question which I will explore in this blog.

I look at technology as a tool to enable components of learning, such as student engagement or collaboration, to be successful. Technology is a means to the end, not the end itself.   

With that in mind, the implementation of technology in the learning environment is an expectation embedded within each plan. BVSD also has technology standards and skills embedded in all BVSD curriculum and in Educator Effectiveness standards.

I encourage you to read the BVSD Ed Tech Blog posts detailing how BVSD students are using technology for unique digital learning experiences. This work, along with the ways technology will be utilized to develop the Success Effect, paints a picture of why bridging learning with digital tools is valuable and necessary.

Technology appears in each strategic goal as a tool, outcome or both. For example, in Literacy & Early Learning, there is a task that will determine how to utilize technology to deliver high-leverage strategies in literacy, scaffolds for language development, and opportunities for differentiation. Once the tools are selected, teachers and students will then use these tools for literacy instruction and assessment.

Another example of how technology is embedded into the BVSD Success Effect is through the priority action team of Educator Growth & Development. This team is evaluating how professional development for BVSD educators can be personalized, differentiated and on-demand.

This will require exploration of digital tools in order to provide personalized professional development. An example could include using video conferencing and online webinar software to provide distance and blended learning opportunities for professional development in order to reach all teachers when they are available. It may also include the use of Schoology for managing discussions and example student products shared by teachers. Technology will be an integral part of the learning experience for our educators.

I believe technology is a valuable tool to enable our students with differentiated experiences to prepare them for the digital world in which they live. Working with my peers and the Superintendent, my team will stay abreast of technology in education and select the tools that are most effective. Transformation is happening with tablets, Chromebooks and more advanced software to help our students and teachers thrive. 

What you have just read is in alignment with the vision of the Boulder Valley School District: We develop our children’s greatest abilities and make possible the discovery and pursuit of their dreams which, when fulfilled, will benefit us all. We provide a comprehensive and innovative approach to education and graduate successful, curious, lifelong learners who confidently confront the great challenges of their time. I believe technology is an essential element of the BVSD educational program to realize this vision and graduate successful, curious, lifelong learners who confront the great challenges of their time.

I’d like to know your view on technology and how it enhances the learning experience.  Please chime in below.

Andrew

Chromebooks @ BVSD

One of the most frequent requests I get is for more student devices, and it makes sense: it’s becoming increasingly important for our students to have access to technology since many of our educational tools and assessments are going online. That’s why I am excited to announce that we have purchased over 70 Chromebook carts, each containing 30 Chromebooks, that will be distributed to schools in April.  Click Here for a video of the rollout.

This Chromebook rollout is not just a matter of ordering and delivering equipment. Teachers using Chromebooks also require professional development and support to ensure that they are integrated effectively into the classroom. That’s why I’m pleased that our Ed Tech team has been offering Chromebook professional development throughout this year, with more opportunities continuing throughout next year.

In particular, I would like to encourage all interested staff members to attend the Digital Innovative Learning Day (formerly iPad Learning Day) on Saturday, May 3 at Angevine Middle. This all-day event will feature workshops led by BVSD educators and Ed Tech specialists with a special focus on Chromebooks and iPads in the classroom. For additional events and trainings, please the Ed Tech Professional Development Opportunities page.

While I know that many of these Chromebooks will be used for standardized testing, I also want to emphasize that they are primarily for enhancing the educational experience for students. I’m excited to see how classrooms will transform as a result of these and other digital devices.

Do you have any thoughts or comments about Chromebooks or carts? Leave a comment below.

Andrew

Ed Tech Launches 21st Century Cohort

BVSD Ed Tech recently completed a year of strategic visioning and planning. Through this process, a group of teachers, students, administrators, and community members created a new path for BVSD teachers to gain professional development (PD) for the integration of technology in the teaching environment.

As part of this new direction, the Ed Tech team will be creating expertise within the schools through a cohort model. We call this the 21st Century Cohort.

After a rigorous selection process, over 40 teachers and their school teacher-librarians where chosen to be part of the first 21st Century Cohort.

Those going through the program will be able to choose new technology for their classroom and receive PD to support the effective usage of that technology in the classroom.

The 21st Century Cohort from this year will broaden Ed Tech's capabilities by helping to train the teachers in next year's cohort. This will allow the program to grow exponentially over the next 2-5 years.

I'm excited about this fundamental change in delivering training and PD, and I welcome the following schools into year 1 of the program:

Angevine MS, Arapahoe Campus, Aspen Creek K-8​, Boulder HS, Broomfield HS, Broomfield Heights MS, Casey MS, Centaurus HS, Centennial MS, Fairview HS, Louisville MS, Manhattan​ MS, Monarch, New Vista, HS Nederland HS/MS, Platt MS, Southern Hills MS, and Summit MS.

You can read more about the 21st Century Cohort program on the Ed Tech Blog.

Andrew