ConnectMe! (Connect My Education)

The BVSD move to the digital world reflects the way our economy and society operate in general and allows for learning to happen any place and anytime for our students, who have a digital device and an internet connection. When students lack internet access, these learning experiences and opportunities are impacted. My team and I are working to bridge this digital divide to help ensure equitable access for all students.

Although BVSD IT has run internet into one Boulder Housing Partners community as a pilot program, that option is not viable for all of our students. With that in mind, we are starting a new pilot called ConnectME (Connect My Education).

Background

The BVSD Success Effect speaks to the need for partnerships that help us to achieve our educational goals.

Recently, former Centaurus High School graduate and current CU student Balkarn Shahi approached me with an idea to address the learning gap in east county by partnering with city government, charitable organizations, and BVSD to get families connected who otherwise would not be connected. The key is that Balkarn will lead the effort to go door to door, with help from his CU friends to work through the issues with connecting through Comcast's Internet Essentials or Century Link's Internet Basics which are both $9.95 internet options.

Balkarn described his time at CHS where friends, would come to his house to complete homework, check social media and be connected to the world using his available internet connection. He understands the digital divide that exists for our students first hand and is passionate about working to bring access to all students.

Funding

My department will be working alongside Balkarn to support his efforts to find the funding to provide access to the Internet for families in need. BVSD IT will not be supplying funds for this portion, rather providing the support to build these relationships with the City of Lafayette, Sister Carmen, and others.

Balkarn has even started a GoFundMe campaign to provide startup funds for this project.

Partnerships

This work would not be able to happen without building the partnerships that the Success Effect highlights. The initial reach of this opportunity is for the Sanchez Elementary community to explore how family access can impact an elementary school and the learning of students and families.

Through this partnership between IT and Sanchez, teachers will receive professional development from BVSD’s Ed Tech team to encourage and support the shift in instruction to a balance of the traditional and digitally enriched classroom. With partnering from the school, the team will also lead learning opportunities for parents to experience and learn about the digital tools, much like what is already occurring within the parent community through the 1:Web pilot.

Next Steps

IT will collaborate with the pilot team to articulate details as well as begin working on the financial partnerships needed to make this happen. We should officially launch the ConnectME Pilot in the 2016-17 school year.

Please chime in with your thoughts below and help me support Balkarn and CU in their efforts to help close the digital divide in BVSD.

Andrew

BVSD Technology Tools Program

It is no surprise that changes in technology are happening all around us. My team now supports over 27,000 digital devices which is up almost 300% from just 5 years ago. Chromebooks, which entered the market only a few years ago, are now a classroom technology standard. This is evident by the 12,500+ Chromebooks already deployed in our schools.

In addition, new repair costs for aging projectors and wall-mounted touchpads are now covered in our existing budget. As technology and cost models change, the IT and Ed Tech programs must also adapt to be relevant in the learning environment.

The BVSD Technology Tools Program is the evolution of the long-running “Tech Refresh” program which allocated roughly $1.4M to refresh technology for schools, students, teachers and support staff.

The new Technology Tools Program breaks up the funding into three distinct sub programs - Schools, Employees, and Purchases.

School/Student Technology Tools: Allows schools to get new technology on a recurring basis.

Employee Technology Tools: Allows employees to have a digital device not older than 5 years.

Purchase Technology Tools:  Allows schools and departments to purchase supported technology using their own funds.

What has changed?

• Schools will no longer be allocated points to be used to purchase standard equipment for staff members. Instead employees will be able to replace their digital device every 5 years with the latest preferred technology.
• Principals can select alternative technology for teachers depending on instructional needs using school/student point allocations.
• IT will warrantee employee devices for 5 years.
• Projector, bulb, and touchpad repairs will be maintained by IT at no additional cost to schools.

What has not changed?

Schools are still divided into two groups: Odd-Year Schools and Even-Year Schools. Click here to view your school’s group. The only exceptions to this schedule are the 1:Web pilot schools, which are receiving new technology every year for incoming freshman.

For more information, check out the newly redesigned Technology Tools  website here.

Do you have questions or comments about the new BVSD Technology Tools model?  Please sign in to chime in below.

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