Integrating School- Based Technology for Personalized Learning
Jan 16, 2016
Integrating School-Based Technology
for
Personalized Learning
Presented by
Mike MacDonald
Principal Calgary Board of Education
Distributed Learning Symposium Calgary, March 09
Framework
“ The issue that confronts schools is broader than technology. It is about learning and the need to provide new ways to identify and measure the skills and knowledge that students gain from using technology. It is about building the capacity of teachers to evaluate technology resources and to align their uses with the learning goals and content standards of the curriculum.”
(McNabb, Hawkes, Rouk, 1999)
Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09
Personalized Learning
“ Personalization is about individuals, but it is relational between the teacher, the student, the home, and the school”
(Fullan, Hill, Crevola, Breakthrough, 2006)
Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09
Guiding Questions
“How will what we are planning to do improve the level of student achievement in our school?”
“How will we be able to tell?”
Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09
Guiding Questions
“How can I help my teachers createlearning that is more personalized, engaging and accessible?”
Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09
Outline
Technology Planning Professional Development Technology Integration Assessing the Technology Plan
Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09
Assessing the Need
What are the current skill/comfort levels of the staff?
What are they interested in?
What do they feel that they need to learn?
Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09
Larson
Assessing the Need
Turning Point
Senteo
Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09
Immediate Assessment Tools
Comfort Level
Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09
Don’t underestimate the effect that comfort level can have on the level of learning.
“When it comes to affecting behaviour…… feelings are more influential than thoughts.”
John Kotter, A Sense of Urgency, 2008
Professional Development
Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09
Now you have the “what”, the “why” and the “when”.
What you need next is the “who” and the “how”.
Effective Professional Development must have several key components:
Professional Development
Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09
Components of Effective Professional Development:
• clear focus on student learning
• allows for frequent, ongoing
collaboration among staff
• sustained, based on long term
goals with sufficient follow up
• provides adequate time and
resources
Professional Development
Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09
Components of effective Professional development:
• based on school and district
goals
• emphasizes individual and
organizational change
• requires ongoing evaluation
including multiple info sources
Professional Development
Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09
Professional Development = Capacity Building
Michael Fullan describes the most powerful form of capacity building as;
“indirect……. the use of deliberate strategies designed to help peers learn from each other – within schools, across schools, and across school districts….. lateral capacity building.”
Michael Fullan, Change Wars, 2009
The Tech Team
Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09
• Anyone who is interested
• 3-5 members
• Teacher staff, support staff
and school admin
• PLC format
• Various strengths & interests
• Staff comfort level and
risk taking
The Tech Team “Work”
Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09
The Four Domains of Leadership Strength
1) Executing
2) Influencing
3) Relationship Building
4) Strategic Thinking
“Although individuals need not be well-rounded, teams should be.”
Tom Rath & Barry Conchie, Strengths Based Leadership, 2008
Team Diversity is Important
“Hey! Look what Zog do!”
Larson
The Followers
Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09
Followers’ Four Basic Needs
1) Trust 2) Compassion
3) Stability 4) Hope
“The chances of employees
being engaged at work when
they do not trust the company’s
leaders are just 1 in 12”
Tom Rath & Barry Conchie, Strengths
Based Leadership, 2008Larson
Accountability
School Development Plan 1-3 Year Formal Planning
Document Technology and or
Personalized Learning Realistic, Attainable,
Measurable PD plan flows from this
How Important is Planning?
“Well. So much for the unicorns……. But, from now on, all carnivores will be confined to ‘C’ deck.”
Larson
Accountability
Teacher’s Long Range Plans Technology expectations from the beginning
Embedded into their units
Not all subjects all terms
Personalized to staff skill and comfort levels
Accountability
Alberta Program of Studies ICT Outcomes
http://www.education.alberta.ca/teachers/program/ict/programs.aspx
International Society for Technology in Education http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=NETS Students & Teachers
Accountability
Teacher’s Growth & Development Plans Individualized One or two years One out of two goals associated with technology
integration and or personalized learning Tangible links with school professional
development plan
School Based Tech PD
Beyond School & District PD TLC’s (teacher’s learning with computers) Teacher involvement in designing PD days Student mentors Tech Preps School-based support for trouble shooting
(encourages risk-taking)
Assessment
Multiple Forms In-Class Assessments Individual Students Assessments Formal Assessments Report Cards Student Self Assessments TPGP mid year assessments E-Portfolio’s
Student E-Portfolios
Video reading samples (per term) Writing samples (per term) Art work Self-Assessment Rubrics Projects, Research Student Lead Conferences Copy for student in June
Raise The Profile
If it has a high profile in your SD Plan and your PD Plan, it should have a high profile everywhere.
Assemblies Websites Students presentations Hallways Student lead conferences School performances & celebrations ( use
developed materials three times) (synthesis)
Recruitment & Retention
If this type of learning design and execution becomes pervasive in your school, it can help to;
Retain current talented staff. They will have a higher sense of participation and ownership of their own professional development.
Recruit talented staff that want to apply their current teaching skills in a new and more flexible learning environment.
Recruitment & Retention
Many Different Approaches…..
S. Adams
The Road Map
Is There Interest? (Fireside Chats) Assess the Skill & Comfort Level Develop the School Plan Develop the PD Plan (learner outcomes close) Incorporate the accountability pieces Front Load PD & Execute Assess and Re-assess Check Your Speed (Tipping Point)
Technology Integration Leaders Should…….
Expect the unexpected
Budgets Hardware Timelines Installations
Technology Integration Leaders Should………
Be Supportive but Assertive
“And another thing…. I want you to be more assertive! I’m tired of everyone calling you Alexander the Pretty-Good!”
Expectations = Support
Conclusion
This mission, should you choose to accept it, is not about technology, it is about….
Designing personalized learning for staff and students Designing learning experiences that are flexible and
accessible Supporting staff members in their individual journeys Focusing on assessment and what is being learned
These pieces are more about educational leadership and teacher practice that they are about technology. However, integrating technology can be the means through which they are achieved.
Thank You!
Mike MacDonald
Principal, Killarney School
Calgary Board of Education
(403) 777 – 8360