For Staff
With the launch of the technology toolkit, the landscape of technology is changing in the School District of Clayton. The replacement of desktop computers with mobile devices will change the way learning spaces can be used and enable staff members to provide even greater transformative learning opportunities for students in every grade level and content area.
In order to ensure the technology toolkit is implemented in the most effective way for students and staff, the District has developed a three-phase plan for the toolkit rollout. This plan will allow the District to maximize its existing resources while provide appropriate professional development opportunities for staff. The three-phase rollout also gives the District the flexibility to make adjustments to the toolkit based on evolving technology and the needs of each school.
Phase 1: Spring 2017- Infrastructure upgrades
- Internet bandwidth expansion
- Addition of devices
Phase 2: 2017-2018 School Year- Security updates to student Google accounts
- Addition of devices
Phase 3: Fall 2018- Addition of devices
- One-to-one (device-to-student) program launch at Clayton High School
Infrastructure UpgradesThe Technology Department will be making infrastructure upgrades to the wireless internet at all District schools this spring to support the increase in devices that will be added during the toolkit rollout.
In order to complete this work, each school may experience up to two days of disruption in their internet connectivity. The Technology Department is working closely with building principals on the timeline for these upgrades to reduce the impact on student learning. Building principals will communicate the dates for when the disruptions may occur in advance so teachers can plan their lessons accordingly.
Professional LearningAny change with technology requires significant levels of professional learning so that teachers and staff can integrate the use of technology in a meaningful way within their classes. For teachers to learn effectively, the professional learning must be a combination of experiences that are assured, differentiated, hands-on and personalized.
The vision for technology within the District includes a model for integration. The District has begun using the SAM-R (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and Redefinition) model, which allows for teachers to make decisions about the use of technology from no use or simple substitution of a tool (e.g. word processing instead of handwriting) to completely embedded (e.g. a multimedia presentation that explores a single topic through different media and presentational methods). At the high end of the SAM-R model, teachers are encouraged to make significant changes where appropriate to redefine the activity in a way that encourages students to think critically and create with the technology.
A great explanation of the SAM-R model can be found here.
The District will be providing staff with multi-year professional learning opportunities beginning in the summer of 2017 to gain a greater depth of understanding on the SAM-R model and the integration of new technology in the classroom. These assured and differentiated experiences will include training on the new devices that will be added to each school during all three phases of the technology toolkit rollout and how their use as a learning tool will differ from the existing devices available in our schools.
As the technology toolkit is implemented, the District’s Technology Committee will work in partnership with the Technology Department to develop a measurement tool or system that will be used to determine the effectiveness of the technology toolkit and the implementation of the SAM-R integration model. Additionally, the Technology Committee will work to determine if any shifts in technology are required in order to meet the needs of the District’s students and staff.
DevicesEvery phase of the technology toolkit rollout includes the addition of mobile devices at each school. The distribution of these devices will look different at every school level, depending on the needs of students and staff, and will range from tablets to Chromebooks to laptops.
As new devices are added to each school, existing student devices will be phased out. The transition from permanent desktops in classrooms and labs to mobile devices on carts will allow schools to reconfigure the current location of devices throughout the school to best meet the needs of students and staff.
The software and apps available on student devices will be standardized based on school level. The Technology Department will be responsible for the centralized management of all devices and will remotely update software and apps on devices on a school-level basis. Each building’s educational technologist will be fully trained on the new devices in order to support staff in their use of the devices throughout the school day.
During Phase 3 of the toolkit rollout in the 2018-2019 school year, the District will be launching a one-to-one (device-to-student) program at Clayton High School. All devices will remain the property of the District but will be checked out with students for the entire school year. This initiative will significantly transform the learning landscape at CHS. In order to prepare CHS staff for the transition to a one-to-one program, the District will be dedicating a significant amount of professional development time during the next two years to train staff on the functionality of the devices so they may fully integrate the new technology into their daily lessons. As the toolkit rollout progresses, the District will provide additional details to CHS staff regarding the one-to-one initiative and how it will take shape at CHS.
