Integrating School-Based Technology for

1. Integrating School-Based Technology for Personalized Learning

2. Presented byMike MacDonaldPrincipalCalgary Board of Education Distributed Learning Symposium Calgary, March 09

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Guiding Questions “How can I help my teachers create learning that is more personalized, engaging and accessible?” Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09

7. Outline • Technology Planning • Professional Development • Technology Integration • Assessing the Technology Plan Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09

8. 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? Larson Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09

9. Assessing the Need Turning Point Senteo Immediate Assessment Tools Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09

10. Comfort Level 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 Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09

11. Professional Development 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: Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09

12. Professional Development • 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 Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09

13. Professional Development • Components of effective Professional development: • based on school and district • goals • emphasizes individual and • organizational change • requires ongoing evaluation • including multiple info sources Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09

14. Professional Development • 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 Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09

15. The Tech Team • 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 Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09

16. The Tech Team “Work” 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 Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09

17. Team Diversity is Important “Hey! Look what Zog do!” Larson

18. The Followers 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, 2008 Larson Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning Mike MacDonald Symposium 09

19. Accountability School Development Plan • 1-3 Year Formal Planning Document • Technology and or Personalized Learning • Realistic, Attainable, Measurable • PD plan flows from this

20. How Important is Planning? “Well. So much for the unicorns……. But, from now on, all carnivores will be confined to ‘C’ deck.” Larson

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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)

25. Assessment Multiple Forms • In-Class Assessments • Individual Students Assessments • Formal Assessments • Report Cards • Student Self Assessments • TPGP mid year assessments • E-Portfolio’s

26. 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

27. 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)

28. 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.

29. Recruitment & Retention • Many Different Approaches….. S. Adams

30. 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)

31. Technology Integration Leaders Should……. Expect the unexpected • Budgets • Hardware • Timelines • Installations

32. 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

33. 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.

34. Thank You! Mike MacDonald Principal, Killarney School Calgary Board of Education (403) 777 – 8360 mpmacdonald@cbe.ab.ca