Prepared for Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Instructional Improvement System (IIS) Project

1. Instructional Improvement System (IIS)(a.k.a. Learning Management System – LMS)Needs Analysis Discussion, Planning Meeting, and Focus Group Session This presentation was prepared by an independent consulting firm for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. While the data and analysis contained in this document were used to inform the foundation, it is not a representation of the current grant-making strategy. For more information on the foundation’s strategy, please visit: www.gatesfoundation.org/education

2. Prepared for Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Instructional Improvement System (IIS) Project For nearly two decades, CELT has helped align leadership, learning, and technology in support of improved student learning by working collaboratively with educational organizations to support and transform teaching, learning, and administrative processes.

3. What is the purpose of today’s meeting? To gather end-user input for developing a conceptual model, functional requirements, and performance specifications for an Instructional Improvement System (IIS) (a.k.a. Learning Management System)… • as defined in the Race to the Top (RTTT) application process and proposal submissions; • based on IIS/LMS activities currently underway in learning organizations at all levels; • and, includes the results of statewide field-based assessment activities and state-level legislation.

4. Who are the meeting participants? • Superintendents of Schools • Chief Academic Officers • Directors of Research and Assessment • Staff Development Coordinators • Chief Information Officers • Library, Media, Instructional Resource Specialists • School Principals • elementary • middle • high school • Education Association/Consortium Leaders

5. Who are the CELT facilitators? Florida Meetings • John Phillipo • Laurie Keating • Harold Ellis • Lisa Connelly • Ohio Meetings • Don Ginder • Cyndi Dunlap • John Bowles • Christine Ginder

6. What is today’s agenda? • 8:30 – 9:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast • 9:00 – 9: 15 Welcome and Introductions • 9: 15 – 9:25 Project Background and Rationale • 9: 25 – 10:00 IIS (LMS) Vision/Overview • 10:00 – 10:40 Breakout Session Part I • 10:40 – 10:50 Break • 10:50 – 11:15 Breakout Session Part II • 11:15 – 11:45 Reporting Back and Discussion • 11:45 – 12:00 Concluding Comments and Next Steps

7. Who is CELT? CELT’s Mission To help learning organizations attain their vision, mission, and goals by integrating high-quality programs, services, and technology with the organization's people and processes in a timely, efficient, and cost-effective way. 

8. Project Background and Rationale

9. What is the project background? • The IIS/LMS Project is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation • CELT serves as the research and development partner along with the state, regional, local education agencies and charter schools • The participating states are Florida and Ohio

10. What are the project phases and timeline? • Identify research, best practices, Jul/Aug 2010 and field-based needs assessment • Develop IIS/LMS conceptual Sep/Oct 2010 model, key components, functional requirements • Conduct IIS/LMS Fall Institute Oct/Nov 2010 • Draft vignettes on effective use Dec/Jan 2010-11 of an IIS/LMS application

11. What is the rationale for the project? • As educators, we need to: • apply technology to our core mission • reverse the trend of “pulling” data from the classroom without adequate feedback loops and data analysis tools for students, teachers, and parents • recognizethat successful IIS/LMS implementation is more of an organizational and industry problem than a technology project

12. What is the universally accepted core mission of education? • Develop the most contemporary standards, curricula, and assessments • Coach/facilitate learners through a myriad of developmental instructional activities • Identify appropriate instructional strategies and resources with just-in-time staff development • Monitor/assess student progress based upon a pre-determined set of learner needs and performance rubrics.

13. Current and Desired Data Flow Presently, there is a need to create seamless, continuous, and transparent feedback loops at all levels Without feedback loops, data will continue to remain inaccurate and unreliable.

14. Current and Desired Data Flow Presently, there is a need to create seamless, continuous, and transparent feedback loops at all levels Without feedback loops, data will continue to remain inaccurate and unreliable.

15. Why hasn’t technology helped transform education? Every major business or industry in the world, with the exception of education, has from the onset applied information technology to its CORE mission • Finance/Banks • (ATM System) • Education/Learning(???) • Airline/Travel • (SABRE, Expedia, etc.) • Medical/Health • (MEDLAR)

16. IIS/LMS Overview

17. Assessment Strategies Curriculum/Instruction Learners (Who?) (How Well?) (What?) Instructional Resources Staff Development (With?) (By Whom?) IIS/LMS Conceptual Model

18. Why hasn’t technology helped transform education? Every major business or industry in the world, with the exception of education, has from the onset applied information technology to its CORE mission • Finance/Banks • (ATM System) • Education/Learning(???) • Airline/Travel • (SABRE, Expedia, etc.) • Medical/Health • (MEDLAR)

19. Curriculum / Instruction (What?) • Common core standards • State frameworks • Curriculum guides • Courses of study • Content objectives • Process skills • Technology competencies • Instructional practices

20. Instructional Resources (With what?) • Software • Internet, web • Manipulatives • Multi-media resources • Textbooks • Lesson plans • Field trips • Guest speakers

21. Assessment Strategies (How well?) • State – high stakes • District - benchmark • School - interim • Classroom – formative/authentic/performance • Journal • Quiz • Interview • Essay • Project • Test • Portfolio • Other • Home/Student– self-assessment and correlation

22. Staff Development (By whom?) • Staff proficiencies • Skills • Knowledge • Behavioral attributes • Staff profiles • Staff development programs • Job portfolios • Individual staff development plans • Supervision and evaluation strategies

23. Learners (Who?) • Students • Learning profile • Growth pattern • Academic progress • Community members • Teachers • Parents • Senior citizens • Business/industry leaders

24. What is the IIS/LMS integration strategy? BUSINESS SYSTEM BUSINESS SYSTEM MISSION MISSION - - CRITICAL CRITICAL DIGITAL LEARNING DIGITAL LEARNING COMPONENTS COMPONENTS DECISION DECISION - - SUPPORT ENGINE SUPPORT ENGINE DASHBOARD DASHBOARD Integrated Network/Communications Infrastructure for Voice, Learner Centered Data Reporting and Analysis Video, Data, Security, and Energy Management Student Student Information Information Gradebook Gradebook , , Planbook Planbook , & Portfolios , & Portfolios System System Curriculum/ Curriculum/ Learner and Teacher Desktop Tools Learner and Teacher Desktop Tools Financial Financial Assessment Assessment Instruction Instruction Management Management (How Well? (How Well? (What?) (What?) System System Instructional Support Services Instructional Support Services (Tutoring, Homework Hotline, etc.) (Tutoring, Homework Hotline, etc.) Operational Learners Learners Support (Who?) (Who?) Systems Education • Students • Students • Teachers • Teachers Portal • Parents • Parents • Administrators • Administrators Human Human Resource Resource Instructional Instructional Staff Staff Management Resources Resources (By Whom?) (By Whom?) (With?) (With?) Communication/Collaboration Communication/Collaboration (School, Home, Community) (School, Home, Community) Asset Planning and Asset Planning and Management Management Systems Systems Standards/Lesson Plans Standards/Lesson Plans Network Communications Infrastructure and Help Desk $ $

25. Desired Outcomes of an IIS/LMS • Accurate and timely information about student achievement in support of decision making at all levels • Parents and community members participating more fully in the learning process • Students assuming an active role and accepting responsibility for their educational experience • Staff empowered to work cooperativelyto increase student achievement, enhance productivity, and improve accountability continued…

26. Desired Outcomes of an LMS (continued) • Student achievement linked with staff development programs • Standards correlated to instructional practices, assessmentstrategies, and staff development programs • Gaps identified in instructional programs for adequacy of instructional resources, assessment items, and staff proficiencies • Ability to determine cost/benefit of instructional programs and learning resources

27. Breakout Sessions

28. What are the questions that need to be answered? • What are the key components of a comprehensive IIS/LMS? • What is the required functionality? • Who are the major users of a web-based IIS/LMS and what is the impact upon them? • What are the unique needs of the various users? • What are the systems (data) integration requirements with LEA (SIS, FMS, DSS) applications and state-level reporting systems? continued…

29. What are the questions? (continued) • What is the impact of an easy-to-use and role-based IIS/LMS on: • curriculum? • assessment? • staff development? • student profile and achievement? • learning resources? • What are the barriers to successful implementation of an integrated LMS? • funding? • process improvements? • time?

30. Reporting Back

31. Closing CommentsandNext Steps

32. We Must Systemically Change the Way We Manage Change “You can always trust Americans to do the right thing after they have tried to do everything else.” Sir Winston Churchill

33. Technology and Education The Critical Success Factors: Planning Leadership Funding Partnership

34. Critical Mass* of 21st Century Resources Staff Time Money Technology * Amount of the innovation required to provide a substantial/measurable change in productivity and/or learning.

35. How can you contact CELT? Florida Project Lead: Dr. John R. Phillipo E-mail: jphillipo@celtcorp.com Office: (508) 624-4474 ex. 1207 Fax: (508) 624-6565 Ohio Project Lead: Mr. Don Ginder E-mail: dginder@celtcorp.com Office: (508) 624-4474 ex. 1221 Fax: (508) 624-6565 Center for Educational Leadership and Technology (CELT) 65 West Boston Post Road, Suite 200 Marlborough, Massachusetts 01752 Website: www.celtcorp.com