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A NEW ERA IN EDUCATION
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A NEW ERA VIRTUAL HUB GIVES TEACHERS AND FAMILIES ACCESS TO DIGITAL LEARNING RESOURCES IN EDUCATION IN EDUCATION
COVID-19 HAS BROUGHT ABOUT A NEW AGE IN EDUCATION IN WHICH AT LEAST SOME REMOTE LEARNING WILL BE THE NORM.
TO HELP PREPARE for this reality, the Indianapolis eLearning Fund and the College Football Playoff Foundation launched the Indiana Learning Lab (inlearninglab.com), a dynamic, virtual hub for educators across the state to access teaching content, share best practices for digital learning, and grow professionally. The lab will also provide support for families as they help their children successfully participate in digital learning activities
The Indianapolis eLearning Fund—a collaboration of local civic, philanthropic, and corporate partners addressing gaps in internet connectivity and device access—developed the lab and will invest $1.6 million in its operations.
The Indianapolis Host Committ ee and the CFP Foundation have made a signifi cant contribution to the Indiana Learning Lab as part of a $1.5 million total community investment through its legacy program.
“As digital learning becomes part of the new normal, educators and families across the state need enriching content, opportunities for collaboration, professional development, and technical assistance so they can address common challenges and help students thrive in a remote-learning environment,” says Claire Fiddian-Green, president and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, who serves as an advisory member of the Indianapolis eLearning Fund and an executive member of the Indianapolis Host Committ ee. “The Indianapolis eLearning Fund developed the Indiana Learning Lab as a way to address these needs on a statewide scale. We’re so grateful that the CFP Foundation has partnered with us to make possible this hub to support Hoosier teachers and students.”
The lab will help meet pressing needs among educators in Indiana. A survey of public and private school teachers from across the state showed 90 percent are interested in accessing
virtual professional development, and 93 percent are interested in connecting with other educators to discuss approaches or resources for digital learning. More than 80 percent of respondents reported challenges in keeping students engaged in digital learning, highlighting why it’s critical to prioritize resources, connectivity, and training.
For educators, the Indiana Learning Lab will curate enriching content and fl exible lesson plans, provide a means for sharing ideas, and off er webinars and courses in areas such as remote instruction and social and emotional learning.
SETDA, a national nonprofi t focused on digital learning, and Five Star Technology Solutions, an Indiana–based education technology provider, were chosen to launch and operate the lab through a competitive RFP. Indianapolis education nonprofi t The Mind Trust is overseeing the fi rst year of implementation in partnership with the Indianapolis eLearning Fund. The lab is now available to educators and families across the state free of charge.
“The Indianapolis eLearning Fund encapsulates our city’s ethos of working together to solve problems,” says Mayor Joe Hogsett , whose offi ce administers the Indianapolis eLearning Fund. “This philosophy has helped us punch above our weight class, from building a thriving downtown to being among the only cold-weather cities of our size to host a Super Bowl. Now we are coming together to tackle one of the most fundamental needs facing our community, and I’m glad that the lab, created by this group of funders, can be a resource to educators and students statewide.”
The Indiana Learning Lab aligns with the CFP Foundation’s long-standing focus on elevating the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers in four areas: resources, recognition, recruitment, and professional development.
“The CFP National Championship will help drive economic development, foster civic pride, elevate Indianapolis on a global stage, and make possible a community-wide impact through the game’s legacy project,” says CFP Foundation executive director Britt on Banowsky. “We are proud to support an initiative that helps meet a need to support teachers and families during this critical moment in our nation’s history— and in education.” FOUR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS took action to support Indianapolis teachers and students with supplies as schools resumed full-time digital learning. Teach Indy, Teachers’ Treasures, and The Mind Trust, in partnership with the Indianapolis Host Committ ee, assembled and distributed 15,000 eLearning kits for Indianapolis students and 250 care packages for teachers.
“As Indianapolis schools return to full-time digital learning, teachers and students need support with supplies that would normally be available in classrooms,” says Sara Marshall, senior director of talent with The Mind Trust. “Teachers are working hard to plan digital learning assignments, and Teach Indy and The Mind Trust are proud to support the eff ort to give their students what they need to succeed. We are so thankful for teachers and want to show our appreciation.”
The Mind Trust, Indianapolis Public Schools, and the Mayor’s Offi ce of Education Innovation are the three main initiative partners of Teach Indy, which works to recruit, reward, and retain Indianapolis teachers.
The digital learning homework kits contained items such as paper, pencils, children’s scissors, crayons, and more to help students complete assignments without the need for families to buy extra supplies. Homework sets were distributed to pupils at The Mind Trust’s Community Learning Sites and were available for educators at the Teachers’ Treasures 10th Street store and Northwest Middle School satellite store. Additionally, 250 kits were given to fi rst- and second-year teachers with Teach for America, TNTP Indianapolis Teaching Fellows, and Relay Teaching Residents.
“By assembling and distributing over 15,000 kits for kids most in need, our amazing community can see the results of their support,” says Margaret Sheehan, executive director of Teachers’ Treasures. “We all want to lift these kids up and be a part of their learning success. Having our longtime partner, Crystal Catering, off ering up their event space to allow us to assemble these kits is so great. This is a positive endeavor for so many.”
Susan Baughman, president of the 2022 Indianapolis Host Committ ee, says the organization is proud to work with its partners in support of teachers who work tirelessly to provide their students a quality education.
“We continue to be energized by the passion of teachers and also the committ ed eff orts of those parents and individuals helping with at-home learning,” she says.
