DIGITAL FRONTIER
How instructional technology reimagined the student learning experience during a pandemic by Henry Hall
L
ike many districts, Richardson ISD began this school year in a phase of forced innovation with students attending school virtually. Throughout the school year, students have had the option to continue to attend school virtually or in person. While the fluid nature of this situation presents a variety of challenges, working in tandem, classroom teachers and technology departments are reevaluating how instruction is delivered and developing positive student learning experiences and outcomes. As part of Richardson ISD’s “Connect With IT” initiative, the district’s instructional technology department conducted a needs assessments within our 55 campuses to determine the support structure for the 2020-21 school year. After conducting onsite campus visits, it became vividly clear that unlike ever before, teachers were in need of additional support in the area of instructional technology integration. To assist with this, the instructional technology department developed a program called AIM (Apple Integration Mentors) and offered participation to all 43 of our elementary campuses, all of which have a 1:1 student iPad implementation in place for grades pre-K through six. As part of the AIM program, which is being led by two instructional technology specialists who are both Apple Distinguished Educators, one representative from each elementary school was selected by the campus leadership team to participate in a specialized half-day technology training once a month. Training was designed to support the unique needs and challenges teachers face in current educational environments, in which students are simultaneously virtual, face-toface, or co-seated. Program participants receive specialized training on leveraging Apple tools and devices to create engaging learning
experiences for virtual and face-to-face students. After each training, AIM members share their learning with campus staff in a variety of ways, including professional development sessions offered throughout the day and before/after school, Lunch and Learns, Tech Tip Tuesdays Smores, videos, and training modules in our LMS.
District outcomes • Create a team of digital leaders fluent in navigating Apple tools and iPad who model best teaching practices in virtual, hybrid and face-to-face learning environments. • Build a comprehensive bank of student and educator digital artifacts that demonstrate exemplary instruction.
“Participants are enjoying the hands-on immersive experience as they work together to create innovative solutions to classroom challenges,” said Robin Gunter, director of instructional technology. The “Connect With IT” initiative has created a community of like-minded colleagues focused on maximizing the potential of devices to engage students and create personalized and meaningful learning experiences, whether the classroom setting is in person, virtual, or hybrid. The program has been a great success at a very critical time and continues to receive positive recognition by campus staff, central office leadership and our school board.
• Provide a platform for students to showcase learning with iPads. • Foster a culture of innovative teaching, meaningful technology integration and student-centered learning. • Develop a community of innovative and collaborative educators. AIM candidate qualifications • Teachers and LITES can participate. Exceptions for instructional coaches depend on the campus. • Minimum two years of teaching experience • Must commit to attending all F2F sessions and submitting deliverables.
Program expectations • Integrate Apple curriculum and tools within daily instruction and continue to evaluate and improve upon instruction. • Lead by example by modeling best teaching practices. Support could include leading professional developments, sharing resources, writing newsletters, filming tutorials and partnering with instructional technology. • Showcase digital lessons and activities and discuss how methods used align with ISTE standards and impact learning. • Build a comprehensive portfolio of student digital artifacts demonstrating multimodal, student-centered learning.
• Submit deliverables that connect learning standards and align with program rubrics. • Eager to learn and apply studentcentered instructional models. • Effectively communicate and collaborate with colleagues. • Can present learning and showcase digital artifacts at a district level. •
Willing to try approaches, methods and apply new methodologies within daily teaching practices.
HENRY HALL is chief technology officer in Richardson ISD.
Texas School Business JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2021
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