Summary of the Study of 1 1 Technology

Summary of the Study of 1: 1 Technology for Brighton Central Schools Committee Report

Our Charge To study the feasibility of providing tablet devices to each of its students to enhance their learning opportunities

Brighton Belief System • In the classroom, technology needs to be learned not just for its own sake, but to promote meaningful learning experiences for students. • The district’s philosophy for technology use, the District’s vision as well as the Regents Reform Agenda serves as the overarching guide for recommending learning tools and environments. Brighton Technology Plan 2010 -2013

District Philosophy • Student learning and development are the highest priorities for our schools and are the primary bases for decisions. Students should be taught in a developmentally appropriate manner. • Students will be actively engaged in learning activities within the school. • Curriculum and instruction will foster an appreciation for the diversity of people and their beliefs. • An integrated curriculum will provide instruction at appropriate skill levels. • Curriculum will be monitored and adjusted to respond to the changing conditions of the global community. • Adults and students will be responsible and accountable for student learning. • Technology will be appropriately infused into instructional and management practices.

What are we hoping to accomplish? Students will: • Demonstrate creativity and innovation – Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. • Communicate and collaborate – Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. • Conduct research and use information – Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. • Think critically, solve problems, and make decision – Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. • Practice digital citizenship – Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. • Understand technology operations and concepts – Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. ISTE NETS- S (2007)

Staff will: • Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity – Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. • Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments – Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes. • Model Digital-Age Work and Learning – Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. • Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility – Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. • Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership – Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. ISTE NETS- T (2008)

Our Process 1. District 1: 1 Committee work – Generated questions and areas for further study – Conducted literature review of relevant resources 2. Building Technology Committees – Defined current and desired states of technology’s use in a learning environment 3. Director of Technology – Conducted building audits of device & wireless capacity 4. Aligned 1: 1 results with defined desired states

What we found. Impacts of 1: 1 from others’ experiences • 1: 1 Technology promotes the development of 21 st Century skills: collaboration, communication, information gathering and use, media/tech use, problem solving and critical thinking • Increases found in attendance and student engagement to task • Kids will share more/help one another use the technology. • Critical mistakes that schools make – tablets and i. Pads are not meant to replace computers; they are meant to supplement • Different devices are better suited for consumption vs. production. Capacity of device should match curriculum and learning standards. • In Brighton, there is a general need for increased access to technology. Current "cart based solution" is not really working. Still not enough devices, teachers/students can't access "just in time", using technology is an event.

What we found. Concerns of 1: 1 from others’ experiences and our own • There is a lack of research on efficacy of technology on test scores. • Need to have supports in place (professional development, just-in-time support, identification of the right tools/apps) in order to address changes in instruction and meeting the goals • Time is already tight. What will be given up? • BCSD exposure: student access, filtering and inappropriate use questions • Community: Do they want students to have individual devices?

What we know about Brighton • Application needs to be aligned to the standards and technology needs to be integrated to the curriculum based on our goals for student learning. • Many staff are already at this level. Be careful of sweeping generalizations. • Teachers are at very different levels of use/expertise. Start with a group of teachers who are already motivated. • There are many pilots going on at different levels across the country. Need for calm and measured roll out – coming from classroom--up.