REFLECT

TLC Member and 8th grade math teacher, Justice Caldwell, leads an interactive lesson in Desmos.

Guiding Questions:

1. What would you consider to be your biggest challenges this year and how did you overcome them?

   • Having so many new teachers this year who weren't with us in year 1 of VILS has been a challenge. Luckily, we are able to leverage the knowledge and buy-in of our staff who are still here, and they jump right in to support their colleagues when needed.

2. How will these takeaways affect the sustainability of this program?

   • I think it's important to always build in pausing points for reflection and assessment. If we continue working with the VILS Outcomes and 6 Elements of Success as a road map, we will be successful as a school that transforms teaching and learning with tech.

Guiding Questions:

1. What would you consider to be your biggest successes this year and why?

   • Our biggest successes lie in teachers feeling confident enough to integrate new strategies with new apps into their curricula. It can be challenging to find ways to stick with the program but also supplement with something else that meaningfully fits. 

2. How do your successes align with your professional learning plan?  

   • Our PLP includes a goal around leveraging technology to close academic gaps for all students. We're seeing interventionists leverage ST Math, Zearn, Kami, and lots of strategies learned from meeting with their coach to make all of this happen. 

Ms. Manning's 6th grade math class participates in a Jamboard activity to learn how to balance equations. Students are able to use manipulatives as well as click-and-drag numbers, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer sections to show Ms. Manning their learning in real time and get feedback to spot their mistakes and build deeper understanding.

Students in Mr. Marshall's 7th grade ELA class work on their gist-writing skills using Nearpod Collaboration Boards.

Guiding Questions:

1. How has the campus culture transformed due to this program? How do you know?

   • Teachers here now see the tech as a valuable tool versus something that is a challenge to incorporate into their practice. Teachers see the rise in engagement when tech-based lessons and strategies are used and shared amongst the team, and even across the network. Students are excited and proud to have access to these devices, and many of them have favorite apps, games, and activities!

2. What needs to change (areas of growth) for your continuous growth in the program? Why and how?

   • As we transition in the program toward having fewer VILS-led Learning Experiences, we need to solidify a plan for what teacher tech learning looks like moving forward. We need to assess the needs by surveying teachers and meeting across leadership teams to determine what learning we plan every year to keep our momentum going.