Embedded Files
A cross-functional leadership team sets a clear vision for the school, its culture, and what teaching
and learning look like before putting technology in classrooms.
All subtopics align with the VILS outcomes and guiding questions align with the criteria in the Portfolio Framework Guide. Use the questions to guide your reflection on the artifacts to narrate your journey toward the goals.
Implementing powerful learning experiences for students and teachers: School and District Leadership
Implementing powerful learning experiences for students and teachers: School and District Leadership
Guiding question:
How does the school leadership team collaborate to support VILS goals?
How does the district leadership team support innovation and collaboration related to technology?
Could you provide examples of how your Professional Learning and Information Technology practices have been adapted based on your reflections and insights gained from fellow members of the VILS network?
Being part of the VILS network has been incredibly valuable for my professional growth. The insights gained from fellow VILS members have directly influenced and shaped both my professional learning practices and information technology strategies. I've enjoyed participating in the VILS National Calls and learning more about other sites' best practices. Here are some examples:
Incorporating Best Practices: Discussions and insights from the VILS network often highlight best practices in educational technology. I've implemented these practices by sharing resources and strategies with teachers, conducting PDs centered around these practices, and encouraging their incorporation into lesson plans.
Adopting New Tools and Platforms: VILS discussions often feature emerging ed-tech tools or platforms that have proven effective in other schools. I've explored these tools, evaluated their potential impact, and introduced them to our school's faculty, providing training and support for their implementation.
Enhancing Professional Development Programs: Insights from the VILS network have influenced the design of our professional development programs. We've tailored sessions to address specific needs identified through these insights, ensuring that our teachers receive targeted training on the latest trends and effective use of technology in the classroom.
Promoting Collaboration and Communication: The VILS network emphasizes the importance of collaboration and communication among educators for successful technology integration. I've facilitated collaborative initiatives, such as cross-grade level projects or digital collaboration spaces, to encourage teachers to share ideas and resources.
Monitoring and Assessing Impact: Insights gained from the VILS network have encouraged a more data-informed approach. I've implemented methods to track the impact of technology integration on student learning outcomes, using this data to refine strategies and support teachers in making data-driven decisions.
Personalized Support: Understanding the diverse needs of teachers, I've adapted my support strategies based on insights from the VILS network. This includes offering personalized coaching sessions, creating differentiated resources, and providing ongoing support aligned with individual teaching styles and comfort levels with technology.
Overall, being part of the VILS network has allowed me to continuously reflect on our practices, learn from others' experiences, and adapt our professional learning and information technology strategies to best support our teachers and students in their educational journey.
Improving teaching practices for technology integration: Teacher Leader Corps
Improving teaching practices for technology integration: Teacher Leader Corps
Guiding questions:
Describe your Teacher Leader Corps, including recruitment, onboarding, activities, and impact.
Our Teacher Leader Corps invites passionate educators to join and explore tech-driven teaching. These are teachers who are excited about learning and collaborating around educational technology. They spark innovation school-wide, enhance student learning, and fosters continuous teacher growth. Ultimately, it's a hub for empowered educators driving tech-forward education.
How has the TLC impacted instructional practice, student achievement or engagement, leadership development, and capacity building at the school?
The Teacher Leader Corps has notably improved teaching methods by integrating technology, leading to heightened student engagement and achievement. It's also been a breeding ground for leadership skills, with members taking on roles guiding colleagues and driving tech initiatives. The initiative has significantly boosted the school's tech capacity, fostering a more innovative and tech-savvy culture overall.
Meet Tubman's 23.24 TLC Members
Meet Tubman's 23.24 TLC Members
Mrs. D. Carter
Mrs. D. Carter
Tier IV Paraprofessional
"As a SPEDucator I am always looking for fun and innovative ways to drive classroom instruction. The VILS program has allowed me to do just that. With the use of these devices my scholars are able to access a whole new world online that has propelled their academics to another level. My scholars are using these devices to not only track their progress with educational apps, but also research and complete projects independently. VILS has been a game changer in my special education classroom. "
ms. m. CUNNINGHAM
ms. m. CUNNINGHAM
8th Science Teacher
"VILS technology has allowed me to bring Science to my students in a cool, different way. As a trained chemist, I always enjoyed lab days and working with different substances in my middle school, high school and college laboratories. Using VILS devices helps me to bring different Science simulations, videos and labs to students I would not have had access to otherwise. My school uses Amplify Science curriculum and in each unit, there is a simulation helping to garner student interest about the topic and stamp important key concepts and scientific knowledge. In addition to this, having VILS devices enables me to use information from cited sources, such as PBS and the American Chemical Society, to bring videos, activities and games to students that stay on topic with Louisiana's science curriculum. My 8th graders enjoy PBS' NOVA lab about evolutionary trees and evolutionary history; this lab has been a highlight for the past two years when ending our 8th grade year together."
Ms. L. SARAVIA
Ms. L. SARAVIA
6th Science Teacher
"Having the VILS program in my science class this year has had a significant impact on my ability to effectively educate my students. To enhance their academic success, I have been implementing various resources, such as videos from EdPuzzle and activities on Discovery Education, to provide additional support. As someone who is not particularly proficient in technology, having a VILS Coach has been invaluable in providing support in this area. Throughout the year, my coach has consistently checked in and introduced me to new technological tools to better assist our scholars, such as providing multiple options for translating PowerPoint presentations into Haitian Creole for one of our students. VILS program has proven to be particularly beneficial for my English Language Learner (ELL) scholars. It allows them to actively participate in class by offering translations of materials such as Amplify and Google Classroom. Additionally, the program's built-in mobile data enables my scholars to complete homework regardless of their location, promoting discipline and responsibility."
Ms. P. BROUSSARD
Ms. P. BROUSSARD
Gifted Teacher
"Tubman News is an academic enrichment club. Students use various technology platforms to communicate with one another as well as their teacher. We use Google Docs to type up news articles. Those documents are shared with the teacher, and feedback is offered in the same document. Text from Google Docs can be transferred directly to Canva, where we have designed our layout from scratch. Students are able to access Canva and learn the basics of graphic design in an inexpensive, risk-free environment. We also use Google Sheets in a non-traditional way: to keep track of our workflow. Everyone can access this document. It lets us know where everyone is in the writing process, helping us keep hard deadlines for our printing date goal. This also allows us to spread out our resources and help one another if someone is falling behind in their contributions."
Ms. E. Schaefer-whittall
Ms. E. Schaefer-whittall
7th/8th ELA Resource Teacher
"The VILS program has been critical in my growth as an ELA SPED and GenEd instructor. I feel comfortable using 2 devices in a classroom setting of 80 students to monitor not only activity, but achievement. KAMI ensures that my SPED instruction allows scholars to easily access their read aloud accommodation and the mark up features assist more visual learners. In between lessons, Discovery Education serves as a vault that allows for student exploration within an educational realm. Although it sounds like a lot, the VILS program is a toolset that undeniably informs how I teach students about using technology. My growth with tech is a reflection of the expectations I set for them."
Reflection
Reflection
Self-Reflection: Use the portfolio guide and self-reflect on your progress (Choose one: Emerging, Aligning, or Optimizing)
We are in Alignment this year.
How does your school demonstrate excellence in showcasing the outcomes listed above?
Our school has seamlessly integrated technology into the curriculum across various subjects. Teachers leverage digital tools to enhance traditional teaching methods, creating a blended learning experience that caters to diverse learning styles. We have invested in educational software that engage students in interactive and immersive experiences. These platforms not only make learning enjoyable but also foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Next Steps: What are your next steps to implement powerful learning experiences for students and teachers and improve teaching practices for technology integration?
My recommended next steps would be:
Schedule regular one-on-one or small group coaching sessions with the Technology Coach for teachers. Use these sessions to address individual concerns, explore new tools, and receive personalized guidance on integrating technology effectively.
Establish a weekly or bi-weekly meeting schedule with Instructional Leads & DCIs to norm how technology can be incorporated into other academic coaching for teachers and staff.
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