Modifying Elkhart’s 1:1 rollout strategy will align it more clearly with the district’s strategic plan while remaining cost neutral and leverage the same purchasing cycle as the previous model. By rolling out devices to individual teachers across the district after they complete professional development we will:
Teachers will receive an iPad after agreeing to participate in trainings focused on using technology to increase Engagement, Collaboration, Literacy and Problem Solving. These professional development opportunities will be taught in a blended learning environment by the district's instructional technology team and will include six hours of in person training and additional PGP hours based on work done outside of class.
After completing Phase I teachers will be eligible to start the professional development offerings that will lead them to receive 10 iPads for their classrooms. This training will include deeper discussions of instructional practices with technology, lesson planning with technology, as well as new tools and apps to use to facilitate transformational learning. The culminating event in Phase II will be teachers designing two lesson/units that transform learning through the use of their iPads as an instructional tool. After completing Phase II teachers will receive ten devices to implement the lessons they created.
In order to remain cost neutral elementary teachers will be encouraged to complete the professional development portion of phase III but will not receive more ipads until at least the 2018-2019 school year. With most elementary schools having 3 sections at each grade level this model will still provide 30 devices per grade level in the elementary buildings (10 per teacher as outlined in phase II)
Teachers wishing to complete iPad sets will enter Phase III of the district's 1:1 professional development course. Teachers will record their lesson utilizing devices and upload it to Canvas for teachers within the 1:1 cohort to view. A final day professional development will allow for self reflection and group discussions about how to improve these lessons moving forward. The culminating event for phase III will ask teachers to share their experience with others in the district in one of three ways:
Once this culminating activity has been completed the teacher will receive a storage solution and additional devices needed to provide a classroom set for their students. In addition teachers that complete will be invited to present a three minute showcase of idea that has changed their classroom.