Region 6 Fall MeetingConcord, North CarolinaNovember 24, 2014

Two Views

Digital Learning Plan

or

Digital Learning Plan

Our View

✔ Digital Learning Plan

✖ Digital Learning Plan

Legislative Actions

Building on Existing Statewide Innovations

North Carolina Digital Learning Plan

• The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at NC State

University has been asked to develop the NC Digital Learning Plan.

• Working in collaboration with:

– NC Department of Public Instruction

– NC State Board of Education

– Policymakers

– Education leaders

– Practitioners

– Business leaders

– Other stakeholders

Elements of the Digital-Age Learning Model

Advancement based on demonstrated mastery of the content and competency in applying what has been learned.

Anywhere and anytime learning, inside and outside of schools, 24/7, with most learning blending face-to-face and online activities.

Personalized learning and flexible resources optimized for each student.

Student-centered instruction, combining large group, small group and individualized learning, with teachers serving as facilitators and coaches.

Digital content providing interactive, flexible and easily updated educational resources.

Assessments integrated into learning activities to provide ongoing information about students’ achievement that can be used to improve teaching and learning.

Parent portals provide 24/7 access to their children’s assignments, grades, and records, as well as a means to communicate with teachers and administrators.

Project-based and community-based learning activities connecting to students’ lives outside of school.

The DL Plan will Comprise

• Feasibility study

– Functional and technical

– Economic

– Legal

– Operational

– Timing

• Readiness assessment

– State, district, school*

• Findings and recommendations

– Services, budgets, organization and governance, funding, policy

Questions the NC DL Plan will address

• Content & Instruction

• Technology Infrastructure & Devices

• Human Capacity

• Funding & Policy

• Cross-Cutting

Content & Instruction

1. How will North Carolina transition from funding for textbooks to funding for digital materials that are aligned with curriculum, remain current, and are effective for all learners?

2. How will existing systems, such as Home Base, the North Carolina Virtual Public School, and the K-12 Cloud support the transition to digital resources and digital learning?

Technology Infrastructure & Devices

3. How will North Carolina ensure that all public schools and community anchor institutions have the technology, service, and support infrastructure needed to sustain robust digital learning?

Human Capacity

4. How will North Carolina enhance the capacity of all its teachers, school leaders, and district leaders to fully utilize digital resources and meet the new digital learning standards?

5. How will North Carolina ensure that there will be a sustained pipeline of teachers and administrators prepared to support the K-12 digital learning transition?

Funding & Policy

6. How do State and local education policies and processes need to be updated and revised to further digital learning?

7. How does the digital learning transition impact school budgets and how can the digital learning transition be funded?

Cross-Cutting

8. What exemplary approaches and lessons learned from digital learning initiatives in NC districts and other states should North Carolina build upon?

9. How can North Carolina best support current and future local digital learning transitions in districts throughout the State?

Components of Digital-Age Learning

Note: Percentage of respondents selecting “very important” and “every school” on 2 Likert-scaled survey items (n=229).

Parent portals

Project-based learning

Digital content

Integrated assessments

Anywhere/anytime learning

Competency-based learning

Personalized learning

Student-centered instruction

46%

9%

22%

18%

8%

14%

13%

17%

32%

45%

48%

52%

57%

60%

69%

79%

Very Important Implemented throughout LEA

Digital Learning Challenges

Note: Data from open-coding of text-based responses (n=122).

Funding

Devices &

Equipment

Infrastr

ucture &

Access

Professional

Develop...

Stake

holder Buy-I

n

Personnel

Lead

ership &

Policy

Digital

Content

59%

48%45%

39%33%

26% 25%19%

Teacher Working Conditions Data

Teachers have sufficient access to instructional technology, including computers, printers, software and internet access.

Teachers have sufficient training to fully utilize instructional technology.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Advisory Boards

• Meetings with

– Educators: superintendents, principals, tech directors, teachers

– Policymakers

– Business leaders

• Sample LEAs

• Models/exemplars

• Regional town halls

• Webinars and online surveys

Sample Districts

Deliverables

Next Steps for the NC DL Plan

Timeline Major Activities

Oct 2014-Feb 2015 • Deploy school WiFi Survey and develop consortium RFP• Finalize sample of LEAs and conduct 2-3 day visits• Continue presentations and information gathering sessions

with stakeholders• Identify and visit exemplar/models

Oct-Nov 2014 • Write and vet Policy Brief #2

Nov 2014-Mar 2015 • Analyze data and gather feedback from stakeholders

Dec 2014-Jan 2015 • Submit Policy Brief #2• Meet with NC DL Plan Advisory Board

Mar 2015-Apr 2015 • Write the Feasibility Study and Assessment Report• Meet with NC DL Plan Advisory Board

May-June 2015 • Hold Regional Town Hall Meetings to vet recommendations

Aug 2015 • Submit Final Report

Final Notes

• North Carolina is positioned to be a national leader in digital learning.

• The Digital Learning Plan will move things in the right direction, but the changes will be ongoing, not completed by 2017, 2020, or any other year.

• We believe there will be a good long-term return on investment in terms of educational outcomes, increased graduation rates, workforce preparation, and state budgets.

• Investments in infrastructure, digital content, and human capacity development will be required.

• For the Policy Brief andadditional information: http://ncdlplan.fi.ncsu.edu

• To submit inquires and recommendations:ncdlplan@fi.ncsu.edu

• Digital Learning Plan Information Gathering: http://go.ncsu.edu/n7f4nf

• Working Group Interest Form:  http://go.ncsu.edu/ncdl.working.group 

Questions and Comments?Thank you!

Suzanne Branon: snbranon@ncsu.edu

Lee Sartain: lee_sartain@ncsu.edu