Did you know states are doing away with traditional education models to become more digital? SLED expert Rachel Eckert explores IT trends and priorities in education, including:
* Top IT decision makers influencing procurement decisions
* Major IT missions and key funded programs
* Drivers and funding sources for initiatives
* Technology insertion points on the state and local level
http://marylandpublicschools.org/NR/rdonlyres/D895AEF0-476A-46CF-86E5-A77C87A4E129/29114/MITAC_Report_June2011.pdf
Currently, only about 165 of Maryland’s 1,424 schools are using online student courses (MSDE, 2010a); those which do are mostly secondary. Maryland’s virtual schooling enrollments are lower than desired, having dropped 11% in the 2009-2010 school year because of lack of capacity, both in funding and support.
The State should provide access to a common Learning Management System (LMS) or e-learning classroom for all students and staff across districts. In addition to resultant cost savings, a statewide LMS facilitates sharing of digital content and online and hybrid courses across district and possibly state lines. As districts currently develop digital content, they should promote development in a format that is shareable across learning management systems, as well as compatible with the State system.
Support anytime, anywhere access to technology – goal is to get to a 1:1 student / device ratio
Maryland is currently building out its longitudinal data system to align with higher education and workforce systems to track student success not only during the PreK-12 years, but also beyond graduation.
Through the Race to the Top initiative, Maryland is developing a longitudinal data-system system that will allow teachers and administrators to access and share student data, so that they can better meet the needs of each individual student. Teachers will be able to obtain results from formative assessments quickly and then modify their instruction to personalize learning. Access to appropriate and timely data for instructional decision-making can help transform the teaching and learning process.
Universal access to high speed broadband in every instructional and administrative area will provide faster connectivity and access to robust, dynamic content allowing students and educators to accomplish their instructional goals. Use of ongoing assessments to differentiate student learning increases the urgency for this growth. Through Maryland’s Race to the Top funding, its investment in a statewide system will provide: “anytime, anywhere” access to data through user-friendly dashboards for real-time instructional decision-making; appropriate resources aligned to the individual needs of students; and support for educators in differentiating the learning experience for every child. An investment in a quality infrastructure is critical to supporting every aspect of teaching and learning.
The Maryland Virtual Learning Opportunities Program was established by State law in 2002, directing MSDE to provide leadership in online learning for Maryland students and educators. The lack of targeted funding has been a barrier to the growth of MVLO and participation by all local school systems. With appropriate funding, the State and local systems can invest in the development and implementation of a robust statewide virtual learning program, where all students would have opportunities to participate in online learning. Virtual learning provides alternate ways for students to fulfill their educational goals. For example, if one or two students in a school want to take a course that is not offered, an online course could be an alternative. Districts can secure an online teacher to provide classes that cannot be offered because of the lack of a qualified teacher or limited enrollment, or for students who cannot attend school for various reasons. Viable solutions regarding credit recovery for struggling students also need to be examined and implemented. State and district policies need to be reviewed, revised, or developed to eliminate barriers to online learning. Appropriate funding and effective policies will facilitate broader use of virtual learning, and allow for greater collaboration and sharing of courses and digital content within the State of Maryland and across states.
Virtual Learning Environment: Baltimore County’s Chesapeake High School boasts a full-fledged Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Seahawk. Seahawk is a high-fidelity simulation based on geospatial terrain data obtained from NASA. The current version of Seahawk embeds STEM learning activities in geometry and environmental science within a Mt. St. Helens volcano setting. Student teams work together to conduct scientific experiments such as virtually testing air and water quality, investigating what types of plants and animals have returned to the region of a volcanic eruption, and calculating the effects humans have had on the land surrounding the volcano. VLE is a flexible tool that can be adapted to various locales and content areas. A key to this is a Curriculum Customization Interface that allows non-programmers to create new content aligned with standards. The VLE is currently being used in Chesapeake High’s Arena room and in a virtual computer lab (V-Lab) in which all workstations have 3 monitors, though it can also be used on more common single-screen configurations.
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/performance/
http://stateboard.ncpublicschools.gov/strategic-plan
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/techservices/home/info-tech-plan.pdf
As described in detail in its 2012-14 IT plan, over the past two years NCDPI has been unwaveringly focused on the development and implementation of Home Base – the name for the instructional related applications and technical services developed from the $400 million federal Race to the Top (RttT) grant received in 2010. Of RttT’s $400 million grant funds, $140 million ($70 million state and $70 million LEAs) has been dedicated to instructional technology, primarily for use by teachers and students in classrooms to improve student learning.
Pearson is the software / hosting vendor for PowerSchool, Schoolnet, and OpenClass applications on Home Base. Pearson is the hosting vendor for Learning Object Repository application
Truenorthlogic software / hosting for Educator Effectiveness System
http://www.northcarolina.edu/sites/default/files/documents/final_bog_2015-17_budget_priorities.pdf
Additionally, for the preparation of the Governor’s 2015‐17 Recommended State Budget, the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) is requiring all agencies to submit operating recommendations equating to a net 2% reduction (excluding enrollment change) by October 31, 2014.
Identity Automation is software / hosting vendor for Identity and Access Management application on Home Base
To the extent it is cost effective and value enriching, transfer NCDPI data center and technical services to OITS
The intent is for applications to be hosted first by the vendor and second at OITS — no hosting done at NCDPI. Network operations and desktop support activities should be evaluated on costs, service levels and risks. The transition to Enterprise Active Directory service (EAD), including migration from Novell Netware, should be completed as soon as possible. This latter action may necessitate significant changes to some administrative and financial applications.
Every student has a personalized education
Number of students successfully completing one or more online NC Virtual Public School courses
A key initiative related to Home Base is the planning project mandated by the General Assembly per SL2013-12 that calls for the transition by 2017 from textbooks to digital materials.
Develop a comprehensive data integration plan for enhancing the data models and their interfaces across all applications/systems including Home Base by June 2016.
Develop a plan to modernize or replace legacy applications and/or systems by January 2016.
Establish and enforce Service Level Agreements (SLA) with all technology services providers and customers by February 2016.
Provide all schools with sufficient wireless coverage to support 1:1 computing initiatives
Percentage of schools implementing 1:1 or Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs for students