Guest Column: Glenbard Plan Details How Technology Will Transform Teaching, Learning
Glenbard District 87 Superintendent Dr. David Larson writes about how students and teachers will use collaborative digital technologies to transform learning and teaching.
David Larson is the superintendent at Glenbard District 87.
Glenbard District 87
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By David F. Larson, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Glenbard Township High School District #87
At its March 4 meeting, the Glenbard District 87 Board of Education heard a report on the district’s new multi-year, comprehensive Instructional Technology Strategic Plan. A key theme of this presentation was how students and teachers will use collaborative digital technologies every day to transform learning and teaching. Also integrated into the presentation were key reflective questions. These purposeful questions were designed to ensure that this plan is not simply about new gadgets and new trends, but about capitalizing on the rapidly expanding opportunities to accelerate student learning.
The goal is to leverage technology as a tool to enhance instruction in a meaningful way. We want to be thoughtful and intentional as we shift our teaching practices. The following questions will guide us along this journey:
- New technologies can facilitate "anytime, anywhere learning". What does it mean for students to stay continually connected to such a learning tool?
- How do we transition from textbooks and paper course outlines to digital curriculum that allows students to access instructional materials, assignments and assessments anytime, anywhere?
- How do we scale professional development for teaching staff so that all instructors are equipped and skilled as they make shifts in their teaching practices?
- How do we capitalize on the opportunities of implementing Bring Your Own Device for students? And how does this prepare us for the eventual implementation of 1:1 deployment for every student?
- How do we ensure that these new tools not only substitute, augment, and modify how we deliver instruction, but genuinely transform the environment where students are assigned new learning tasks previously inconceivable without the technology?
We invite students, parents and the greater community to assist us as we collaboratively engage in answering these questions. Integrating technology is not about just new gadgets and trends, but about deeply transforming how we teach and how we learn.
