special report_remodel for digital transition

p 1 of 34 Remodeling Special Report

Research amp Context on theShift to Digital Curriculum

SPECIAL REPORT

Remodelingfor Digital Curriculum

In this IssueThe Classroom Remodeling MissionExploring Space The Final Frontier

Layout Options for the RemodelSpotlights on Successful Transformation

Remodeling Nationwide


When the function of things change it is inevitable that the form and structure around those functions change as well

A rapid digital transition is underway and at the heart of that is a multiplicity of new software which itself is causing dramatic shifts in how teaching and learning are getting done Whatrsquos inside sophisticated software systems today changes the function of teacher-student interactions

Teacher-as-source in front of the class is more and more an archaic model Guided courseware creates greater individualization and self-directedness that allows new freedoms Schools can create learning ldquoexposrdquo or places of high engagement teachers can give special attention to each student and students can explore and personalize

Could it be that the revolution in education is the creation of ldquoa theatre of experiencerdquo Could it

be the environment is as much a knowledge as the subjects and topics Could it be the digital learning objects are the ldquofurniturerdquo being moved around in a digital universe as individualized chunked mixes of knowledge and where the physical universe real furniture mirrors this dynamic mobility with teachers and students in various modes of learning Could the school be a social knowledge itself as a stimulating arena that challenges students by being bright beautiful and able to mutate from warmly casual to rigorously professional in a flash

We think that teachers and administrators must understand the digital things their increasing sophistication and character internal to software and devices and from those infer a remodel of their form and academic structure and the enveloping physical environment to most thoroughly come into the 21st Century

The Inevitable Remodel

LeiLani Cauthen

Well versed in digital content and curriculum change the adoption process successful strategies and helping schools understand whatrsquos available and

what will work LeiLani often writes on the changes and future of the education space She is a media research marketing and sales professional with 26 years

of experience in the high tech government and education sectors

LeiLani Cauthen CEO amp Publisher

Editorial ContributorsPublisher LeiLani Cauthen Editor-in-Chief Cebron WalkerEditor Dr David KafitzContributor Chris Kight

ProductionArt amp Design Dolly Johnson Ad Production Manager Denise ReynaSales Operations Manager Kristina HallAdvertising Sales Manager Chris Spraguespraguelearningcounselcom 8886117709 Ext 27

the Learning Counsel Copyright 2016 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED3636 Auburn Boulevard bull Sacramento CA 95821 bull thelearningcounsel com

The Learning Counsel helps our subscribing 170000+ education professionals in the K12 and Higher Ed sector gain context on the shift to digital curriculum Our mission

is to help districts and schools reach real transformation through strategies for digital content amp curriculum Through consulting services and research to events custom publishing and online editorial the Learning Counsel provides dynamic and diverse opportunities for private and public sector leaders to collaborate for positive change



Table of Contents

The Classroom Remodeling Mission 6

Exploring Space The Final Frontier 14

Layout Options for the Remodel 22

Spotlights on Successful Transformation 24

Remodeling Nationwide 31

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The Classroom Remodeling Mission

The classroom structure of old was typically 30 desks or more facing forward for a predominantly whole group model Theatre-style seating placed the teacher at the front-and-center of attention With a new national focus on more individualized learning using software tactics that model is soon to be seen only in old movies

No longer the exclusive ldquosource-pointrdquo of content teachers instead are using software that today delivers the content while giving teachers a new freedom and function They can now customize and curate for each student like never before Not being the only source-point teachers are finding they need more than a theatre-style room and may need no room at all for some of the learning Other aspects of what is happening in the software are pushing the development of yet other specialenvironmental shifts


Out with the Old Lectures and students taking notes or learning as the teacher used the whiteboard or even (ewwww) chalk allowed one efficiency The teacher gave one lesson to all the students The efficiency scale was all weighted on the side of the teacher and only the most excellent in teaching skill were both delivering the lesson and watching with hawk-like vigilance for those moments when any one student got lost If they were truly careful at that moment of glaze-over for one student the teacher was stopping to collect that lost student back into the fold or letting them drop behind

In either case at that particular point an inefficiency was entered The saving of one sacrificed the time and attention of all the others who might have grown bored with the remediation The not-saving of the one sacrificed the one maybe forever Lecturing is often the default for teachers unaware of new content delivery mechanisms or the great breadth of the internet Lecturing dictated the forum form of classrooms in the first place

Textbooks had a certain structure and paced learning through chunks known as chapters Each chapter typically had a formative assessment a little test for understanding Or there was an accompanying workbook for practice depending on the subject being covered Books could deliver ponderous amounts of information and plenty of nuance using the bridge of language Another inefficiency was introduced by books ndash reading pace Not every child in any one class reads at the exact same speed so the same bifurcation would occur some are bored some are struggling to keep up Discussion time generally fell back to lecturing time so the structure of books tended to lend themselves to the existing form of the classroom and homework reading

As a side note mastery reading with book collections and novels tended to draw out readers to exercise their imaginations This is because black-and-white words on a page express only a train-of-thought sentence-by-sentence It does less ldquoshowrdquo by picture That loss of imagination being sparked is a loss of a certain instructiveness and could be one of the things now showing up missing in the TV and video-game generations There are schools that have mentioned to the Learning Counsel that they have had kids showing up who have never ever seen a book

Videos and games convey a lot of the same things as books but often do so at the expense of imagination which is perhaps the one thing most needed today These didnrsquot much change the classroom because they are just the addition of a large screen for whole-group viewing They start to change the scene as the mobile-screen steps in the laptop or tablet or smartphone There is no doubt that people learn from video and games but the holy grail of learning things that are not easily story-formed such as all mathematics is something that fits between the book and the full video or long-form game world That something has come into being and is rapidly populating the learning landscape

Itrsquos ldquoScreen Learningrdquo Not to be confused with online learning which is defined very loosely as a course online that has guidance by a teacher and may have recorded lectures in it along with documents and instructions or distance learning which is even more loosely defined as learning across a distance from an instructor-led course Itrsquos also not ldquoblendedrdquo or ldquopersonalizedrdquo or any of the other terms the industry has used to modify the existing classroom scene

Screen Learning is both in and outside the context of the classroom and teacher-learner paradigm

Screen Learning is also both simpler and more complex than other terms related to imbuing education with tech

Itrsquos learning built for the computing screen and thatrsquos it It doesnrsquot care where you are as a learner or if a teacher is there necessarily although it doesnrsquot replace a teacher in every sense Itrsquos straight up built for the user You know like Microsoftrsquos Minecraft is built marketed and sold to users Kids learn elementary code concepts simply from using it

Screen Learning is a content delivery mechanism which a teacher has had as only one of many functions in the past It usually combines reading but also video embedding and can get as deep as a full virtual world with interactivity of most of its elements It could be built to talk to you and be personalized by the student and sometimes individualized by the teacher so that the student view to lessons is narrowed or ldquogatedrdquo In that way a particular student gets a precise set of lessons It may require certain teacher inputs and teacher creativity within the framework of its master conception

Being built for the user is where Screen Learning is abruptly but subtly turning learning into the next big thing for consumerization Because it also exactly matches the goals of customized learning so that every student gets exactly what they need itrsquos also dovetailing into what institutions want to use but are not quite sure how to leverage in their current context


Screen Learning and the Consumerization of Education

The most interesting thing about the burgeoning new world of Screen Learning is what itrsquos doing as a form and how fast it is propagating which leads to a ripple effect in other aspects of education Letrsquos take a look at this in context and what we know of the changing landscape of education as an industry

An estimated 7000 digital curriculum and content companies or source systems already exist and thatrsquos before adding in all the one-off App builders that are sometimes one-man shops

There are tens of millions of learning ldquoobjectsrdquo or bits of learning mdash think in terms of ldquochaptersrdquo or ldquochunksrdquo of knowledge like how to add and subtract fractions or perhaps the Declaration of Independence

The objects are in a trend pattern of more discrete individual and highly mobile bits

The objects may explain a single part of knowledge such as understanding pyramid structure

The objects are interactive in and of themselves

The objects can be multi-sensory incorporating touch-screens and sound

Some objects are found in collections of like things like videos and short games and e-books or e-chapters

Some objects are knowledge bits built into full courses with a scope and sequence pre-built for those individual bits until a pinnacle or totality of knowledge in that topic is achieved

Some courseware objects are single lesson and others are full-coverage of a subject with multiple lessons that can be spread out in incremental amounts of time mirroring a daily classroom need

Some objects come tethered together with assessments and some are teaching as an assessment

Many times the objects in courseware have intersection points for teachers to interact and be able to set controls for the students

Sometimes the student self-controls the sequence and collection of objects in a randomized pattern such as book collection sites

Many times the courseware and collections offer analytics showing how a student is doing to the student andor to the teacher

Sometimes the learning object is a game offering all the typical game maneuvers like rewards and penalties and achievement levels

The learning objects are highly stylized with actions animations mechanisms aesthetics controls individualizations instructs and more using developer and designer skills Most teachers do not have to achieve ideal user interfaceuser experience (UIUX)

copy MooreCo Inc

copy MooreCo Inc

The form of classrooms and whole schools is changing to be flexible to fit the teaching and learning as it happens giving each student a better learning experience and hopefully many more ldquoteachable momentsrdquo Here are samples of possible classroom plans to create student collaboration and problem solving while the teacher can be free to move in and out of groups


HOUSTONrsquoS DATA-DRIVEN TEACHING amp LEARNING ECOSYSTEM

Many of the learning objects provide instructs in such a way that the learner knows they know the data at the end This is perhaps one of the most significant redirects away from how teaching and learning has been in the past When a learner knows they know intermediation by another as in a teacher or institution becomes irrelevant for them Testing becomes irrelevant for them They already know and may or may not care to prove it to others especially when demonstration of mastery is on- the-job or enhanced contribution In fact one of the constraints of consumerized learning in the present age is a perceived requirement for grades diplomas and degrees that require institutional accreditation This may be solved when trusted software says via built-in summative assessment that a grade or credit has been earned and do so in a publicly consumable way on behalf of the learner that they can display at will Since ultimately the fact of use of a grade degree or diploma relies on the trust of the inspecting party the college or employer and many of these do not inspect them minutely the rise of trusted third-party issuers could become a normal reality Major brands like Cisco Microsoft Disney and many others already have certifications that have meaningful value to anyone

The learning objects are increasingly meta- tagged as aligned to a myriad number of Standards in the K-12 Higher Ed or professional learning certifications world

The objects may be accrued just like consumer- world shopping cart technology or iTunes libraries and cut-up and rehashed into a new object for new ldquoplaylistsrdquo of knowledge or ldquoknowmixesrdquo of learning

The textbook while still important in many places was almost never used in its entirety and those unused chapters were considered wasteful In the transition to digital teachers wanted ldquochunkedrdquo content so they could mix and match at will The industry responded with delivering exactly what was asked for in large volume Industry also took the opportunity to envelop that content into scope and sequenced courseware and sell it as ldquoremedialrdquo to schools and parents online

The easy entrance to schools was extra practice and help for students falling behind so Screen Learning was a perfect fit It did not require much teacher intervention and solved a problem As education became ever-more complicated with new standards and accountability demands increasing reliance on Screen Learning allowed schools to start thinking about it as core learning not just supplemental Now the high-engagement coupled with multi-sensory interactions of Screen Learning meets digitally native students exactly right and increasingly has the heightened scores to prove it

The problem is the uptake by schools has been too slow for the commercial world Upon invention of these costly learning objects publishers have had to try to earn

Places like Houston Independent School District in Houston Texas have a Learning Management System that houses over one million digital learning objects Other districts are similarly situated or well on their way

See httpthelearningcounselcompaperdigital-curriculum-strategy-model-architecture-special-report


in any way that they could Many of the largest have been nearly gutted as non-spending of billions of dollars caused cutting of staff and resources Many times the talent cut simply went out and started new software companies now using superior knowledge curation skill coupled with new programmers and software architects to build more start-ups for consumer products In the meantime schools almost universally went with their own teachers building home-grown learning objects the vast majority of which are mere documents links or recorded lectures While these may be pedagogically useful they arenrsquot necessarily meeting students with what they expect given all their other exposures to consumer-grade technologies

In fairness with the content world in fractured small bits publishers werenrsquot ready for a while and no educational institution was structured to curate and sequence every one of thousands of standards plus build all the tests The ordered and careful world of education content fell to chaos and is still falling

While the consumer world keeps gaining ground and companies like ABCmouse with its billion-dollar market valuation Leapfrog PBS History Channel Disney Amazon and others are suiting up for the coming take-over teachers and schools using no Screen Learning or no tech at all are not only behind most have no idea there could ever be a quantum shift

And itrsquos already here

Read 180 is an HMH intervention solution to build comprehension vocabulary and writing skills

ABCmouse is designed for children ages 2 through 6 years old It has over 450 lessons and thousands of activities The curriculum was designed with the help of early childhood education experts myON provides anytime anywhere access

to a collection of more than 10000 enhanced digital books

PBS Kids leverages the full spectrum of media and technology to build knowledge

critical thinking imagination and curiosity

ST Math is a web-based math visualization game developed

by Mind Research

Curriculum Foundry provides you with tools to build and publish your own digital curriculum and includes a vetted repository of content to get started

Considering how many schools are midst this transition away from print

textbooks to digital curriculum companies in this space are developing

new systems and tools to support the move LearningCom developed

what they called Curriculum Foundry

ldquoItrsquos a system to find organize and share digital content

Curriculum Foundryrsquos digital curriculum building tools vetted repository of standards-aligned

OER and array of learning platform integrations help schoolrsquos save

teachers time save money and gain more control over

their curriculumrdquo

mdashKeith Oelrich CEO Learningcom


LC

Learning Remodeled The Consumerization of Education

Screen Learning causes a needed remodeling of the physical environment Schools are doing this by either remodeling their existing square-box classrooms or going for a wholesale rip-out of walls and even roofs

We like to think this is all going in stages

Stage 1 ndashArrival at an estimated 40 of classroom time as Screen Learning The rest of the time probably needs to be spent on project-based-learning good old whole-group or labs Teachers optimize their time while kids are in Screen to plan out the active collaborative time while still eyeballing the kids to make sure no one is getting lost ldquoWersquove pulled multiple different tools and programs into our classrooms to deliver screen learning with oversight from instructors which accomplishes a high level of engagement and real-time real-world learningrdquo said Dr Michelle Zimmerman from Renton Prep in Seattle ldquoWersquove used software from Florida Virtual Schools ALEKS from McGraw Hill Red Comet and Coursera and this gives the kids experience with all types of technical subjects and even experience dealing with live professors while still in high school These tools are preparing our students for college and careers in ways we couldnrsquot imagine even 5 years ago As tools become more sophisticated wersquoll continue to be able to more seamlessly merge the physical world with the digital in ways that still emphasize humanityrdquo

Sometimes such as with Dr Zimmermanrsquos group Screen is more what has been called ldquoblendedrdquo a sort of use-the-tools while whole-group idea that is more consumer-oriented software tool use than it is content delivery It may be content discovery as part of a whole group exercise Arrival at such a robust coverage model is a long ways off for some schools

Stage 2 mdash Remodeling the existing classrooms and spaces This may mean new furniture and beanbags and video-conferencing table space and more It may mean robotics labs with robot war rooms It may mean video editing bays There may be traffic-control boards just like you might see in an airport telling kids what room they are in and cubicles for solo work and libraries with project space

Stage 3 mdash Rip and Replace or build new This is where new concepts like ldquosocial-emotional spacesrdquo and ldquoquiet roomsrdquo and ldquodaylightingrdquo come in The future predicted by the Learning Counsel is a sort of ldquoExpordquo oriented learning center a place that is shared but not totally compartmentalized more like an exposition-of-learning that is high-engagement and high style It is how schools will win students to attend when completely online education is an option nearly everywhere Schools are already starting this with floor-to-floor slides and fabulous cafeterias commercial-grade professional software studios and maker-spaces

As a final note to make all these changes possible it takes the backbone of a network infrastructure that can manage this new vision for learning environments ATampTrsquos Josh Goodell spoke to this point when he was introducing ATampTrsquos Network on Demand portfolio ldquo[It] gives customers more control of their network the ability to rapidly scale up or scale down their network and improves TCO [Total Cost of Ownership] not just because you have the ability to use exactly what you want but also because you can be more productive You can spin up a location more rapidly than you could have in the pastrdquo

Through all of these stages your mission to explore the new world of learning spaces to bravely go where school sustainability must inevitably go to synchronize with the rest of the economy in its experience orientation


How Itrsquos Not The Same as These Other Digital ModelsBlended Learning is a broad definition pertaining to doing both in-person and online learning in a mix customized for a class by a teacher Also called hybrid learning and mixed-mode It assumes a teacher

Online Learning aka eLearning may be a part of a course syllabus or the entire course but it generally assumes a course context not a single-object or discrete knowledge lesson as Screen Learning can do It may be from an outside institution or entity as a requirement for part or all of a larger learning journey such as Udemy Coursera or Khan Academy course while attending a K-12 school

Distance Learning assumes geographic distance be-tween the teacher and learner and assumes a teacher-led model

Flipped Learning assumes a physical environment locus and is a teacher-led model

Individualized Learning assumes teacher inter-position within the learning inclusive of levels allowed into within the software This is a trait of some Screen Learning

Personalized Learning assumes self-direction which is a trait of Screen Learning but teachers can also interpose as guides by individualizing the software view

DefinitionsScreen Learning Learning built for the computing screen to deliver content for a user with fancy digital aspects It doesnrsquot necessarily use or fully replace a teacher but could be used in a classroom or outside of it as an individual learning object or full courseware for mastery of the content Screen Learning assumes an ldquoobjectizedrdquo or ldquochunkedrdquo view of subjects and topics much like a single video short-form game (ldquogameletrdquo) or App might be on the history of the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln versus a whole course on the Civil War or Americarsquos Founding Fathers

Screen Learning Time Refers to the classroom time dedicated to the use of Screen Learning of digital curriculum content or courseware on devices


Common learning spaces at Buckingham County Primary and Elementary Schools Dillwyn Virginia

Exploring Space The Final Frontier

If happiness in large measure is determined by personal confidence in onersquos ability to reach their potential then we must ask ourselves ldquoare we as educators doing everything to instill confidencerdquo Letrsquos use that as the launch point to discuss the redesign of todayrsquos schools and the evolution of education

The spaces and places in which children and young people learn have a profound effect on how they feel about themselves and therefore how confident they are The space affects how well they learn but also who they are and who they will be A clean upbeat environment also helps teachers teach So why arenrsquot schools designed like Disneyland or the newest shops in the best neighborhoods which have had enormous research into capturing attention creating interaction and accomplishing a great and hopefully meaningful human experience

Belief and budget this Special Report takes aim at helping all leaders believe and budget should follow


INew Frontier

If you happen to find yourself in conversation about the shift in education how to increase student engagement how to ldquotransformrdquo your class know this your peers across virtually every state of the nation are having the same talk Steve Wentz the CTO of Pasadena ISD (TX) told the Learning Counsel ldquoWersquore on the cusp of seeing some huge differences in the education market Itrsquos a hundred-year-old process that needs to be changed Turning this ship is difficult Everybody is comfortable with the old stuff But donrsquot make changes and wersquoll become irrelevantrdquo

There can be no question we have a long way to go to have all classrooms redesigned into flexible learning spaces It will take time a change in the way we budget and a lot of sweat from instructors and administrators to accomplish this shift

As educators we identify critical thinking creativity and the ability to collaborate with others to solve problems as some of the essential skills that learners need but rarely do teachers make notations of how the physical environment should be laid out per each lesson plan to support the learning objectives

Meet Moje

Architect Robert W Moje Founding Partner at VMDO Architects in Virginia has been involved in the redesign of public and private schools for forty years That career has given him a deep understanding of how spaces foster creativity

productivity and communication and how students obtain and retain knowledge

ldquoSpacemdashitrsquos a critical component to helping shape and form the learning experience and a key component in my current main line of investigationrdquo states Robert

ldquoSpaces and places have an important aspect in shaping mood and attitude Research is catching up now with the science which proves what anyone could always observemdashthat their mood and attitude is one of the most significant factors in a personrsquos ability to learn and retain knowledge and develop their intellectrdquo

One of the important ways design impacts teaching is by aiding instructors through the mechanics of the room itself so they can adapt lessons around objectives

Any educator would agree that if students recognize direct connections between schoolwork and their physical environment their personal lives and the world around them academic engagement rises

Principal Erin Russo of Discovery Elementary a VMDO designed public school in the Arlington (VA) Public School District spoke directly to this factor ldquoWith this space we can really get creative and experiment and generate really meaningful experiences for the students We as instructors now focus on how students learn and how we can enhance those meaningful experiences with the spaces themselvesrdquo

Industrial Flaw

Science is now telling us what teachers have always known that individuals learn at different speeds and different levels and want to know all types of different things The firehose approach to whole classroom teaching was tragically flawed within the Industrial Age models of school construction

ldquoThat current classroom model as science in education is proving is pretty flawedrdquo said Moje ldquoWhat wersquove found is that a school ought to look a heck of a lot more like a Starbucks It ought to look a lot more like a Discovery Museum It ought to look more like a scene shop for a Broadway production or a movie set It ought to have all sorts of tools and resources available when the students want them and need them and have all kinds of different spaces Open spaces discrete spaces so that they are appropriate for the activities that happen in the course of the dayrdquo

Technology now gives us logistically the opportunity to deliver individually-paced learning to any student for what theyrsquore curious about and what they want to learn Wersquove just scratched the surface of whatrsquos possible but now there is no argument that that possibility is there for truly individualized learning

In that regard Kurt Madden of Fresno Unified who has 73000 students under his charge talked to the Learning Counsel about his teamrsquos recognition 9 years ago that technology was going to change the way we teach ldquoWersquove been teaching with paper and pencil for a couple hundred years Now we are in this big shift Itrsquos

We must ask ourselves how design impacts teaching by virtue of the mechanics of the space itself

Can the walls move and shift to facilitate a lesson video or group activity

Does the furniture adjust for reading or slide for a demonstration

Can the students freely draw or write on walls or tables

Does the space lend itself to instructors developing assignments that include real-world situations and have projects that are collaborative by nature and hopefully even culturally relevant


At Arlington Discovery Elementary School in Virginia careful attention was given to every nook and space for a seamless integration between design and learning Sound baffles in the ceiling lighting and furniture is arranged in balance between sustainability and how kids want to be while they gain and retain knowledge

ldquoWith this space we can really get creative and experiment and generate really meaningful experiences for the students We as instructors now focus on how students learn and how we can enhance those meaningful experiences with the spaces themselvesrdquo

mdashErin Russo Principal

Discovery Elementary

going to be easy But you need to work through the integration The role of teachers in this is going to change Kids are going to be learning on their own paths with these tools Consider how you as an adult like to learn something you try it you fail you look to someone with experience as a guide so you can find your path and keep working at it Teachers will need to be more like personal trainers like coachesrdquo

Tactics

When getting into a conversation about redesigning a school budgets are the pain point of any Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent Often the question is does it require new funding

sources or a change in budget priorities The answer is always that what is most required is a change in mindset

Taking one of Virginiarsquos worst performing school systems and flipping it to become one of the top was a gold star in Robert Mojersquos career ldquoMany years back when the state of Virginia passed SOL (Standards of Learning) requirements the State Department went in and looked at this particular school ndash Manassas Park City Schools ndash and told them there is no way this demographic this group is ever going to make it you should just go out of business (as a City) and they should just dissolve the whole thing and become part of the county They said lsquoWe can mix you up with some more wealthy areas and thatrsquos your only pathrsquordquo

copy VMDO Architects



As Moje tells it the school district was determined and wouldnrsquot agree and bravely went on anyway with dramatic remodel plans The district worked with engineers and architects and planners for five years to complete the first school Over a period of sixteen years the district doubled their square-footage and remodeled every square foot

ldquoWith a lot of planning and lot of budgeting and cutting and reallocating they built their district to be twice as big as it used to berdquo stated Moje ldquoNobody wanted to live there and after some success it became one of the more popular places to live because their school system was so goodrdquo

Manassas City Schools went from a school population where only 27 of the students went on to anythingmdashcollege career militarymdashto 85 of graduates going on to college or career

It is possible to make those kinds of changes and in Mojersquos view ldquoItrsquos mostly by changing culture and an understanding of whatrsquos possiblerdquo

Discovery Elementary Arlington Virginia Building a Place of Joy

Learning should be joyful The Discovery Elementary ldquonet-zerordquo public school in Arlington Virginia was envisioned to be a hundred percent sustainable campus that was a place of joy for kids to learn It opened in September of 2015 after breaking ground in March of

2013 It is 98000 square feet and designed to serve 630 pre-K through 5th grade students

Moje who was the project leader said that the spaces are proof that kids can learn in an environment that is inviting and encourages joy in engagement ldquoIf we can get the children to be happy and joyful just to be there while they are learning then 95 of the effort of getting them engaged will be taken care ofrdquo

Part of the feedback that exemplified how the school spaces are achieving their goal has been that ldquoThe Principal had the administrator over attendance come up to her one day and she told her lsquoLook Johnnie got picked up by his mother to go to the Orthodontist at 200 He came back at 245 School ends at 315rsquo He insisted to his mother that he had to get back to school because he wanted to be there at the end of the day and for whatever little activity was left because thatrsquos a place of joy for him excitement for himrdquo said Moje

Moje recommends that schools consider how they would create a place of joy from a childrsquos point of view and that is how VMDO has seen the most success

ldquoEverything about the building and grounds were themedrdquo said Moje ldquoThe pre-school is the back yard the middle school starts with fields and forests then you have the ocean and eventually the atmosphere the galaxy and the universe beyond Interestingly during our initial research John Glenn from Ohio ndash one of the US Astronauts ndash had lived right across the street from this site and had trained for Friendship 7 the first man in space by running around the site So thatrsquos

copy VMDO Architects copy VMDO Architects

Learning spaces at Buckingham County Schools


where the name Discovery comes from His last flight was on the Space Shuttle lsquoDiscoveryrsquo so lsquoDiscovering the Joy of Learningrsquo is the long name of that schoolrdquo

Buckingham County Primary and Elementary Schools Revived from Total Lost Cause

Buckingham County Primary and Elementary Schools is another example of a campus which was redesigned from the ground up to change the paradigm of how teaching and learning happens Buckingham County was in fact considered a lost cause Their leadership was told they were going to be consolidated into another larger district They would lose all identity They had five elementary schools and they were all old and worn out Doing anything but closing some of their schools and bringing others into another system seemed the only solution as every other option was too expensive

A new Superintendent came in and decided he was going to do something different He started with what had been an old African American K-8 schoolHigh School side-by-side that they had

abandoned mostly because of perception and their history He pulled his engineers and architects in and asked them what they could do The buildings were not great but they were empty and work could start so that kept certain costs low

The design team created a total learning environment in order to support learning both inside and outside the traditional classroom It was a ground-up change It didnrsquot have to be expensive but it had to change so that the families around could believe the school has new potential

Now at Buckingham each grade level enjoys age-appropriate outdoor gardens and play terraces which encourage children to re-connect and spend time in their natural surroundings Inside the schools in addition to core classrooms each grade level has small group learning spaces that transform circulation pathways into child-centric ldquolearning streetsrdquo These spaces are intimately scaled with soft seating and fun colors that communicate both collaborative and shared learning experiences

ldquoWhen Buckingham was reopened in September of 2012 the community poured in and parents and students were there and you heard kids looking up at

their parents and saying lsquoCan we stay here can I live here can I sleep here every nightrsquordquo said Moje

Further Exploration

Tens of thousands of schools out across the world still have their existing buildings and infrastructure from thirty years ago some even from a hundred years ago It will be difficult but some schools are making it happen ldquoin placerdquo

Take for example Alexandria Country Day School (ACDS) in Virginia Constructed in 1943 and originally a Catholic girls school ACDSrsquos schoolhouse has been improved and modernized in a way that retains the spirit and warmth of the old yet has inserted into it a very modern flexible and responsive approach to teaching and learning Central to the classroom re-design are mobile adjustable standing desks from Ergotron called

ldquoLearnFitrdquo desks which allow for both student personalization and teacher flexibility

ACDS consulted with Dr Ellen Fisher of the New York School of Interior Design to transform the classrooms while maintaining the original classic look of the buildings She stated ldquoOur goal was to


mdash


achieve less-specific and more multi-use learning spaces that are purposeful today and flexible for the ever-evolving pedagogy of tomorrowrdquo

Bob Hill Ergotronrsquos Education Manager concurs ldquoThe physical classroom itself plays a significant role in realizing the promise of 11 devices and personalized learning tools and classroom furniture must keep pace with technology and studentsrsquo varied learning styles Student desks need to promote better metabolic learnstyles greater student engagement and natural collaborationrdquo

A growing body of research shows that there are metabolic health benefits to introducing standing into the classroom

which are exhibited in the form of greater student engagement and on-task behavior which has a positive impact on academic performance

Some tips for any ldquoremodelerrdquo

Good acoustics mobile indestructible and bright furnishings casual and center-stage type interaction and isolation spaces There should be different sized places for different groups to interact There should be places for storage and material for continuing art projects or robotics or maker-space activities There should be rooms allocated so that materials can be left out for long periods of time There should be nooks and corners to

read There should be lots of light There should be spaces to experience nature

ldquoJust think if we flipped those statistics of 60-70 of kids who are absolutely bored out of their mindsrdquo said Moje

ldquoWhat if we had those kids absolutely engaged and creatively using everything we have available for them because we accomplished this transformation of educationrdquo


mdashRobert W MojeFounding Partner VMDO Architects

Alexandria Country Day School (ACDS) brought in Dr Ellen Fisher of the New York School of Interior Design to assist in modernizing their classrooms while maintaining the classic architecture of the original buildings

LC




Experience the first scalable on-demand Ethernet Yoursquoll have constant access to a user-friendly online portal that enables you to manage network usage in

near real-time Add locations change services or scale bandwidth up or down so you can provision usage

To learn more visitattcomhighered

Introducing ATampT Switched Ethernet on Demand

A reliable connection with real-time agility

Imagination on demandATampTrsquos new expanded Ethernet portfolio is

helping educational organizations optimize their resources with tailored innovative solutions

Software-Defined Networking

Higher bandwidth higher speeds

copy2016 ATampT Intellectual Property All rights reserved ATampT and Globe logo are registered trademarks of ATampT Intellectual Property


Layout Options for the Remodel

Independent study ndash cubicles Similar to a single desk configuration for independent study and useful for middle and high schools when full individualized learning is in use Similar to typical businesses of today these can be high or low-walled or simple carrels taking up limited space Career readiness and high school intervention are typical applications

Meeting room Boardroom looking meeting spaces for small or large groups typically equipped with projection and whiteboards that are interactive or not

Divided setting pairs A section of one room that has pair-up desks or tables ideally mobile with wheels that can be configured into working pair-ups

Divided setting teams Same as Pairs except larger separate configuration of desks or tables

Divided setting project based A section of one room that has a project orientation with larger table space and may be ideally suited for artmakerrobotics projects with specialized impact resistant surfaces

Divided setting advisory A particular type of one-on-one setting using teacher desk and student chair desk or table student-and-student desk or table in a sectioned off area half-moon table for multiple students working in a group while teacher leads or oversees that dialog or work Flat screen monitors commonly included in configuration for group viewing

Divided setting multi-use soft seating spaces Set up for working-while-lounging such as beanbag chairs and plush carpets to lay around on while reading from books or tablets couches or poufs and some side tables for having an informal chat about a project Common for elementary grades for ldquoreadingrdquo periods

These definitions by the Learning Counsel describe some of the settings as they vary from schools-of-old Many are adaptable within existing schools and some can be part of actual structural remodels to provide new spaces designed in new ways

Single-setting whole groupA space with desks or seats all face-forward with teacher as the central delivery point via lecture with some illustrative content points in analog or digital chunks Usually podium or teacher desk and blackboardregular or interactive whiteboardprojection and television for video clips Setting does not lend itself to rearrangement desks may even be bolted down

Single-setting whole group interactive with multiple delivery modes Same as the above except technology is taking center stage as the delivery mechanism teacher is directing attention mostly to outside sources (video projection courseware Apps) not predominately lecture Students may also be called on to use technology such as calculating on-the-fly or look-ups Technology may include all or some of the students on computing devices with dynamic interaction during whole group lessons If computing Teacherrsquos device may lock-screen on all other devices and force attention to one source and that one source may be on Teacher tablet andor projected to large screen This is typically what is known as ldquoblended learningrdquo Typically one arrangement of desks or chairs in any configuration face-forward rows rounds horse-shoe or giant circle

Single-setting stadium Same as Single-Setting Whole Group or Interactive above except totally stationary and set up with riser rows Typically extra-large and requires super-sized screens and voice amplification for any lecture or digital source Common configuration in universities Atypical for K-12

Independent study desks The single desk configuration is for independent study when students need to focus on their own projects especially for taking tests

copy MooreCo Inc


Divided setting or separate room lab Maker spaces with access to technology Typically high tables with power and tops with specialized high impact surfaces and mess resiliency for science or art work May be in-room with other settings or a stand-alone dedicated room for lab work May be a robotics or virtual lab for tools from such companies as RobotLAB Lego and the acclaimed Dash and Dot from Wonder Workshop

Divided setting or separate room studio For video or sound editing having specialized audiovisual equipment and potentially a theatrical space preset for video backgroundsgreen screen

Divided setting or separate room arts For music creation or arts work having specialized equipment and table or desk settings and potentially an orchestral seating with risers

Divided setting intensive computing This type of space used to be known as a computing lab but now is a separate space typically with computers with high speed graphics cards for rapid rendering capability for graphics art video and more

Divided setting manipulatives An area in a classroom set up for individuals to play with or use objects such as blocks and toys mini-whiteboards interactive whiteboards robotics a dedicated editing computer a dedicated distance-learning computer with headset such as those used for speech therapy lessons online (such as for programs like PresenceLearning) a set of manipulative objects that interact with the computers including shapes and science equipment that may be used also in Labs such as Tiggly OSMO and

other more sophisticated lab equipment that can connect to computers for analysis

Divided setting quiet space A separate space that may be in-class and semi-walled-off or an entire separate room for students to escape to or be assigned to May contain work desk or lounge setting and be a subdued lighting space that is extra quiet

Divided setting communications space A separate space that may be in-class as a video-conferencing table for external communications or a phone-booth like space for students and teachers to visit to make external calls in private that could contain a power outlet and desk and chair

Divided setting small or large group social emotional circle Smaller more subdued spaces containing a circle of chairs for group discussions

In addition to the above list for the redesign of existing schools and classroom spaces there are many other spaces within school grounds to be included in the complete redesign of teaching and learning environments Spaces to consider in this regard would include

Niches within corridors and circulation spaces These make for ideal spaces for students to engage with technology and each other where they can see and be seen in conjunction with other educational activities

Commons or areas within common spaces including views to outside and nature This could include window seats lobbies any area that would allow students to simultaneously work and enjoy the benefits that viewing nature has on the student

Lofts or balcony overlook spaces Allowing students to work in different size groups while still being specially and visually connected to their teachers and classmates

Outside play space Play is essential and the outside spaces of education institutions are widely recognized to be vital in the transformation of teaching and learning These spaces include synthetic grass and other soft surfaces as well as writable art walls with non-toxic paint or other markers for creative expression

copy MooreCo Inc


Spotlights on Successful Transformation

When curriculum lives in the cloud and every student has a mobile device learning can happen in environments that range from the high-tech to the laid-back Schools on a budget are even repurposing old furniture into new shapes and configurations Architects and school leadership are breaking down walls opening ceilings for sunlight changing colors adding sound baffles writing on walls and encouraging transparency (as in clear partitions)

Letrsquos look at how educators are combining hardware software and creative design to personalize learning for todayrsquos digital natives

Ithaca City Schools Supporting a ldquoThinkingrdquo Strategy

Dr Luvelle Brown is the Superintendent at Ithaca City School District in upstate New York Hersquos been to the White House and was named as one of the nationrsquos most

ldquotech savvyrdquo school superintendents in 2014 But his strategy is far from the ldquotechierdquo that you might expect The focus in his district is building thinkers He asks the question of his school leaders and instructors ldquoHow do we educate in 2016 to engage educate and empower so as to create thinkersrdquo His question naturally lead to the conversation about technology and the evolution of the classroom

ldquoAs we talked about how to do this how to promote skills like collaboration problem-solving creating and analyzing it required us to change the spacesrdquo said Brown ldquoWe have many spaces now with writeable walls writeable desktops and flexible seating options Kids are not sitting in rows in desks and chairs anymore theyrsquore sitting in flexible seats seats that move tables that transitionrdquo

In Ithaca schools yoursquoll see students creating on walls theyrsquore working in digital spaces using digital tools and mobile devices ldquoThe color the look the feel can be shocking at timesrdquo said Brown ldquoFor the teachers who were very successful in the school district many years ago to come back and see it now they wonder lsquoWow thatrsquos not the place that I went where I was so successful It looks

Transitioning to digital curriculum launches districts and schools into the redesign of the classroom


very different nowrsquo and the conversation has been about how to be comfortable with it looking so differentrdquo

Dr Brown has talked with architects about the design of schools and discussed the common trends that are now the expected sun lighting how the sound is being handled with baffling systems the look the feel and color all of which promote learning But beyond the architects they also surveyed their students and teachers to inform them of what they feel the spaces should look like and without spending a lot of money Theyrsquove used the latest furniture and Idea Paint but itrsquos not only new materials ldquoWe even repurposed old furniturerdquo said Brown ldquoThe kids will make their own chair or desk in a shop And wersquove bought hundreds of yoga balls for classrooms Itrsquos more about the pedagogy How we want to shift the teachinglearning process and then itrsquos the tools ie the mobile device or the table or chair which support that And wersquove had that conversation again with architects and theyrsquove been helpful in helping us design these spaces with all this taken into considerationrdquo

Ascension Public Schools Mirroring Success

At Lake Elementary School part of Lousianarsquos Ascension Public Schools Morgan Hutchinsonrsquos 6th-grade social studies classes are totally techified Each of her students has an iPad and Classflow software connects all of the tablets to a Promethean ActivWall a 102-inch wide interactive learning system that makes your usual whiteboard look like a Post-It note

You might think that having such so many screens in the classroom would leave students isolated in their own little worlds but Hutchinson says that the effect is just the opposite Her classroom

ldquoallows for constant interaction and assessment of my students Grouping polling on-the-fly assessments that you can send to certain or all students It definitely keeps the kids on their toesrdquo

Writable desks walls and digital whiteboards increase engagement with group work and problem solving at Ithaca City School District in upstate New York


Each day a randomly chosen student becomes the ldquoteacherrdquo who calls on students to mirror their work on the board for the class to discuss

Hutchinson most often uses the Mirroring feature which allows students to share their screens to the ActivWall She explained ldquoIf I were to ask the students a document-based question with the text and question on the board when the students submit their answers I can choose a strong model to share with the class simply by allowing that student to mirror their responserdquo And she added ldquoInteractive activities and assessments can be delivered and graded in real time throughout the lesson As educators we know time is not usually on our side so these quick tools of assessment are a huge helprdquo

At Dutchtown Middle School also in Ascension Parish Glenda Mora uses a similar set-up to teach 8th-grade math Shersquos never the only one teaching in her classroom though Thanks to the tech infrastructure at their fingertips she said ldquoThe students are the ones running the classrdquo Each day a randomly chosen student becomes the ldquoteacherrdquo who calls on students to mirror their work on the board for the class to discuss Mora said her students have ldquobecome accustomed to sharing their

work whether they think it is right or wrong Because if it is wrong they know they will get feedback that will be meaningful to themrdquo

The network of connected screens also allows Mora to ldquosee my studentsrsquo thinking in an instant which lends itself beautifully to math problemsrdquo She recalled a recent assignment on the Pythagorean theorem One student used the Mirroring feature and ldquosent up a video of her working out the problem and also her lsquothinkingrsquo while she was working She said things like lsquoWhen I read that the farmer had to go through the field I knew that meant that route was the hypotenuse and it would be c in my equationrsquo She taught the class for me that day In an instant the others knew how to solve the problem but most importantly how to think about solving the problemrdquo

Connects Learning Center A ldquoHome Away From Homerdquo

For Stacey Adamczyk the lead teacher at Wisconsinrsquos Connects Learning Center (CLC) a four-district consortium alternative high school for youth at risk

ldquoCreating the right learning spaces for these students to thrive in has been an integral element to our studentsrsquo successrdquo The school started with students sitting at desks but with no assigned seating

Through trial and error CLCrsquos learning spaces evolved to become less like traditional classrooms and more like a ldquohome away from homerdquo according to Adamczyk

Wisconsinrsquos Connects Learning Center (CLC) classrooms evolved to become less like traditional classrooms and morelike a ldquohome away from homerdquo with comfortable lounge-style movable furniture which is also conducive to collaboration


ldquoMuch like college our learning spaces are filled with comfy couches chairs and lounge furniture for student use as well as areas conducive to collaborationrdquo These shared spaces create a sense of community and give CLCrsquos students ldquothe feeling that they are not alone that they belongrdquo

Using cloud-based curriculum from Odysseyware CLC couples its non-traditional spaces with a non-traditional daily schedule ldquoWe operate two three-hour sessions per dayrdquo said Adamczyk ldquowith 80 of student time being spent working individually online Thanks to the flexibility of Odysseyware our teachers are able to create and customize online courses and content based on studentsrsquo individual needsrdquo

Courses focus on applied knowledge creative problem-solving and decision-making The synergy of software and space Adamczyk said ldquoallows our students to find their ideal spot for learning and to learn at their own pacerdquo

The digital transformation of Des Plaines School District 62 (IL) started with a question ldquoHow much collaboration can truly be done in a traditional classroom with its rigid rows of desks and chairsrdquo

According to Assistant Superintendent Dr Jan Rashid seeking an answer to this question led district leaders to envision their classroom of the future ldquoWe dreamed of creating open and colorful spaces equipped with ergonomic furniture breakout rooms and the equal opportunity to use the newest technology We also wanted spaces to bridge the gap between the traditional library and the technology-filled classroomrdquo

To make that dream a reality the district which includes eleven schools (one K-8 two middle schools and eight elementary schools) created a five-year master plan to transform one room in each of its schools into what it calls Technology Integrated Learning Environments or TILE spaces The TILE rooms are ldquoliving laboratoriesrdquo

In Des Plaines School District 62 in Illinois they launched a program to transform one classroom in each of their schools into what they deemed ldquoTechnology Integrated Learning Environmentsrdquo or TILE spaces The goal is equity for all teaching students digital literacy and giving them the ability to engage and collaborate using the newest technology available


where each teacher and student has equal opportunity to engage and collaborate using the newest technology available

Walk into a TILE space and yoursquoll see two interactive whiteboards tablet computers floor-to-ceiling marker boards and tackable walls to inspire creative thinking and collaboration sessions Wherever possible the district used glass walls to let in natural light and created breakout spaces where students can work in small groups Each room is also equipped with colorful versatile and mobile furniture such as ergonomically correct chairs that have been shown to improve cognitive engagement

To make sure that Des Plainesrsquo students are making proper use of all the online learning materials at their disposal the district emphasizes digital literacy ldquoAs students and teachers transition from paperback books and encyclopedias to online resources wersquove discovered

digital literacy doesnrsquot come naturallyrdquo said Rashid ldquoOur media specialists and teachers use a co-teachingco-planning model to serve our digital natives and teach digital literacyrdquo

To help students fine-tune their digital literacy skills the district equips them with an entire library in their backpacks With myON a digital literacy environment offering more than 10000 books Rashid said ldquoWe harnessed the power of the digital library by creating and sharing digital bookshelves on diverse topics and at various Lexile levelsrdquo

The transition to digital in todayrsquos classrooms provides more opportunities than ever to individualize learning opportunities for every student ldquoWe know that learning occurs wherever and whenever our children happen to be ndash and if we want to help guide that learning we need to be there virtually or in personrdquo said Todd Brekhus President of myON ldquoDigital technologies like those that underpin the myON personalized literacy environment offer guidance along with choice Children take ownership over their reading becoming vested in learning to read so they can cultivate a habit of reading to learn that lasts a lifetimerdquo

The next phase of Des Plaines high-tech makeover is to create ldquogreen roomsrdquo where students can collaborate on the creation recording and editing of videos A green room opened in one school this year and more are in the works but Rashidrsquos vision goes beyond mere physical spaces She wants to update not just spaces but thinking

ldquoShifting the thoughts of administration teachers and students into the future will better prepare students for their future as learners who carry these skills into their professional lives and eventually go on to mold the future of technology userdquo


mdashDr Jan RachidDes Plaines School District 62 (IL)

LC


We are more than readingmyON expands the classroom for teachers and students by providing unlimited access to a collection of more than 10000 enhanced digital books with multimedia supports a suite of literacy tools embedded assessments and real-time reporting But there is more

myON provides solutions for

bull Differentiated Instruction

bull Daily 5bull Blended Learningbull English Language

Learnersbull Summer Readingbull STEMbull Independent

Readingbull Extending the

Learning Daybull Preparation for

Online Testingbull Cross-curricular

Instructionbull Before amp After

School Programsbull Writing Projectsbull Project-based

Learningbull Lesson Plansbull Measurementbull Quizzesbull Close Readingbull Independent

Reading

bull Fluencybull Struggling Readersbull NGSSbull Active Readingbull Guided Readingbull Small Group

Instructionbull Special Educationbull AND MORE

wwwmyONcom 18008643899

facebookcommyONfanclub myONreader


high costTextbooks

budget-friendly stays current customizable

X X X

E-Books


mdash X X

Licensed DigitalCurriculum


mdash mdash mdash

Open EducationalResources


radic mdash mdash

Curriculum FoundryProgression of Digital Curriculum Adoption for School Districts

FUTURE

PRESENT

PAST

District-AuthoredDigital Curriculum


radic radic radic

Does your school or district want to transition away from expensive textbooks that quickly become outdated and move towards adopting digital content that is more flexible Curriculum Foundry is a complete curriculum management system that can help your district achieve its digital content adoption goals

middot Incorporate your districtrsquos existing library of e-books and licensed digital curriculum from day one middot Access a vetted repository of standards-aligned OER to begin replacing more expensive resources middot Move towards a fully district-authored curriculum at your own pace with support from a team of Learningcom educators

To learn more visit wwwlearningcomcf-info


The Digital Curriculum Tactics Discussion Events held in 30 cities nationally is where the Learning Counsel hears from leaders who are making the transformation happen all over the US

One aspect during this year which has been particularly exciting and inspiring is the number of new teams and the cross-departmental collaboration attending the Digital Curriculum Tactics Discussion events from Districts Those old departmental silos between senior Administrators the curriculum department and academics leaders and the IT side are no longer strategically viable in isolation Technology is directly impacting teaching and learning IT departments have a large say in the shift forward and they need to appreciate their new position

As Lenny Schad the Chief Information and Technology Officer for Houston ISD put it ldquoYou get your seat at the table and that seat is not guaranteed you have to keep that seat every single day and the way that you keep it is by positively impacting teaching and learning In fact itrsquos above and beyond even thatmdashyou need to redefine ways in which yoursquore improving and making more efficient the teaching and learning process which is what Irsquom most excited about in this arena Right now wersquore providing a laptop providing a good network providing electronic textbooks that is exciting and that is a game changer but thatrsquos the tip of the icebergrdquo

With this new trend of cross-departmental collaboration and a lot of new hires over curriculum supervision Superintendents have been showing up in scores of cities with their cabinetmdashto ensure every individual invested in the transformation gained the information to make informed decisions

About a recent event Superintendent Eric Godfrey of Buckeye Union High School District in Arizona said ldquoIt was a great opportunity to stretch vision develop your 11 initiative and learn about resources and network with vendors It becomes an (even greater) opportunity when school districts come in teams because in addition to the information present the team spends the day collaborating and idea-sharing which develops a shared responsibility in creating a digitally enhanced educational environment to improve instruction and learningrdquo

ldquoAt every event we see how educators along with industry experts work together to enhance the creative construction of digital learning resourcesrdquo stated Dr David Kafitz ldquoThe shift isnrsquot going to happen from only educators pushing it or just the industry side coming up with the next nifty thing Itrsquos going to be a collaborative activity We see this happening in every cityrdquo

We are excited to share with you here just a few of the pictures with our friends from the first half of 2016 as the whole ldquoRemodelrdquo of digital transition is underway


On tour with the Learning Counsel as we discuss the tactics to shift teaching and learning

LeiLani Cauthen CEO of the Learning

Counsel speaking at the New Jersey Innovation

Summit 2016


ldquoThank you for your hard work in putting this event together It was a rewarding experience for me and my colleagues I personally appreciate your support of this long journey were making through the digital learning environment Thanks again

mdashLeng Fritsche PhDAssistant Superintendent Student Assessment

Houston ISD

Right LeiLani interviewing Superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools Dr Dallas Dance about his districtrsquos transition to digital curriculum

Below Panel discussion at New Jersey Innovation Summit with Dan Alston Dr Marc Natanagara Ted Panagopoulos and Joshua Koen

Right San Bernardino County Superintendent Ted Alejandre speaking at the San Bernardino Digital Curriculum Tactics Discussion

Above Team digital curriculum exercises to develop curriculum coverage based on standards platforms security and cost


Above Superintendent panel at Phoenix Digital Curriculum Tactics DiscussionmdashMicheal Wright Superintendent of Blue Ridge Unified School District 32 Eric Godfrey Superintendent of Buckeye Union High School District and Dr Darwin Stiffler Superintendent of Yuma Elementary School District One

Above Bradley Leon Chief of Innovation and Strategy at Shelby County Schools speaks on the panel at the Memphis Digital Curriculum Tactics Discussion

Right Proclamation from the Mayor of Houston presented to the Learning Counsel and all Houston Area school districts for their dedication to bringing digital equity to all our students L-R Steve Wentz CTO of Pasadena USD Tom Yarbrough of Huawei LeiLani Cauthen and Dr David Kafitz of the Learning Counsel Dr Juliet Stipeche from the Office of the Mayor Dr Andrew Houlihan CAO of Houston ISD and Lenny Schad CTIO of Houston ISD

Below LeiLani Cauthen with the awesomely engaged team from Little Rock School District (AR) at the Memphis Digital Curriculum Tactics Discussion

Above LeiLani with Dr Darryl Adams Superintendent of Coachella Valley Unified School District at summit in San Diego


Above Rudy Gomez District Technology Services Supervisor and Linda Ashida Coordinator of Innovative Teaching and Learning both from High School District 214 work together at the Chicago Digital Curriculum Tactics Discussion

Right Kimberley Harrington Chief Academic officer of the New Jersey Department of Education welcoming over 300 attendees to the New Jersey Innovation Summit 2016

Above Dr David Kafitz moderating the student panel at the New Jersey Innovation Summit

Above Mr David Bezzant with a student panel from Renton Prep at the Seattle Digital Curriculum Tactics Discussion hosted at T-Mobile Headquarters

Above Atlanta Digital Curriculum Tactics Discussion panel with Dr David Kafitz Jay Heap Director of Virtual Learning at the Georgia Department of Education Chris Ragsdale Superintendent of Cobb County School District Keith George Education Specialist at the Alabama Department of Education and Tricia Kennedy Executive Director of eCLASS Transformation at Gwinnett County Public Schools

Above LeiLani telling secrets to Sue Gott CTO of the San Bernardino County Superintendentrsquos office during an exercise at their Digital Curriculum Tactics Discussion


Core Clicks is the close reading program no student can resist Completely web-based this Kndash5 program combines short informational texts with captivating digital features to build the close reading skills required by rigorous academic standards It also provides digital test-taking practice with performance-based assessments and tracking and reporting tools Learn more at wwwscholasticcomcoreclicks

Meerkat is a real-time mobile application based communication platform enabling schools to communicate time-sensitive information to subscribers The many features keep parents students and faculty safer and more informed Additionally schools have the ability to generate over $15K per year in sponsorship revenue For more information visit wwwmeerkatalertscom

Fall 2016 EventsSep 13 Tampa FL Sep 15 Denver COSep 20 Indianapolis IN Sep 22 New York City NYSep 27 Portland ORSep 29 Dallas TXOct 6 Wichita KSOct 11 Washington DCOct 13 Dover MAOct 18 Sacramento CANov 1 San Diego CANov 3 Palo Alto CANov 14-15 NationalGathering Orlando FL

2017 EventsJan 19 Seattle WAJan 31 AtlantaGAFeb 2 CharlotteNCFeb 16 Memphis TNFeb 23 Philadelphia PAFeb 28 Los Angeles CAMar 2 Phoenix AZMar 9 Minneapolis MNMar 14 Columbus OHMar 21 San Antonio TXMar 23 Richmond VAMar 28 Chicago ILMar 30 Houston TXSep 12 San Diego CA

Sep 14 Denver COSep 19 Indianapolis INSep 26 Tampa FLSep 28 New York City Long IslandOct 3 Portland OROct 5 Dallas TXOct 10 St Louis MOOct 17 Boston AreaOct 19 Washington DCOct 24 SacramentoOct 26 San Francisco Bay AreaNov 6-7 NationalGathering Las Vegas NV

(Dates Subject to Change)

Join The Learning Counsel in a City Near You 2016-2017 Digital Curriculum Discussion Meetings

the Learning Counsel 3636 Auburn Blvd Sacramento CA 95821 8886117709 wwwthelearningcounselcom

2016 Digital Curriculum Strategy Survey and Assessment Tool


The Learning Counsel is providing this assessent tool for use to K-12 educators about digital curricum strategies Ten finalists from the survey responses will be selected to join us at the National Gathering Event and Awards Ceremony in November

Go to wwwthelearningcounselcom2016-survey


nowStoryThe Story of What You Know

Knowstory is the place to make your companyrsquos or schoolrsquos story known If you have a place to learn or something to know create a profile and list every product piece of curriculum or course or place Itrsquos built for that

If yoursquore a group of educators here is where you individually build a library list of what you have or that you made and share it so your school has one inventory to analyze We call it ldquoInvenstoryrdquo

Knowstory is both a marketplace with analytics for users of digital curriculum and a social media hub with an education purpose

Itrsquos not a school or a course or an App but a place for personal learning to find its path inside or outside of schools with anyone putting in any knowledge they have crafted so we all can find it and build on it

Go ahead and put in your school your team your Apps websites ebooks games lesson plans And YOU

Everyone has a story

Whatrsquos yours

KnowStory is a FREE new social media platform for everyone Here is where you discover the wide-range of learning things and create your life-long learning story

For more information visit wwwKnowStorycom

_GoBack

OLE_LINK1

OLE_LINK2

_GoBack


When the function of things change it is inevitable that the form and structure around those functions change as well

A rapid digital transition is underway and at the heart of that is a multiplicity of new software which itself is causing dramatic shifts in how teaching and learning are getting done Whatrsquos inside sophisticated software systems today changes the function of teacher-student interactions

Teacher-as-source in front of the class is more and more an archaic model Guided courseware creates greater individualization and self-directedness that allows new freedoms Schools can create learning ldquoexposrdquo or places of high engagement teachers can give special attention to each student and students can explore and personalize

Could it be that the revolution in education is the creation of ldquoa theatre of experiencerdquo Could it

be the environment is as much a knowledge as the subjects and topics Could it be the digital learning objects are the ldquofurniturerdquo being moved around in a digital universe as individualized chunked mixes of knowledge and where the physical universe real furniture mirrors this dynamic mobility with teachers and students in various modes of learning Could the school be a social knowledge itself as a stimulating arena that challenges students by being bright beautiful and able to mutate from warmly casual to rigorously professional in a flash

We think that teachers and administrators must understand the digital things their increasing sophistication and character internal to software and devices and from those infer a remodel of their form and academic structure and the enveloping physical environment to most thoroughly come into the 21st Century

The Inevitable Remodel

LeiLani Cauthen

Well versed in digital content and curriculum change the adoption process successful strategies and helping schools understand whatrsquos available and

what will work LeiLani often writes on the changes and future of the education space She is a media research marketing and sales professional with 26 years

of experience in the high tech government and education sectors

LeiLani Cauthen CEO amp Publisher

Editorial ContributorsPublisher LeiLani Cauthen Editor-in-Chief Cebron WalkerEditor Dr David KafitzContributor Chris Kight

ProductionArt amp Design Dolly Johnson Ad Production Manager Denise ReynaSales Operations Manager Kristina HallAdvertising Sales Manager Chris Spraguespraguelearningcounselcom 8886117709 Ext 27

the Learning Counsel Copyright 2016 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED3636 Auburn Boulevard bull Sacramento CA 95821 bull thelearningcounsel com

The Learning Counsel helps our subscribing 170000+ education professionals in the K12 and Higher Ed sector gain context on the shift to digital curriculum Our mission

is to help districts and schools reach real transformation through strategies for digital content amp curriculum Through consulting services and research to events custom publishing and online editorial the Learning Counsel provides dynamic and diverse opportunities for private and public sector leaders to collaborate for positive change



Table of Contents











THE GOOD NEWS


THE BAD NEWS





































copy MooreCo Inc

copy MooreCo Inc























by Mind Research













LC


























INew Frontier




Meet Moje








Industrial Flaw
















Tactics






























Further Exploration






mdash














LC




























copy MooreCo Inc
















copy MooreCo Inc

















































LC













Reading






high costTextbooks


X X X

E-Books


mdash X X



mdash mdash mdash



radic mdash mdash


FUTURE

PRESENT

PAST



radic radic radic
















Summit 2016




Houston ISD







































Whatrsquos yours



_GoBack

OLE_LINK1

OLE_LINK2

_GoBack



Table of Contents











THE GOOD NEWS


THE BAD NEWS





































copy MooreCo Inc

copy MooreCo Inc























by Mind Research













LC


























INew Frontier




Meet Moje








Industrial Flaw
















Tactics






























Further Exploration






mdash














LC




























copy MooreCo Inc
















copy MooreCo Inc

















































LC













Reading






high costTextbooks


X X X

E-Books


mdash X X



mdash mdash mdash



radic mdash mdash


FUTURE

PRESENT

PAST



radic radic radic
















Summit 2016




Houston ISD







































Whatrsquos yours



_GoBack

OLE_LINK1

OLE_LINK2

_GoBack





THE GOOD NEWS


THE BAD NEWS





































copy MooreCo Inc

copy MooreCo Inc























by Mind Research













LC


























INew Frontier




Meet Moje








Industrial Flaw
















Tactics






























Further Exploration






mdash














LC




























copy MooreCo Inc
















copy MooreCo Inc

















































LC













Reading






high costTextbooks


X X X

E-Books


mdash X X



mdash mdash mdash



radic mdash mdash


FUTURE

PRESENT

PAST



radic radic radic
















Summit 2016




Houston ISD







































Whatrsquos yours



_GoBack

OLE_LINK1

OLE_LINK2

_GoBack



































copy MooreCo Inc

copy MooreCo Inc























by Mind Research













LC


























INew Frontier




Meet Moje








Industrial Flaw
















Tactics






























Further Exploration






mdash














LC




























copy MooreCo Inc
















copy MooreCo Inc

















































LC













Reading






high costTextbooks


X X X

E-Books


mdash X X



mdash mdash mdash



radic mdash mdash


FUTURE

PRESENT

PAST



radic radic radic
















Summit 2016




Houston ISD







































Whatrsquos yours



_GoBack

OLE_LINK1

OLE_LINK2

_GoBack






















by Mind Research













LC


























INew Frontier




Meet Moje








Industrial Flaw
















Tactics






























Further Exploration






mdash














LC




























copy MooreCo Inc
















copy MooreCo Inc

















































LC













Reading






high costTextbooks


X X X

E-Books


mdash X X



mdash mdash mdash



radic mdash mdash


FUTURE

PRESENT

PAST



radic radic radic
















Summit 2016




Houston ISD







































Whatrsquos yours



_GoBack

OLE_LINK1

OLE_LINK2

_GoBack


LC


























INew Frontier




Meet Moje








Industrial Flaw
















Tactics






























Further Exploration






mdash














LC




























copy MooreCo Inc
















copy MooreCo Inc

















































LC













Reading






high costTextbooks


X X X

E-Books


mdash X X



mdash mdash mdash



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high costTextbooks


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FUTURE

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Summit 2016




Houston ISD







































Whatrsquos yours



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special report_remodel for digital transition

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