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Welcome to the Digital Learning Plan (DLP) monthly newsletter. This newsletter will explore the Wyoming Department of Education’s (WDE) DLP, its goals, and suggested strategies to ensure equitable access to opportunities and success in postsecondary, career, and civic life. Future newsletters will provide resources for districts to create their own action and implementation plans for achieving these goals.
What to expect in this issue:
1. Future Ready Gear 7
2. Innovative Idea
3. Professional Development
4. Coming up Next
Future Ready Gear 7
The transition to digital learning will require strategic short-term and long-term budgeting and leveraging of resources. All budgets at the district and the school should be aligned to the new, personalized vision for learning, with consistent funding streams for both recurring and non-recurring costs to ensure sustainability. During the transition, district leaders should strive for cost-savings and efficiencies through effective uses of technology.
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The elements that comprise this Gear are as follows:
- Efficiency and Cost Savings.
- Alignment to District and School Plans.
- Consistent Funding Streams.
- Learning Return on Investment.
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The financial model should include metrics and processes to ensure not only sustainability, but also accountability for learning returns on investments.
GOALS
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WDE Strategies
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| Increase cost savings and reduce cost when appropriate for digital learning. |
- Wyoming Classroom Connectivity Initiative (WCCI)
- K-20 Statewide Learning Management System (LMS)
- Open Range Wyoming
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| Develop innovative use of funds to incentivize Digital Learning. |
- Virtual 307
- Open Range Wyoming
- K-20 Statewide LMS
- WCCI
- Technology Directors Conference
- Tech Directors Workshops
- Tech Hubs
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| Leverage partnerships with businesses to increase funding opportunities. |
- Coders of the West
- WCCI
- Computer Science Education
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Provide guidance for developing sustainable technology and digital learning procurement plans.
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Provide guidance for prioritizing investments.
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Innovative Idea
Statewide LMS
Canvas
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The WDE has chosen Canvas as the K-20 Statewide LMS. Currently, 29 K-12 districts, five Community Colleges and the University of Wyoming are all using Canvas, creating a consistent learning experience for students in the state.
The price for Canvas for ALL districts is $3.74 per FTE, per year, with no fee for implementation (the rest of the standard fees are covered by the WDE). Without WDE support, most districts would pay $5.00-$15.00 per student, plus additional support costs.
Benefits of Canvas in K-12:
- Students
- Digital collaboration tools.
- Receive targeted feedback.
- Immediate access to content.
- Canvas student mobile app.
- Teachers
- Organize and deliver multimodal content.
- Create differentiated learning pathways.
- Easily create accessible content.
- Leave rich and targeted feedback using rubrics and annotations.
- Parents
- Transparent view of class and student work.
- Fosters parent/teacher communication.
- Administrators
- Analytics and data.
- Compliance and digital observation.
The WDE sets staff up for success:
All faculty and staff in Wyoming have free access to live, online Canvas webinars, and other self-paced, on-demand resources. Additionally, faculty and staff have 24/7/365 access to live customer support via phone, email, and/or chat. The WDE also provides localized, in-person Canvas training opportunities throughout Wyoming.
Finally, a dedicated Wyoming Canvas Adoption Consultant will work with individual schools and districts to develop customized communication and training plans designed to grow Canvas usage and knowledge.
Great - But now what?
Contact robin.grandpre1@wyo.gov to set-up a Canvas demonstration. Participants will be able to test the software, and see what all the buzz is about.
Digital Learning Upcoming Professional Development
SCRIPT
- The WDE will be offering Strategic CSforALL Resource & Implementation Planning Tool (SCRIPT) Training. The SCRIPT training will give districts the opportunity to think through the various aspects needed to provide equitable, high-quality computer science education in their district.
- Please consider applying to attend one of these amazing trainings:
- Afton: September 16-17, 2019, March 4, 2020, and September 16, 2020
Contact Robin Grandpre at 307-777-5315 or robin.grandpre1@wyo.gov or visit the Computer Science webpage for more information.
Canvas
For more information, contact Robin Grandpre at 307-777-5315 or robin.grandpre1@wyo.gov.
Quality Matters (QM) Online Course Review, Teaching and Development
- Districts can schedule a workshop for any time of the year.
- QM courses are also available online year round.
- Online courses include the QM Online Teaching Certificate with Digital Credentials.
- All QM training, whether online or face-to-face, is sponsored by the WDE for Wyoming educators
For more information, contact Lori Thilmany at 307-777-7418 or lori.thilmany@wyo.gov.
Wyoming Innovations in Learning Conference
For more information, contact Robin Grandpre at 307-777-5315 or robin.grandpre1@wyo.gov.
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Stay Tuned
Next month’s Digital Learning Plan Newsletter will focus on how your district can utilize the seven gears from the WDE Digital Learning Plan and what it means to become Future Ready.
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As a reminder the seven gears are as follows:
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For more information, on the DLP, or the Future Ready Frameworks, or if you have an innovative idea to share, contact Alisa Cook at 307-777-3679 or alisa.cook1@wyo.gov.
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