Wyoming Digital Learning Plan September 2019 Newsletter

Update from the Wyoming Department of Education  |  view online |  website

WYOMING DIGITAL LEARNING PLAN

September 2019

Welcome to the Digital Learning Plan (DLP) monthly newsletter

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.

Thank you for your continued support as the WDE reviewed the DLP through this newsletter. The newsletter will now focus on how Wyoming school districts can utilize the same gears the WDE used. Districts can use the Future Ready Schools (FRS) interactive planning dashboard to assess their district’s needs, identify gaps, obtain strategies, plan, and track progress over time. 

Future Ready gears

Implementing meaningful learning requires more than purchasing devices for a school district; it requires thoughtful planning, preparation, and analysis of student outcomes, teacher development, culture, and leadership. This is where the FRS interactive planning dashboard can help. The dashboard takes school district leaders through each step of a systematic planning process to create a comprehensive approach and action plan for implementing digital learning before they make the next purchase, ensuring a smooth implementation. 


Join the FRS Network

The WDE took the statewide Future Ready Pledge in September of 2016. By taking the pledge superintendents make a firm public commitment about their efforts to implement innovative learning practices to support teachers and students within their district. The pledge is just the first move in the FRS process.

Quote from Superintendent Jillian Balow

Getting Started

The Five Step Planning Process is designed to help educators with creating sound, research-based action plans for implementing personalized, student-centered learning. Embarking on this work takes leadership, time, patience, courage, collaboration, trust, and some trial and error to get it right. With that in mind, this planning tool guides district teams through collecting and analyzing data on their readiness across each gear in the Future Ready Framework, identifying specific strategies and next steps for implementation, and producing a comprehensive action plan for implementing their specific initiative. 

Step 1

 

Assemble a Future Ready Schools Planning Team

Strong leadership is essential to systemic, sustainable change in education. Superintendents and their leadership teams, with the support of state and local leaders, are key to leading the transition to digital learning in every district. 

Your district has taken the Future Ready Pledge and you are now ready to create a research-based action plan for implementing personalized student-centered learning. 

We took the Pledge, Future Ready Schools

Task 1: 

Your district will need to identify a “(FRS) Project Manager” who will schedule meetings, send reminders, assign responsibilities, and move the planning process along as the team leader. His/her name will appear on the “Create and Manage Teams” webpage as the primary contact for the district. 

Task 2:

Your district leadership team should include a minimum of eight members but no more than 15, depending on the size of the district. Choose team members who can assist with collecting information, setting goals, and creating an action plan for the district. This team should be comprised of the most talented people in your district; they are not merely there to row, but also to help you steer. 

Recommended types of team members include the following: 

  • Superintendent.
  • Assistant superintendent.
  • School board members.
  • Community and/or business leader.
  • School-based edtech leaders or instructional coaches.
  • Finance or business officers.
  • Teachers.
  • Principals.
  • Librarian/Media Specialist.
  • Directors of professional learning.
  • Directors of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
  • Director of education technology/chief information officer.
  • Parents/Guardians.
  • Union leaders.
  • Middle or high school students.
TEAM

Watch this video tutorial provided by Future Ready to learn more about assembling your districts team.

Task 3:

To access the Future Ready dashboard, you will need to create a username and password. To create a login, complete the user profile with your name, email, and additional information about your district. 

Watch this video tutorial provided by Future Ready for assistance in creating an account. 

After logging in, click “create and manage teams” in the menu section to access your district’s team code. The team code will be used for your district specifically and will allow others on your team access. 

Using this code and the email template, invite leaders you have selected to be members of your FRS planning team. 

Watch this video provided by Future Ready for a tutorial on how to create and manage a team on the dashboard. 

Task 4:  

Schedule an initial team meeting. In this meeting you will: 

  • Establish a Vision of the team.
  • Review the Mission and Vision of the District.
  • Review the seven (7) Future Ready Gears.

Join Us

Future Ready pre-Conference 2019 Wyoming Innovations in Learning Conference November 5, 2019 in Gillette, WY from 1-4 p.m. 

This pre-conference session is focused on helping teachers, school leaders and districts leaders learn more about becoming Future Ready and what is could mean for your school or district. Bring your self or bring a team to work through the toolkit! (Laptop required).

Click here to learn more.


Stay Tuned

Next month’s Digital Learning Plan Newsletter will focus on Step 2 of the Future Ready Action plan, Measure District Readiness. 

For more information, on the DLP, or the Future Ready Frameworks, contact Alisa Cook at 307-777-3679 or alisa.cook1@wyo.gov.

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