Wyoming Digital Learning Plan June 2020 Newsletter

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

WYOMING DIGITAL LEARNING PLAN

JUNE 2020


Welcome to the Digital Learning Plan (DLP) monthly newsletter

This newsletter will explore the Wyoming DLP, its goals, and suggested strategies to ensure equitable access to opportunities and success in postsecondary, career, and civic life.


DIGITAL LEARNING PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

Personalized Professional Learning

This month's newsletter is focused around the DLP Future Ready Framework gear Personalized Professional Learning. The goals of this gear are:

Personalized Professional Learning Gear
  • Shared Ownership and Responsibility for Professional Growth.
  • 21st Century Skill Set.
  • Diverse Opportunities for Professional Learning Through Technology.
  • Broad-Based, Participative Evaluation.

Canvas Training

Canvas is the statewide learning management system (LMS) supported by the WDE to meet the needs expressed by districts. As part of the contract with Canvas, the WDE provides unlimited online subscription training, in-person training days with a Canvas trainer, and training and support from the Wyoming Adoption Consultant, David Stokowski, for Canvas districts. There are currently 33 school districts, five community colleges, and the University of Wyoming using Canvas.

The unlimited online subscription training includes pre-recorded video training available on demand, series of recommended live sessions based on user role, pre-scheduled live webinars delivered by Canvas Trainers, videos, and courses.

Canvas Learning Page Screenshot

The Canvas Adoption Consultant, David Stokowski, is also available to provide training to schools and districts. David has provided Wyoming 100 onsite days and has impacted about 1,500 educators. To schedule training with David email dstokowski@instructure.com

Using Canvas for Personalized Professional Development

Canvas can easily be adapted to online learning professional learning. One of Canvas’ strengths is its ability to be a one-stop-shop for all content including any district provided professional development and for use by professional learning communities. Canvas can easily organize all class content from online files stored in Google Drive, or Microsoft OneDrive, to class assignments, discussions and quizzes, video recordings, or those connected from external sites like YouTube. Canvas Pages inside of the modules can give the learner context to the Module organization, explaining the upcoming content. The learners can then read content, view videos, interact with websites, and then participate in assessment activities all at their own pace. A well designed Canvas course with Modules can be used in any teaching modality from fully online to blended learning, to in-class instruction.

Screenshot of Uinta's Professional Development Canvas Course

Example Professional Development Canvas Course

Uinta County School District #1 created a course during the COVID-19 school closures to help users learn both how to use Canvas and how to use other district resources and education technology tools. This course has been shared to the Canvas Commons for anyone to find and download. Go to the Canvas Commons and search for “Uinta PD.” This course contains Modules of content for some of the district’s tools that may be used in any district. This PD course contains tutorials on PowerSchool and PowerTeacher Pro, Zoom, Google Apps, SeeSaw, and Clever. If teachers need some training on these tools, or if a district could use some pre-assembled training, this course is very useful. Thanks to Uinta County School District #1 for sharing this resource.


Professional Development Survey

The WDE requests participation in a brief survey regarding virtual learning professional development. This feedback will help determine areas of need and training that would be the most beneficial to educators during the 2020-21 school year. Survey input will be collected through July 3, 2020.


Wyoming WebEd Radio

Wyoming WebEd Radio is a weekly live professional development webcast designed to assist teachers with efforts in personalized learning. The inaugural season will contain eight episodes, centered on the theme “Creating a Connected and Engaging Classroom.” This series will explore: creating virtual classrooms, Open Education Resources, Social Emotional Learning, Equity in Access, and more.

WebEd Radio is designed for the on-the-go education professional with 15-minute sessions, including a live interactive Question & Answer opportunity. Each session will be hosted on the Zoom online platform and live-streamed to Youtube. Sessions will begin at 1 p.m. MDT every Tuesday, starting on July 7. The first episode will feature the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Full episode lists and additional information is available on the WDE professional development webpage.


Professional Development Opportunities

  • ISTE Certification Training - WDE sponsored International Society for Technology in Education Certification for Educators training for 100 Wyoming teachers.
  • Open Educational Resources - Free, open enrollment online course about open education resources; class is available to all Wyoming educators. Check out Open Range Wyoming for open education resources created and vetted by a professional group of Wyoming teachers.
  • Quality Matters - WDE sponsored workshops or virtual courses on developing and delivering quality online content available to all Wyoming educators at no cost.
  • Quality Matters Teaching Online Certificate - Series of seven workshops focused on effective online teaching practices sponsored by the WDE available to all Wyoming educators at no cost.
  • Wyoming Digital Learning Guidelines Course - Free, open enrollment online course about using education technology in the classroom available to all Wyoming educators at no cost.
  • Wyoming Innovations in Learning Annual Conference - Join us virtually November 5-6, 2020.
  • Wyoming WebEd Radio - Weekly live professional development webcast designed to assist teachers with efforts in personalized learning 1 p.m. MDT every Tuesday, starting on July 7.

Stay Tuned

Next month’s Digital Learning Plan Newsletter will be a special edition with results from the professional development survey. 

For more information on the Wyoming Digital Learning Plan or the Future Ready Framework, contact Robin Grandpre at 307-777-5315 or robin.grandpre1@wyo.gov