About this Project
In collaboration with multiple education organizations and with state leaders, SETDA developed professional learning resources for states to build state-level capacity as they transition to digital learning. The project includes a set of professional learning resources, known as facilitator guides, for states and districts to use to host statewide and/or regional convenings to provide customized support and training. This project also includes a set of stakeholder communication toolkits designed to help stakeholders disseminate information about teaching and learning in the digital age.
Facilitator Guides
The Facilitator Guides provide education leaders with the information and resources they need to conduct a professional learning session for state, district or school leaders. Leaders across the field collaborated to develop these guides, which include a crowd-sourced curation of resources. The documents are intended to inspire conversation, evaluation and reflection around the current state of your educational ecosystem as well as support planning and implementation in the digital age. Each guide can act as a starting point and additional sessions on the topic can be scheduled throughout the year.
Stakeholder Communication Toolkits
The stakeholder communication toolkits describe the role of the stakeholder as a key influencer for learning in the digital age to help ensure that students are college and career ready. In addition to background information about learning in the digital age, the toolkits highlight topics most relevant to the specific stakeholders. Stakeholder member organizations may want to share this toolkit with members to explain the importance of moving towards digital learning while addressing some of the areas of concern most relevant to the stakeholders as districts and schools transition to learning in the digital age. Toolkits includes a communications packet with sample documents that are customizable. Partners can add logos, examples or other resources to help engage stakeholders and support this topic.
Teachers are the linchpin to implementing effective learning environments. Many teacher leaders have embraced technology tools and resources in the classroom similar to how they have adopted these tools in their personal lives and professional learning opportunities. These teachers recognize that leveraging technology tools and resources is essential for all careers from clerks to mechanics to artists to engineers to physicians – all professions are expected to understand and implement technology tools and resources. As teachers transition to digital learning, there is a need to re-establish classroom routines, change lesson planning and student activities and shift expectations to best meet the needs of all students.
What resources can help teachers implement digital learning in their classrooms?
In addition to the benefits of having opportunities to explore topics, locations and activities beyond a school campus via virtual and online tools, teaching and learning in the digital age includes new challenges including digital citizenship, equity of access and the interoperability of tools. It is imperative to provide professional learning opportunities for navigating shifts in learning models, reviewing digital content, programs and applications, as well as ongoing, sustained onsite support for teachers. With effective professional learning strategies, educators can choose the digital instructional materials and technology tools most appropriate for their instructional practices that best meet the needs of students. In addition to district and school resources, teachers have access to many different professional learning organizations.
With so many digital instructional materials and resources on the internet, how do teachers select quality materials?
Districts and schools will often have a list of vetted or approved digital instructional materials that teachers can access. In addition to those vetted materials, teachers may select other instructional materials for learning. When selecting materials, teachers should consider digital tools and resources that focus on the active use of technology that enables learning through creation, production and problem solving. Passive uses of technology such as apps that mimic worksheets or flashcards aren’t the best choices for learning. Digital resources can be purchased, free, or may be open educational resources (OER) with open licenses to provide the opportunity to modify and remix the content.
How can teachers help ensure that students use digital tools safely and responsibly?
Effective digital citizenship helps create a positive school culture that supports the safe and responsible use of digital tools and resources. Information literacy–the ability to find, evaluate, interpret, and apply information is an important component of teaching in the digital age. Teachers can also help navigate cyberbullying, internet safety, and other digital concerns with their students. Librarians are a valuable resource for teachers to help students learn to use technology safely and responsibly.
Reimagining Classrooms: Teachers as Learners and Students as Leaders
Kayla Delzer speaks about her mission to revitalize learning and the classroom environment. Kayla explains how to release the power in the classroom by giving students ownership of their learning and making it relevant to them.
What resources can help teachers implement digital learning in their classrooms?
With so many digital instructional materials and resources on the internet, how do teachers select quality materials?
How can teachers help ensure that students use digital tools safely and responsibly?
