Digital Access at WVSS: Our Story- Impacting learning

and instruction -

What we hear from students

“Learning becomes more interesting when you have more learning options”

In most classrooms

Our students regularly use their devices as a basic tool i.e. calculator

Our Readiness 5 year conversation Many individual and group efforts Motivated staff Lots of staff-led ProD Library support We have never said no to an idea

In most classrooms

Students use their devices to go broader and deeper with their learning

What we hear from LSP Digital access will level the

learning playing field for our students

Will support many IEP accommodations

Our students are more engaged in a digital environment where they are typically more successful

In most classrooms

Students use their devices in a responsible way

What we see in classrooms Robust interactive teacher web

presence Increased communication with students

and parents Podcasts Flipped Classroom Edmodo Drop Box Noodle Tools ELMO projectors

In most classroomsStudents can walk away from their devices when needed in order to engage in different ways

What we hear from students“broadens the bank of knowledge”

“gives teachers more options”

“Google Translate in French class is helpful”

“currently varies from classroom to classroom”

Our current situation Our department heads unanimously

decided that WVSS should be a “tech friendly” school for September 2014

Our feeder school students are already having this experience, and we should support the continuation

It is the logical next step for us and our students

In most classrooms

Students choose the right tool for the right job, without being told

What we hear from ELL Formative Assessment advantages

Language instruction has a visual component that technology can increase engagement

Appetite to explore new possibilities

In our library

Students self-regulate their behaviour, and usage of their devices

Teachers’ biggest concern? Q: What does appropriate use

look like and how will we support and address it?

A: We will develop common language that is aligned with our feeder schools and good practice

In our cafeteria

Students collaborate anywhere, anytime, as their needs arise

Shifting our thinking From “controlling” student use to

“managing” or “facilitating” it From “device” to “digital

access” A device is no different from a

pencil; if we want our students to focus elsewhere, we ask them to put their “pencils” down . . .

Questions we have Will the infrastructure support

our vision? How will we respond to the

“implementation dip”? How will we best support staff

and students as we explore and develop new learning and instructional opportunities?

Our next steps Continue the conversation to

have every voice heard and every fear addressed and supported

Leaning on department heads to be curricular leaders in this regard

Using staff committee to shape our common language and understanding

And we worry that smartphones will make us anti-social . . .

c. 1952

And now for something completely different . . .

Monty Python will never get old . . .