www.AALF.org

We’ve Got Laptops, Now What Foundations for Classroom Success Course 1

Course Foundations: Every AALF course is based on the learner foundations of inquiry, choice, collaboration, and creativity. Because of this, participants have the potential to personalize their learning outcomes, participate in action research, build professional relationships with other course attendees, and document their professional learning and growth. Within each course, participants will join one of two course PLCs, each of which will focus on different aspects of the main topic. All participants are expected to be active in PLC discussions and research.

Participants: This course is designed for teachers, instructional coaches, technology coaches, and administrators who are new to 1-to-1 teaching and learning. This may include educators from a district or school who are beginning to implement 1-to-1 teaching and learning, educators at schools that are in the planning stages but have not yet implemented 1-to-1, or teachers, coaches or administrators new to 1-to-1 who are joining the staff at a school that has an established 1-to-1 program. It is not designed for 1-to-1 teachers who are experienced and have a sophisticated 1-to-1 knowledge and background.

Time Commitment: Course participants will meet for four 75 minute sessions. PLC work will be completed outside these sessions and the time commitment will be determined by members of each PLC.

Preparing for the Course: All participants are asked to view the Preparing for AALF Courses resource, which will be available two weeks before the first session. This resource will provide an overview of the course, the AALF 1:1 Foundations Research badge, and PLC structure and work.

Course Description

Course Focus: In terms of 1-to-1 impacts on student outcomes, we see common themes emerging across empirical studies…the point of any far-reaching educational technology is not the mastery and success of the said technology, but the improvement of the process and environment in which teaching and learning occur. (Educational Outcomes and Research from 1:1 Computing Settings, Boston College, 2010)

While this quote points to potential outcomes of 1-to-1 learning, it also invokes several important questions for educators to consider: What are the common foundations implemented in highly effective 1-to-1 classrooms? Why are these foundations effective? What are my next steps in designing and implementing these foundations? These simple questions and their complex answers are the focus of this course. Participants will learn how to backwards map the vital classroom foundations, principles, and strategies that lead to well implemented and effective 1-to-1 learning.

Participants will also have the opportunity to work with other course members worldwide as they develop, investigate, and answer their PLC Essential Question around these issues.

Session 1: First Steps to Success-Start with the End in Mind

If we know where we are going as we improve schools, only then can we appreciate whether or not technology is one vehicle to help us get there. (Transforming Schools With Technology, p. 25).

This session has a two-fold focus: (1) building participant understanding regarding the initial vision of technology and 1-to-1 pioneers like Dr. Seymour Papert, Alan Kay and David Loader and why this is still very applicable in today; and (2) aligning the rigorous opportunities 1-to-1 provides with district or school goals and classroom practices.

Session essential questions include:

1. How does understanding the vision for 1-to-1 empower me to develop effective practices in designing learning environments?

2. How does aligning the (1) opportunities 1-to-1 provides, (2) my classroom practices and (3) district or site 1-to-1 goals positively affect my classroom environment while raising the potential for student achievement?

All participants will…

• Learn about the original vision for 1-to-1 and how this still empowers educators more than 40 years later as they develop their 21st century pedagogical design expertise.

• Learn how to align the opportunities 1-to-1 provides between district, school, and classroom goals and why this ensures increased student success.

• Identify the rigorous learning opportunities included in their own classroom goals.

• Learn about the two PLC focus areas and potential Essential Questions this course provides and identify/share in which they will be participating.

Session 2: Design Challenge - Which Practices do I Keep, Start, Stop?

Effective 1-to-1 classrooms and learning activities are carefully designed. In this session participants will learn about the design challenge of bridging ‘pre 1-to-1 practices’ with the opportunities and possibilities now available. Many educators initially describe their evolution to 1-to-1 as ‘fitting a square peg in a round whole.’ Learning about several simple design principles will help educators bridge their pedagogical understanding from old effective practices to new effective practices.

All participants will…

• Learn several simple design principles for developing or evolving effective 1-to-1 practices.

• Be able to address the question, “Which opportunities do I develop so they become realities for my students?”

• Begin to recognize the 1-to-1 Classroom Routines and Instructional Routines that will best serve them and their students.

• Identify which of the next sessions they will attend.

• Begin to collaborate on the Essential Question(s) their PLC has identified or created and plan next steps with this work.

Session 3 (PLC specific session): Classroom Organization and Management

These sessions will focus participants on the development of effective 1-to-1 physical and virtual classroom structures. NOTE: Participants will have identified which of these two sessions they will attend by the end of session 2. You are expected to attend only one of these sessions. The two sessions will focus on:

• PLC 1: The physical classroom organization and management found in effective 1-to-1 environments.

• PLC 2: The virtual classroom organization and management found in effective 1-to-1 environments.

At each of these sessions, an experienced 1-to-1 educator will be present to share his or her practices and answer questions constructed by course participants.

All participants will…

• Learn how to create and sustain powerful 1-to-1 physical or virtual environments and the impact these have on student learning.

• Examine and explore models and practical suggestions for creating and sustaining the physical and virtual organization and management of their classes.

• Learn from experienced 1-to-1 educators who will share their practices and answer participant questions.

• Continue working with other PLC teammates to address their essential question(s).

Session 4: 21st Century Shared Beliefs and Learning Culture: Recognizing and Sharing Our PLC Learning

This session will reconvene all participants as they focus on two elements: (1) learning about the power of 21st century Shared Beliefs and the resulting student voice in 1-to-1 classes, and (2) learning from one another by presenting PLC Essential Question work.

We all know that cultures worldwide have changed as a result of various developments, including evolving technology and associated resources. One cultural attitude that many of our students bring to school with them is the reality that all stakeholders can and should be both learners and donators or contributors. For educators, the challenge is to identify the opportunities 1-to-1 provides in supporting this work of ‘student voice.’

All participants will…

• Explore the idea of 21st century Shared Beliefs and Student Voice and how to develop both in their 1-to-1 classrooms.

• Learn from one another as each PLC presents its essential question/s and development work.

• Identify their next steps as a result of participating in this four-session course.

**The course will meet once weekly for 4 weeks beginning on Tuesday, March 18th, 2014 at 4pm PT (US/CAN). (In Australia, the course starts on Wednesday, March 19th at 10am AEST).

For more information on this course, please contact: service@aalf.org