This article is fourth in a series on the Empowering Puyallup initiative which is a technology-focused project featuring the implementation of a Learning Management System (LMS) and the roll out of one-to-one devices for Puyallup students.
Behind the scenes the Empowering Puyallup team is getting things ready for Schoology to be up and running come August.
The Learning Management System (LMS), Schoology, will focus on a system which enhances quality instruction, and is a highly effective communication tool for students, teachers, and parents to collaborate and communicate. Schoology will be the platform through which we extend the time, place, path, and pace of the learning.
On April 11th a company trainer from Schoology worked with a conference room full of Puyallup School District staff to "train the trainers." Between now and August staff will begin training to prepare to use Schoology in the 2016-2017 school year.
Jeanine Medvedich, director of instructional leadership and digital open educational resources, is working with curriculum directors to ensure all of the correct learning resources and digital curriculum will be ready and available beginning this September.
The Empowering Puyallup team is currently running tests in the Schoology testing environment, curriculum is being uploaded, pushed out, and accessed as if by a student, staff member, or parent. All of this is to ensure that in September Schoology will be enhancing the learning environment and teacher-to-student relationship instead of being a hindrance.
The goal of Empowering Puyallup is to enhance the teacher-to-student relationships. Schoology will be a technology tool that can enhance the relationship between teachers and students by making things like grading, pushing out curriculum, and communicating easier. By making these processes streamlined through Schoology, teachers will have more time to focus on the individual attention of each student, and the students will have more time to focus on their individual studies.
Currently the Empowering Puyallup team is looking into devices for the upcoming 1:1 rollout. There are many questions that need to be taken into consideration for these devices especially since technology is growing at such a rapid pace.
Frankie Topasna, project manager of Empowering Puyallup, explained, "We're currently looking at several different components of the 1:1 devices, such as hard drive space and battery life. There are devices that have more hard drive space and some with longer battery life. The real question is what will serve the students best."
Empowering Puyallup is a multi-year initiative including implementation of Schoology and the roll out of technology devices for Puyallup students.
The vision of Empowering Puyallup is to unlock for our students' unprecedented opportunities for breadth, depth, and relevance in learning through collaboration, creation, and communication. We are creating equity for all students through access to technology.