It may seem premature to think about Back-to-School 2024 when we’re only in February. But at Learning.com, we’re always planning ahead. We’ve been preparing for the new Technology Applications TEKS (TA-TEKS) for the last couple of years, and we’re looking forward to working with our Texas partner districts on professional development planning as they gear up to implement these new standards. We’re going to be working very closely to help them be successful.

One of the ways we’re looking to work with our partners is to help them plan their professional development and training strategy for the year, whether in-district or via other modalities. Professional development hours are always difficult to come by, especially with competing priorities. However, to achieve success, it will be imperative that educators feel supported and confident when implementing these new, very different, mandated standards. While we’re thinking about the TA-TEKS this year, the information below can be used with just about any type of training plan for educators.

Setting Goals:

Before any other professional development planning can begin, it’s important to first establish goals for your district. This may seem obvious, but taking a few extra minutes to articulate precisely what you want to achieve – what success looks like for your district – and setting reasonable expectations to get there will save time and headaches later. Ask yourself:

• Are we adequately prepared for this transition? 
• What does success look like in the context of these new standards? 
• What steps are necessary in year one and beyond to achieve our objectives? 

Implementation Model: 

Once goals are set, it’s time to strategize implementation. Consider how your district plans to introduce the new standards and associated resources. Some questions to ask yourself:

• Who will be using the curriculum, and in what capacity?
• How can hands-on learning opportunities be integrated?
• What delivery format best suits our educators’ learning styles?
• What is our plan to provide ongoing development for educators? How can we continue to build educator capacity?

Time Allocation: 

Finding time for comprehensive professional development is always a challenge. By aligning goals and implementation strategies, you can better gauge the time and resources needed. Consider these when developing your professional development plan:

• How much dedicated time is required for effective training?
• Can training be delivered both synchronously and asynchronously?
  • In addition to live training, Learning.com offers training on our proprietary Online Training Center as well as with our new partner, MobileMind, for flexible training options that accommodate diverse schedules.

Implementation Support: 

Support from administrators is crucial for the success of any implementation. Ensure that campus and district leaders are equipped to provide the necessary guidance and encouragement. Ask yourself:

• Do we have campus administrators who are willing to help support the implementation? If not, are campus leaders willing to designate campus ambassadors who can help?
• Can campus administrators or school ambassadors provide training to our educators?
• Have we included training for ourselves so that we feel confident supporting the implementation?

At Learning.com, we’re committed to empowering districts as they navigate these new standards. We’re happy to meet with our partner districts to help them plan out their training and PD as they get ready to embark on a new journey with Tech Apps.

Looking for some other tips on how to use your professional development time? Check out our blog!

Further Reading

In January 2020, I had the good fortune of joining the team at Learning.com. The Customer Success team at Learning.com is unparalleled in their dedication to customer advocacy. Comprised of former educators, they possess a deep empathy for the daily struggles faced by administrators and teachers, as well as a thorough understanding of the urgency to meet instructional goals. During team meetings, our focus is always on how we can support schools and districts to reach their objectives.

This customer-centric approach is evident in our work directly with schools and districts. In a recent case study interview, a district administrator stated that none of their vendor relationships were as strong as theirs with Learning.com. They cited that most of their other vendors were “call us if you need us” type relationships that did not actively seek to meet their needs or assist with implementation. I am incredibly proud of the work that the Learning.com Customer Success team has accomplished with this district, and I am thrilled that they have entrusted us with their goals and constraints. This has allowed us to work together strategically and creatively to develop an implementation model that works for both parties, fostering a true partnership.

Developing strong relationships with schools and districts takes time, but it is far more likely when there is mutual trust and respect. Some indicators that we look for to foster successful partnerships include:

• Openness to collaborate with our team and in-district colleagues. We bring expertise in our field, while educators bring their knowledge of the students and the classroom. Combining these skills can lead to creative implementation models, engaging teacher training, and brainstorming ways to build student engagement.
• Willingness to share instructional goals, even if they are not fully developed. Goals can change and mature as our partnership progresses, and we will work with schools and districts to ensure that we are helping them meet their objectives. If goals are not yet fully formed, we can work with partners to determine how to measure success in the early stages of our partnership.
• Commitment to regular communication to ensure that we are on track. If we are not on track, we are happy to course-correct as necessary. Our main goal is to help schools and districts achieve their goals.

At Learning.com, we want all of our schools and districts to be successful and it is far more enjoyable when we work together as partners to achieve these goals.

Further Reading

Enhanced Teacher Center Gradebook

The gradebook is a frequently used resource within the Teacher Center. Based on user feedback and specific requests, we have made enhancements that are designed to save teachers time and increase their flexibility within the gradebook.

• Change grade displays. We upgraded the way grades display so you will now see them as a percentage score or as X/Y (X points out of Y total possible points).
• Change or excuse scores. You can now add a manual score or excuse a student from completing a specific item in the gradebook.
• Pop-up details. You can now click (instead of hovering) over a grade to see the title, type, and actions available to you – such as to excuse or manually edit the score.

Expanded gradebook features.

Expanded EasyTech Content 

We are constantly refreshing and expanding the content in our library of learning experiences. Check out the following recent releases:

• Pre-k/Kindergarten: Expanded kindergarten and pre-k content in IT Fundamentals as well as Online Safety and Digital Citizenship.
• 3rd grade: Additional Spanish-language content in Online Safety and Digital Citizenship.

Plus, we have new content in Online Safety and Digital Citizenship for 1st grade coming this winter – stay tuned!

We wouldn’t be able to make these ongoing improvements and additions without the valuable feedback of our customers. If you have suggestions or ideas, please reach out to us at support@learning.com.

Visit our Online Training Center to learn more about these and other program features for educators.

Further Reading

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend and present at the District Administration Leadership Institute’s Superintendents Summit hosted in Tucson. This was my first DALI presentation, so I was really looking forward to the event, and I was not disappointed.

I was grateful to connect with so many superintendents, engaging in both casual chit-chat as well as deeper conversations surrounding the many issues they’ve encountered during the last 20 months. It was clear that most folks appreciated the chance to just interact in person, especially after the long periods of isolation due to the pandemic.

My talk on Friday sparked an engaging and introspective roundtable session. Centered on the idea that teaching technology skills must be an intentional endeavor – one that goes beyond merely the technology teacher or the technology classroom and truly integrates technology into all facets of learning so students deeply understand the tools – the presentation invited participants to consider their own instructional models for ensuring their students are future-ready. Seated together after the presentation, many superintendents shared that if they were being honest with themselves, they already have great pockets of technology instruction happening in their districts, but they are inspired to support a more comprehensive and intentional approach. We talked through the challenges – especially in light of the intense focus on reading and math skills after a year of virtual learning for many. But everyone agreed that technology skills and content mastery go hand-in-hand.

The organizers of DALI do a great job ensuring that participants have a good experience at the event. Between Thought Leadership presentations, hands-on learning activities, and roundtables, there are lots of opportunities to learn, brainstorm, discuss best practices, and overall, have fun! I attended each Thought Leadership presentation, which ranged in topic from addressing data needs to tackling mental health and interpersonal skills to managing complex budgets, all very timely in the world we’re currently living. There was truly something for everyone – including a fireside chat with Andre Agassi!

The time spent at DALI flew by, but I’m grateful for the many new connections made, and for rich conversations that I hope we will continue.

Catch up with Learning.com in person! Check out our events calendar to see when we’ll be near you!

Further Reading