Digital Resource Initiative 55 Miller Street Enola, PA Tel Fax Mark Hennes Special Projects Supervisor Jill Machemer Supervisor of Instructional Technology

Agenda Orientation to the project Timeline District Commitment

Mission Statement The member districts and the CAIU will increase and extend learner options by leveraging our wide area network and collaborating to develop and implement digital content, thereby effectively utilizing the latest technologies and research-based instructional strategies to create a 21 st century learning environment.

Project Goals Create a two-year, pilot project that will:  Increase student engagement and achievement  Aggregate and share resources and expertise  Achieve cost savings for districts thru conversion to digital resources in lieu of paper textbooks  Create a 21 st century learning environment --- improve individual access; improve online learning skills; improve Web 2.0 teaching skills  Create conditions for future digital initiatives

What we’re building Digital textbooks with integrated online resources VideosVirtual Labs PodcastsCollaboration Simulations Hosted in a Moodle 2.0 platform Student-centered learning Engaging, 21 st century learning environment enabling authentic assessments Initial focus on high school courses

Project Timeline AY Secure E-Fund (PA Act 183) grant to fund project startup Acquire digital resource provider(s) through competitive process Provide professional development and oversee development and sharing of resources AY Pilot high school courses using digital resources Facilitate professional learning communities to share resources, methods, and strategies Evaluate pilot objectives Develop expansion and replication plans

Project Evaluation Qualitative Surveys Focus Group Interviews Pre- and Post- Quantitative Evaluation Student Performance Cost Analysis First and Second Semester AY 11-12

Digital Resource Provider CK-12 Foundation : Selected as best alternative in terms of Quality, Flexibility, and Cost Non-profit foundation “with a mission to reduce the cost of textbook materials for the K-12 market” Numerous textbooks accepted by CA Learning Resources Network and in use in CA school districts

District Responsibilities 1.Select courses, select teachers, estimate # of students and periods 2.Release teachers for PD workshops (Every Thursday, 7 April to 2 Jun)[Districts reimbursed for cost of substitutes] 3.Teachers must attend summer COP resource development sessions [Teachers receive stipend] Note: this must be the same person

District Responsibilities (cont.) 4.Determine student and teacher user hardware and internet access solution. Consider: Family provided District provided Combination Extended Learning Center/Tech Lab/Library hours Cooperative agreement with local libraries 5.Ensure high speed wireless access in designated classrooms

District Responsibilities (cont.) 6.Participate fully in the pilot, including using the resources in classes and participating in collaboration and sharing 7.Participate in the evaluation, including a.Providing access to students and teachers (surveys, interviews, etc.) b.Providing student data for evaluation purposes 8.Sign and return the letter of commitment by 28 Feb 11

Teacher Selection Considerations Budget supports 2 teachers per district (additional slots may also be available if Efund districts drop out) Efund districts may pay for 2 additional teachers Selected teachers need not be digital experts, but should be content experts Selected teachers should be familiar with using online resources and have basic computer skills Selected teachers must be open to the challenges and opportunities inherent in this initiative

Course Selection Considerations Although we reviewed 7 courses, the grant amount, project evaluation, and consortium resource development process supports reduction in course choices to 2 courses High school focus, course sequencing, and Keystone Exam Phase-in suggest using Biology and Geometry for this initiative Districts may select additional courses, but must provide at least 1 teacher and classroom for Biology and Geometry. Also, support for additional courses will be limited

Financial Commitments Efund grant covers most costs, except Professional Development Services in 3 rd & 4 th Qtr, AY Additional teachers: ($1,000/quarter, beginning 4 th Qtr, AY 10-11, thru 4 th Qtr, AY 11-12) Moodle 2.0 hosting/conversion Student & teacher hardware Building infrastructure Note: TBD by number of districts that participate

Related Initiatives Underway Virtual Desktop Moodle 2.0 Upgrade and PD/training Cloud Computing and Hosting Under Consideration Moodle to Powerschool Integration Consortium Purchasing/Leasing of User Hardware Wireless Internet Access Grants Blended Learning

Possible Timeline for Digital Textbooks Pilot Project Core Math & Science Core Language Arts & Soc Sci Languages Electives AY 11/12AY 12/13AY 13/14AY 14/15AY 15/16

Contact Info Mark Hennes – (717) Jill Machemer – (717) Karen Ditzler – (717) , ext 8300

“Thinking of the problem as ‘how do we get a textbook onto an iPhone’ is framing it wrong. The challenge is how to make the best use of a medium that already shares three of our five senses—sight, speech, and hearing—along with geolocation, color video, and a nearly always on Web connection, to accomplish the ‘job’ of educating a student.” —Andrew Savikas, Vice President, Digital Initiatives, O’Reilly Media

Efund Districts Big Spring SD Camp Hill SD Central Dauphin Cumberland Perry AVTS Derry Township East Pennsboro Greenwood SD Harrisburg City SD Lower Dauphin Middletown SD Newport SD Northern York SD South Middleton SD Steelton-Highspire SD Susquehanna Township SD Upper Dauphin SD West Shore SD

Non-Efund Districts Carlisle Area SD Cumberland Valley SD Halifax Area SD Mechanicsburg SD Millersburg SD Shippensburg SD Susquenita SD West Perry SD Dauphin County TS Non-public Schools