by Bruce Gurnick,
Instructional Technology Facilitator
Flash back to early March of the past school year...the five high schools that make up the Esteban E Torres campus were in a state of high anticipation as they awaited the distribution of new Windows devices for every student. As the month progressed, students in each school received devices. Teachers had devices, students had devices, and the reality of the LAUSD 1:1 program was concrete. The schools realized, that for this effort to be successful much work lied ahead.
Now, fast-forward to Summer, 2015...each of the Torres schools began taking powerful steps to plan efficient device re-distribution to students, as well as full integration of 1:1 student laptops into all instructional programs. East LA Performing Arts Magnet, the Social Justice Leadership Academy, the Engineering and Technology Academy, the Renaissance Academy, and the Humanitas Arts and Technology Academy, are each, in their own individual way, looking forward to the 2015-16 school year and beyond with opportunities for rich technology integration.
One important step that all schools are taking is to complete their School Instructional Technology Plans. In June, a team from Engineering and Technology Academy, took the Torres Bull by the horns and was the first of the five schools to attend the ITI Technology Planning Institute. Principal Alex Fuentes, and teachers Sandra Melendez and Francisco Apodaca, began the process of crafting a plan that follows the school’s vision, with emphasis on future activities that support students in the areas of Engineering and Technology careers and college readiness.
The Social Justice Leadership Academy was well represented at the August Technology Planning Institute. An essential part of their plan will focus on the Classroom Support Tool. The SJLA, already has a process of regular peer classroom observations by teachers. The Classroom Support Tool, which serves as a way for teachers to assess instructional technology use will easily fit into their current collaborative model, giving teachers a way to push forward augmented, modified, and redefined technology integration in the classroom. Under the leadership of principal, Rosanne Cazares, the Social Justice Leadership Academy also wants to lead the way in parent involvement. Their plan is to expand the role of the school’s shared parent center and provide computer courses for parents, training that supports digital citizenship, and ongoing communications and collaboration between parents and their school.
The Renaissance Academy also attended the August Tech Planning Institute, lead by their school’s technology leaders, Hector Verduzco, John Lee, and Principal Jose Gonzalez. Hector and John have structured a plan that will quickly incorporate and utilize the power of Office 365 and OneNote as a tool for both faculty collaboration and instructional management, delivery, as tools for collaboration in authentic student projects, involving design, architecture,
Two Torres Schools, the East Los Angeles Performing Arts Magnet, and the Humanitas Arts and Technology Academy, have found it necessary (due to previously scheduled pd’s) to develop their Technology Integration Plan teachers at their school sites. ELAPA’s plan, will focus, in a manner similar to the Renaissance Academy, using the collaborative tools provided in the Google Universe, Google Classroom. Intensive Google tools training will encourage and engage teacher collaboration, and will be incorporated into the structure and curriculum of ELAPA instruction. ELAPA has also indicated a dedication to the Digital Citizenship curriculum and has plans to utilize their many gifted performing arts students to develop scripts, and scenes and short drama pieces that demonstrate some of the many issues faced by students in the complex digital age.
The Humanitas Arts and Technology Academy will also rely heavily on the Office 365 and OneNote suite of tools to push forward their technology integration. Collaboration is an essential element in their Humanitas program and the tools available in OneNote have already begun to transform Humanitas staff communications, meetings, and information exchange. Their intention is to distribute devices through advisories using a no take-home model for several weeks. In this manner students will be familiar with devices, “bugs” can be eliminated and then a few weeks later, students will be taking devices home.
Collectively the five Torres Academies know that powerful technology tools do not cause or create instructional transformation on their own. Ongoing professional development must inform, deepen and promote practice in 21st Century Learning Models. Technology will aide in the delivery of engaging instruction that fosters creativity and critical thinking, is student-centered, involves extensive collaboration, is delivered in context, and is integrated with and provides real life experience, all within a safe and secure learning environment. The Torres Academies have indeed taken their bull by the horn and are looking forward to the their new instructional device-enhanced school year.