Curriculum

Challenge:

The practice and assessment of technology-assisted teaching is often limited by a lack of student competency with technology-based tools. Without meaningful and objective criteria for measuring student skills, technology expectations can be unrealistic. Without grade-specific objectives for student competencies and practical methods of measuring  those competencies, educators have no means of evaluating the effectiveness of instructional technology. Even when teachers have established student technology competencies, they may not include authentic performance expectations.

Recommendation:

The WMISD curriculum will be updated to address the use of technology as an integral part of student learning in each content area, including specific technology knowledge and skills needed by students. Technology should be addressed in the school improvement plan to evaluate learning about technology and the use of technology to enhance learning. Further the curriculum needs to be aligned to the Michigan Framework, Benchmarks, Best Practices, and the Technologies across the Curriculum (ITAC) documents produced by the Michigan Department of Education. Methods to access authentic performance outcomes will need to be identified as part of the plan (like SharePoint Learning Kit and Common Assessments). All technology initiatives will be provided to all students in an equitable manner with noted improvement in achievement and academic success.  Further the NETS by ISTE will be reviewed for standards and benchmarks for students attending educational programs at the ISD.

Rationale and Implementation:

Over the past several years, the Michigan Department of Education in collaboration with educators has developed content standards and benchmarks in many subject areas. The document, Michigan Curriculum Framework, Standards and Benchmarks, is available to assist the district regarding what all students need to know and be able to accomplish in technology and in each content area. Additionally, Instructional Technologies across the Curriculum (ITAC), is available to address the use of technology in each content area, at each level of schooling. The latter includes access to real world/primary data for use on a content-appropriate basis. Once the district curriculum has been aligned with these guidelines, it should be reviewed regularly and amended to ensure conformance with current technologies and evolving educational practices. All educators must be watchful for research on learning outcomes and evaluations of student performance that can be attributed to technology. Student outcomes must be measured by real world standards that are applicable to needs of employers and institutions of higher learning. The standards as outlined by the International Society of Technology in Education need to be reviewed and incorporated in the new curriculum design.

Resources: