Step by Step Guide to Creating a Digital Strategy

 Step by Step Guide to Creating a Digital Strategy

The Specifics

Once we were clear on our vision and had some objectives to get us there. It was now time to actually begin to formulate our digital strategy. To do so, we looked at each objective individually and then considered how they would relate to the key areas that every digital strategy should address: Digital Literacy and Capacity, Digital Technology Infrastructure,  Digital Leadership

Goal 1: Provide technology accessibility for all learners

With this goal, the focus isn’t only about giving students access to various technology. It is also about teaching them how to use technology appropriately for lifelong learning, and ensuring that learning is accessible to everyone, including those in special education.   The approach of incorporating accessibility features is known as universal design. Three main principles that underpin the application of universal design for learning (UDL): 1. providing multiple means of representation so that students can approach information in more than one way; 2. providing multiple means of expression so that all students can demonstrate and express what they know; 3. providing multiple means of engagement to stimulate interest in and motivation for learning

Literacy & Capacity

      Train teachers and students in the use of digital books, specialized software and websites, and screen readers that include features such as text-to-speech, changeable color contrast, alterable text size, selection of different reading levels or materials written in the learner’s primary language.

      Educate students on appropriate netiquette and digital safety

      Train teachers in the use of collaborations tools that can be used to facilitate synchronous or asynchronous PD workshops and PLCs

      Train teachers in the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and TPACK

Digital Technology Infrastructure & Procurement

      Acquire approximately 40 desktop computers to replace the out-dated ones in the lab

      Establish a device library at the school so that year groups can borrow these devices to be used during instruction

      Acquire range extenders to ensure that all areas of the school has access to the internet

      Upgrade the internet package to facilitate a higher speed

      Acquire protection for laptops (e.g. Surge protectors and UPS devices)

      Purchase Antivirus and Malware software for the devices

Digital Leadership

      Establish a committee to evaluate and select software that are in line with the school’s objectives and vision

      Regularly ascertain from the staff how the implementation of the various aspects of the digital strategy are going

      Communicate and strengthen relationships between the school and parents so that they can support the use of digital technologies where possible

      Communicate with and strengthen relationships between the school and community groups and businesses so that they can assist with funding the technological upgrades that are necessary.

 

Goal 2: Facilitate professional development (PD) workshops and the creation of professional learning communities (PLCs) or professional learning networks (PLNs) to assist with the effective and suitable integration and application of student-centred digital technologies.

Literacy & Capacity

      Promote and facilitate continuous professional development in the use of various collaboration and communication tools that can be used to facilitate synchronous or asynchronous PD workshops and PLCs/PLNs

Digital Technology Infrastructure & Procurement

      Purchase Membership to professional journals and research platforms such as Ebscohost to facilitate research

      Replace Broken laptop/chargers,

      Upgrade laptops, where necessary, to be compatible with new programs

      Purchase, where necessary, licenses to various communication and collaboration software and websites

Digital Leadership

      Allocate time and space for PLCs

      Assign an internal or external facilitator to guide the PLC

      Monitor the effectiveness of the PLCs through surveys, analysis of student performance, taking attendance

 

Goal 3: Increase student engagement by encouraging educators to apply pedagogy that facilitates the 4Cs of intrinsic motivation: choice, challenge, collaboration and control

Literacy & Capacity

      Train teachers in the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and other approaches that have been proven to increase student motivation (e.g. Project-based Learning & Problem-based learning)

      Train students in the use of various digital tools for collaboration and presentations (e.g. Google docs, Flipgrid, PowerPoint)

Digital Technology Infrastructure & Procurement

      Replace Broken laptop/chargers,

      Upgrade laptops, where necessary, to be compatible with new programs

      Purchase, where necessary, licenses to various communication and collaboration software and websites

Digital Leadership

      Promote and encourage teachers to create websites, blogs and newsletters so that parents can be aware of curriculum goals, objectives and activities on a consistent basis

      Educate parents through virtual workshops