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March 27, 2018 
Both the Elementary and Secondary Instructional Technology Advisory Committees met in mid-March to explore this question: “What options can we offer to schools to provide a rich menu of technology tools to support the Learning Technology Plan?”
In order to take the LTP to the next level, we discussed continuing the expectation of 1:1 iPads in secondary and classroom sets of iPads in elementary while developing a “menu” of supportable and sustainable technology options for schools to consider. Committee members explored robotics, video production, and VR/AR tools and considered ways in which these tools might support the vision of the LTP to provide opportunities for students to investigate, communicate, collaborate, create, model, and explore concepts and content in authentic contexts.
Here are links to more detailed agendas and notes for Elementary and Secondary ITAC.
November 20, 2017 
Secondary ITAC met on November 14th to discuss and provide a recommendation about refresh options for secondary iPads. After looking at hardware specifications, data from surveys of teachers, students, and parents, and exploring learning tasks on different form factors, the committee made the following recommendation:
“After previewing devices and looking at feedback from various stakeholder perspectives, the ITAC committee recommends a change in iPad form factor from the iPad mini to a full-sized iPad based on the curricular and student use benefits of the full-sized iPad.”
The agenda and notes from the meeting can be found here.
October 23, 2017 
Both the Elementary and Secondary Instructional Technology Advisory Committees met during the first two weeks of October. Here’s a summary of our work.
Secondary ITAC
Secondary ITAC began by looking at data from our annual LTP surveys of parents, students and teachers and noting trends and further questions to explore.
We then reviewed the SVVSD 6 Essential Components for Learning Technology and examined the Horizon Report for 2017 K-12 Education. We discussed which of these predicted trends we anticipate being relevant to St. Vrain Valley Schools in the next 1-3 years and how our Learning Technology Plan supports these areas.
Finally, we began a dialogue on the upcoming refresh cycle of 1:1 devices in our middle schools and whether we should consider shifting from the iPad Mini to a full-sized model. This conversation will be continued at our next meeting as we continue to gather information and input from stakeholders.
Elementary ITAC
Elementary ITAC engaged in two conversations. In our first conversation we reviewed the current state of the Learning Technology Plan in our elementary schools, which received classroom sets of iPads and accessories as we entered the fourth year of our LTP rollout. We then reviewed the SVVSD 6 Essential Components for Learning Technology and looked at the trimester goals schools set for themselves, aligning these goals to the 6 Essential Components.
During our second conversation, we examined the Horizon Report for 2017 K-12 Education. We discussed which of these predicted trends (short-term, mid-term, and long-term) we anticipate being relevant to St. Vrain Valley Schools in the next 1-3 years and how our Learning Technology Plan supports these areas.
If you’d like to see the agendas and notes from the meetings, you can find them on the ITAC blog under Meeting Documents.
September 14, 2017 Welcome to our newest Instructional Technology Advisory Committee members!
As we move into our 5th year of the Learning Technology Plan, ITAC will continue to serve an advisory role in our technology planning. They are a critical voice in making sure we have representation from all segments of our SVVSD community: teachers, administrators, district staff, and families.
Separate elementary and secondary-level ITAC committees make recommendations which lead to the best possible implementation outcomes.
We rotate one-half of the committee members each year to ensure continuity while also allowing others to add their voice to the group.
This blog will continue to serve as a place for others to join in the conversation and follow their work. Please check in and share your input with our committee representatives.
The new 2017-19 ITAC Committee members:
Elementary
- Melissa Davis
- Jill Fuller
- Traci Haley
- Temple Hayles
- Sara Kissinger
- Kerin McClure
- Kristina Stem
- Adam Williams
Secondary
- Annie Falkenberg
- Laurieann Henderson
- Lauren Hodges
- Doug Jackson
- Mollie Kelleher
- Jason Kelsall
- Karen Percak
- Zachary Pinkerton
February 21, 2017 Elementary and Secondary Instructional Technology Advisory Committees met during the first two weeks of February. Here’s a summary of our work.
Secondary ITAC
Secondary ITAC began by exploring the suite of district-approved apps available to secondary students through our mobile device management (MDM). We then categorized the apps according to learning skills outlined in the LTP vision statement:
The St.Vrain Learning Technology Plan (LTP) provides opportunities to help students investigate, communicate, collaborate, create, model, and explore concepts and content in authentic contexts.
During the process, we discovered that many of our apps cross multiple categories of learning behaviors.
We then reviewed the current recommendation to disallow the Messages app on middle school and high school iPads. After discussing the difference between Messages and other available apps that allow for communication and collaboration, the committee came to a consensus to continue disallowing the Messages app.
Elementary ITAC
Elementary ITAC also explored the suite of district-approved apps available to elementary students through our mobile device management (MDM), and then categorized the apps according to learning skills outlined in the LTP vision statement.
The conversation then shifted to a discussion of our Learning Management System (LMS), Schoology. We looked at how Schoology is currently being used in our elementary schools and discussed the values and actions we want to promote between students, teachers, and parents. Characteristics important in an elementary LMS included seamless workflows for sharing work between students and teachers, the ability to create student portfolios and reflections, and the facilitation of collaboration and communication.
December 15, 2016 Elementary and Secondary Instructional Technology Advisory Committees met during the first week of December. Here’s a summary of our work.
Elementary ITAC
Elementary ITAC began by reviewing feedback from surveys and a meeting with our elementary iPad Readiness schools (Eagle Crest, Erie, Thunder Valley), who are helping us test processes to use next year when we roll out devices to all of our elementary schools. Based on this feedback and discussion, ITAC made the following recommendations:
- Provide class sets of iPads to grade level classrooms based on average district class size.
- Provide access to Specials (PE, Music, Art) and pull-out classes through shared carts of iPads.
- Give the highest priority to purchasing iPads and work with our readiness schools to determine which accessories are essential and how they are being used.
- Communicate with schools and with district leads to determine which pull-outs (SPED, G/T, ELL, Literacy) are active in the elementary schools, how these classes operate, and how they might utilize the technology.
We also looked briefly at apps currently provided to our elementary students through Mobile Device Management (MDM) and the proposed process for requesting and selecting additional iOS apps to add to MDM.
Secondary ITAC
Secondary ITAC began by discussing Apple IDs – both managed Apple IDs and personal Apple IDs (for students over the age of 13) – and the limitations and advantages of both. We then broke into groups to discuss implications for middle school and high school students and came up with the following recommendations:
- In High School, we believe utilizing personal Apple IDs (whether linked to personal or educational email account) is a best practice; therefore, we maintain the current practice that every incoming 9th grader create an Apple ID for their use because we expect high school students to be self-directed, informed, collaborative learners.
- In Middle School, we believe Apple IDs provide the advantage of iCloud backup; therefore we expect 6th and 7th graders to have Managed Apple IDs and 8th graders to create personal Apple IDs (after turning 13) with a recommendation that we educate students about the differences between personal and professional use.
We also reviewed last year’s iMessage recommendations with the intention of reviewing this at our next meeting.
If you’re interested in seeing the agendas and notes from the meetings, you can find them on the ITAC blog under Meeting Documents.
October 04, 2016 Please give a warm welcome to our newest Instructional Technology Advisory Committee members!
As we move into our 4th year of the Learning Technology Plan, ITAC will continue to serve an advisory role in our technology planning. They are a critical voice in making sure we have representation from all segments of our SVVSD community: teachers, administrators, district staff, and families.
Separate elementary and secondary-level ITAC committees make recommendations which lead to the best possible implementation outcomes.
We rotate one-half of the committee members each year to ensure continuity while also allowing others to add their voice to the group.
This blog will continue to serve as a place for others to join in the conversation and follow their work. Please check in and share your input with our committee representatives.
The 2016 ITAC Committee members:
Elementary
- Gina Trujillo
- Mandy Pederson
- Tanya Sadler
- Judith Nowlin
- Shelly Guenther
- Jason Sturniolo
- Bernerd George
- Keri Campbell
- Shannon Brennan
Secondary
- Laura Hess
- Josie Vigil
- Katelynn Ryan
- Jennifer Thayler
- Joann Rosebrock
- Melissa McGlasson
- Kyle Manuel
- CJ Herman
- Karen Hoppis
- Jeff Wysoski
May 05, 2016 The Instructional Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC) is looking for additional members to join and help us refine our district-wide plan for instructional technology.
ITAC consists of district leaders, school administrators, teachers, school staff, and parents who serve on one of two Instructional Technology Advisory Committees. These committees will provide input and guidance to the technology department and help to refine implementation plans for our technology investments.
If you are interested in serving on a committee, please read the ITAC overview document to understand the commitment and the role of a member. Then, complete the application linked here. Meetings will be held after school 3-4 times per year. A stipend will be available for staff participants.
Schools, please forward this invitation to parents who you feel would be interested in joining a committee.
Thank you for your work to ensure the thoughtful use of technology in the St. Vrain Valley Schools.
Joe McBreen
CTO
Michelle Bourgeois
Project Manager
April 01, 2016 On March 30, the Elementary and Secondary Instructional Technology Advisory Committees met for the final conversations of the year. Here’s a summary of their work.
Elementary ITAC
Elementary ITAC reviewed the initial app listing for elementary iPads provided by the LTP. We began reviewing additional apps to be considered, so check back on the list over the next several months to see what additions we make!
We also reviewed the proposed settings and restrictions for classroom iPads to be purchased as part of the elementary LTP iPad program including:
- App age level settings to be 4+
- App store, iBooks store and in-app purchases to be disabled. Apps and books will be provided through the in-district LANrev apps store.
- iMessage, Facetime, and Mail to be disabled. Teachers will be able to use these features on their staff iPad.
Finally, we discussed Classroom (Apple’s new feature set built into iOS 9.3) and decided that they warrant further investigation for adoption in elementary. Our 3 iPad Readiness schools (Eagle Crest, Erie Elementary and Thunder Valley K8) will begin to adopt the new Classroom features next year and report back to the committee on their discoveries.
Secondary ITAC
With the addition of Apple’s new School Manager and Classroom features as part of 9.3, we asked ITAC to explore the benefits as well as the implications of adopting these tools at the secondary level. At this time, the committee determined we should not pursue adoption in grades 6-12, but will watch and learn from the elementary schools who will be exploring.
We also explored apps that are installed on student devices in the district and looked at proposals for additions to our in district app store. DTS and the Curriculum team will be investigating the new app proposals for possible inclusion next year.
If you’re interested in seeing the agendas and notes from the meetings, you can find them on the ITAC blog under Meeting Documents.
November 05, 2015 The Elementary ITAC meeting focused on the following topics:
Here is a link to the meeting notes.
If you have input or feedback for the committee please leave a comment below.
     
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