District Vision

The Curriculum and Instruction/Student Support Division was charged by the Board with drafting an Instructional Technology Plan. To implement this charge, an informal group called the Digital Natives was brought together to present ideas and recommendations that would assist Broward County Public Schools with implementing its vision.

This document sets forth the vision for the role of instructional technology in the curriculum and instructional programs of Broward County Public Schools. The goal of the document is to provide initial steps to assist in reaching the vision of empowering students to become lifelong learners capable of using technology for critical thinking, problem solving, virtual learning and increasing student achievement.

Major points discussed in this document include:

1. Digital Learning Environment Study. This initiative would engage school-based administrators and teachers in a Plan, Do, Study, Act cycle to reveal the issues and impact of transitioning to a digital learning environment. Part of this study would include creating “test sites” that provide access to technology to students on a 24/7 basis.
2. Curriculum Development/Instructional Management: This initiative initially creates a single access point for curriculum and instructional resources for all teachers and over time will be available to students, parents and administrators.
3. Staff Development: This initiative would expand the existing comprehensive technology integration staff development programs offered by the district for teachers and administrators.
4. Leasing vs. Purchasing: This issue explores leasing as an option to procure hardware as a potential cost reduction alternative and as a method of addressing obsolescence and disposal of computer hardware.
5. Re-designing classrooms: This section provides initial ideas on how the physical classroom might be re-designed to meet the needs of an educational system that supports BCPS vision for future learning.
6. Curriculum Resources: This section looks at the issue of standardizing on the curriculum tools and software available to schools to ensure consistency of education for all students in BCPS.
7. Cost Implications: This section gives preliminary cost figures for the proposed projects.