Facilitating Technology Implementation: Strategic Planning for AT Specialists and Administrators -- Part One: Implementation Science

The key to effective technology implementation is systematic planning that engages all of the principal stakeholders. In this session, education leaders will learn about how to use strategic planning efforts to leverage technology tools to support classroom instruction, address the needs of struggling learners, and improve teaching and learning for all students.

Silos in Technology Implementation: Common Roadblocks to Success

Author: Jillian Reynolds
Date: May 16, 2018

As described in the first blog of our technology implementation series, Technology Implementation Roadmap: Four Steps to Successful Planning, technology implementation requires thoughtful planning and detailed attention to processes. However, even with the most careful planning, you may run into challenges. In this post, we’re going to unpack one of the major roadblocks to success: silos.

Technology Implementation Roadmap: Four Steps to Successful Planning

Author: Jillian Reynolds
Date: May 9, 2018

Successful technology implementation does not happen overnight. The key to success starts with the planning process to identify where you are and where you want to go to accomplish your technology goals. This process is critical and requires a plan that clearly articulates a vision, short- and long-term goals, action steps to reach these goals, and progress evaluation which allows you to make adjustments to achieve your stated outcomes.

Moving Forward with Digital Accessibility: Strategic Planning and Next Steps

Breaking down silos and building bridges between technology teams, assistive technology specialists, general educators, web developers, content creators, and administrators is essential to ensure that technology is accessible and meets the needs of all stakeholders.

Digital Accessibility and Compliance: Building LEA Capacity

What does accessibility compliance mean for you as an educational leader? How can you ensure fair and equal access for all of your students, teachers, and other stakeholders before problems arise? Making accessibility a reality will require strategic planning, increased collaboration, and the blending and braiding of funding streams and expertise.    In this session, we will address accessibility policies, accessibility audits, and accessibility guidelines (e.g., Web Content Accessibility Guidelines—WCAG 2.0), and how you can help support LEAs develop their compliance plans.  

2018 CoSN Conference Presentation - UDL and Technology: Ensuring Transformative Technology Benefits All Learners

The last decade has seen an explosion in the advancement of educational technology tools and accessibility features that support universally designed learning experiences and instruction that meets the needs of diverse learners and students with disabilities.  However, in order to achieve the goal of transforming the educational experience through the use of technology, states, districts, and school-based staff will need to enhance their infrastructure and professional learning to ensure the technology is integrated to support personalized learning both in and out of school.

Making it Happen: Addressing Digital Accessibility

Given that the law requires districts to provide accessible materials, including curricular content and websites to students and the community, we encourage you to learn about resources, tips, and information to build accessibility into your educational materials and services. Listen to this archived webinar to hear from district leaders, Holly Doe (Director of Technology, Pelham School District, NH) and Mike Jamerson (Director of Technology, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, IN), who have made accessibility a cornerstone at each of their school districts. 

State Perspective: How Utah is Strengthening Its Infrastructure to Support Accessible Materials

As states and districts across the nation increase their use of technology to support instruction and communication, the issue of accessible content for students, families, and community members with disabilities needs to be front and center in the decision making process. Addressing digital accessibility takes a team-based approach.

Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation Adoption Rubric

Supplementary Resource: Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) Adoption Rubric - This is an example of the rubric used to evaluate classroom resources according to UDL principles.

State Spotlight: Utah

Read how Utah’s State Board of Education (USBE) staff are increasing their capacity to meet the needs of all stakeholders by developing a systemwide digital accessibility plan through authentic engagement of stakeholders across multiple education departments.