Dear PL Friends, We could not be more thrilled to welcome you back to a new school year and a new edition of Dallas ISD's Personalized Learning (PL) newsletter. Our work this year will be more impactful than ever as we expand our services to support thousands of additional students through our feeder pattern partnerships, teacher fellowship, continued support of our cohort schools, and our newly launched Communities of Practice. We look forward to sharing our progress with you on these and other activities throughout the year, and remain deeply grateful for your continued support and partnership in this work. Check out the stories below to learn more about what the PL team has been up to this summer and remember to follow us on Twitter (@PersonalizeDISD) and Instagram (@PersonalizeDISD) for real-time updates throughout the year! The Dallas ISD Personalized Learning Team Note: To view this message online, use Google Chrome. |
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Above: The Personalized Learning, Zaragoza Elementary, and North Dallas High School teams band together for the back-to school neighborhood walk. |
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The Jiv Daya Foundation Launches Expanded 1:1 Device Program
The Jiv Daya Foundation has expanded its generous partnership with Dallas ISD, more than doubling their StEP grant program partners to a total of five feeder patterns in the 2017-18 school year. The grant program, which provides 1:1 devices to all 3rd-5th graders throughout the Bryan Adams, Pinkston, Samuell, Spruce, and W.T. White feeder patterns, kicked-off with an extensive teacher training in September. Teachers learned the basics for operating their devices, were introduced to several applications to enrich instruction and student engagement, and unlocked their very own escape room using the techniques they learned throughout the day. Support from the Jiv Daya Foundation and the Personalized Learning team will continue throughout the year as teachers work to integrate classroom technology for increased individualization and engagement.
Below: Jiv Daya Foundation grantees unlock the Kindle "escape room" and explore their new classroom devices. |
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Summit Learning Partnership with Maya This fall, Maya Angelou High School kicked off a partnership with Summit Learning to implement the Personalized Learning model. Summit Learning launched in 2015 to scale a Personalized Learning instructional model at Summit Public Schools nationwide. At its core, this approach ensures every student receives one-on-one mentoring and a focus on real-world projects that build cognitive skills, all in a competency-based progression through content and curriculum.
Maya is one of 130 schools nationwide to have been selected for this partnership and can look forward to making great strides ahead with their students. Learn more about the role students and teachers play in this model here.
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Communities of Practice Bring PL Educators Together This summer, the Personalized Learning Department launched Communities of Practice - a brand new professional development series available to any Dallas ISD educator. The response has been even greater than anticipated, with 220 district teachers and administrators diving into the courses, more than half of whom are using these courses to explore Personalized Learning for the first time. Educators can choose from a variety of course topics including Blended Learning, personalizing professional development, coaching and support in a personalized environment, and much more. With many role-agnostic courses and an online platform to instigate healthy discussions and debate, these courses are providing a unique opportunity for educators to collaborate with colleagues who are not only working across the district, but who are also serving in a variety of campus roles. With new learning, cross-level collaborations, and hundreds of the most innovative thinkers in the district coming together on a single platform, Communities of Practice are poised to have an outsized impact. Stay tuned as we follow these innovators throughout the year to see how they take personalization to new heights. Below: Campus Instructional Coaches dive into new learning in the Coaching and Support Community of Practice. |
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Faces of PL Welcome to Faces of PL! In each newsletter, we will feature a Dallas ISD student, teacher, or administrator who exemplifies Personalized Learning practice. This week, we are delighted to introduce you to Ms. Taylor Henderson - a 5th grade teacher at Dan D. Rogers Elementary. |
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What do you most enjoy about teaching in a PL classroom? My favorite thing about using PL is being able to target the students that need extra help on a specific TEKS. In turn, those students that “get it” right away can be challenged on rigorous tasks while I’m targeting my students who need more personalized instruction. How has PL most changed your teacher practice? I teach a lot less whole group, my students are much more independent, and I have also incorporated many more technology opportunities throughout the day using the PL model. What impact has PL had on your students? I believe I am instilling some of the most important qualities in students that make them successful in their future, no matter what path they choose. Whether it’s a job, college, or the army, students are practicing nonacademic qualities every day such as collaborating, communicating, organizing, and being a leader. What advice would you give to teachers who are just beginning to use PL? Take your time, and it’s okay to make mistakes. Looking back at my first year, I have made tons of changes. I feel like every year gets better and better, so don’t become complacent. Always look for ways to improve systems, instruction, and student engagement. |
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Opportunities to Engage We’re Hiring! Dallas ISD is hiring a Manager, Personalized Learning Campus Coaching. Are you an educator with experience coaching others to use innovative teaching models? Review our job description and apply to join our team here. Find us at iNACOL: The Personalized Learning team will lead two presentations at the upcoming iNACOL conference in Orlando. Join us on Tuesday, October 24th at 2:15 p.m. for “Taking Personalized Learning (PL) to Scale: How a Large, Urban School District is Creating a Sustainable Model for PL Growth.” Then on Wednesday, October 25th at 2:15 p.m. attend our session, “Partnering to Personalize: Leveraging Partnerships to Advance Personalized Learning.” We hope to see you there! Visit a PL Campus: Are you interested in learning more about Personalized Learning in Dallas ISD? Sign up for a 2017-18 Educator Tour, available now on The PL Toolbox. Guests will tour a PL campus, visit classrooms, and learn about the support model and strategy from the central PL team and campus staff. Contact corogers@dallasisd.org with any questions. Want to learn about blended learning?: As interest in blended learning continues to rise, we are now offering monthly introductory sessions for participants to join our Blended Learning 1.0 Community of Practice. This experience will introduce participants to what Blended Learning is and is not, models for implementation, and support in building foundational skills for Blended Learning in your classroom. This community is designed for teachers who are brand new to Blended Learning, so no previous experience is needed! This community of practice will start off with a 90-minute face-to-face introductory session to orient participants to the online course. Following the first session, participants will engage virtually and will be able to complete the modules at their own pace. Register here. |
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The Personalized Learning Department has moved! See our new address below. |
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