Opportunity

In American public schools, K-12 technology improvements have been focused on wiring classrooms and installing hardware and software, without practical strategies for using new technology to improve educational outcomes.

The availability of high-speed fiber is just one cornerstone for K–12 classroom transformation. Demonstration projects must also address changes to social/cultural attitudes, teaching philosophies, teacher-training requirements and  progress measurement.

Classroom demonstrations must focus on providing advanced technology, while developing new instructional techniques and learning methods that help teachers and students take full advantage of the gigabit infrastructure.

Solutions

• MBIT recommends the development of pilot projects that focus on new teaching and learning methodologies. Some ideas include:
• Identify funding to competitively select a handful of classrooms for demonstration projects that fully integrate high-speed fiber technology into daily lessons.

• Develop new systems for teachers to capitalize on fiber to the home, using technology to collaborate with students, deliver content and monitor progress.
• Create forums for ongoing dialog between teachers and school district IT departments, breaking down barriers to technology integration.
• Work with organizations such as PREP-KC and the UMKC School of Education to develop a curriculum that incorporates technology-based teaching methods and better prepares students for the workplace.

• Work with school districts to maximize funding opportunities to support technology improvements, such as state E-Rate funding.

Outcomes

• Convened monthly meetings of districts, teachers and stakeholders to facilitate school usage discussion
• Engaged volunteers to facilitate Education Team meetings and begin cataloging schools and projects in digital innovation
• Enlisted PREP-KC as key partner in driving a regional gigabit education agenda
• Identified multiple opportunities for next generation classroom pilots (e.g., Cizzle, Wikiseat, Luminosity, Otherfab)
• Working closely with Michael Henry from UMKC on development of gigabit MOOC instructional models
• Separate Khan Academy pilots underway in Piper and through PREP-KC
• MINDDRIVE—converted Ghia to electric, touring from KC to DC (and more)
• Extensive First Robotics and Project Lead the Way activity through KC Stem Alliance
• KCK includes digital component in district-wide literacy effort
• Increased collaboration and distance learning with Greenbush in Piper District
• Initial conversations about uses for Google Glass in education