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SchoolKiT Case Study
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Everett Public Schools: Walking the Talk of Technology Integration
With SchoolKiT's edClass library of K-12 activBooks, Everett Public Schools sustains
improved teaching and learning through effective technology integration.
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| Customer Profile |
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| District: | Everett Public Schools |
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| State: | Washington |
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| Schools: | 25 |
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| Students: | 18000 |
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| Challenge |
Solution |
Results |
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The use of instructional technology dollars needed to support improved student learning while
increasing student ICT literacy. |
The district is deploying the edClass curriculum resource library for student learning and
technology integration that allows for the development of 21st Century Skills within a contextual
learning experience. |
- High quality resources for student learning that are exemplar activities for meeting district learning goals
- Embedded professional development for teachers
- ICT Literacy skills taught in a contextual learning experience
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When choosing educational software, district administrators have to choose between de-contextualized
drill and practice software and instructional materials for technology integration. How can busy
administrators ensure that their instructional technology dollars are wisely invested?
It starts by understanding what technology integration really means.
Recognized in 2003 by District Administration as one of the "Top 10 Technology Districts" in the
country, Everett Public Schools is a learning community that 'walks the talk' of improving teaching
and learning with technology. Serving over 18,000 students, a priority in Everett is to balance
improving student achievement in reading, writing and math with developing students' higher order
thinking, questioning and research skills.
Instructional Technologies Specialist, Phil Biggs, firmly believes that technology is not an
add-on. "I always tell teachers that we don't 'teach' technology anymore," said Phil. "We teach
reading, writing and math, but we improve teaching and learning by integrating technology. Most of
us who have used technology for a long time know this implicitly, but this notion is becoming more
important as teachers' time becomes so filled up. The beauty of SchoolKiT is that, with it, our
district can sustain this integrated approach. Our teachers are already familiar with Microsoft
Office, and with edClass they can integrate these tools in constructivist learning activities that
are already created for them. This really helps our teachers apply and extend what they already know
rather than continuously switching between new applications and never getting off that first step."
A keystone to the success in Everett is inter-departmental collaboration. Debra Strong and
Maryann Stine from Everett's Curriculum and Instruction Department work closely with the Instructional
Technology Department. It is this collaboration, according to Phil, that has resulted in Everett's
innovative "Curriculum Calendar," an online elementary and middle school math curriculum alignment
tool for teachers.
| 'We're an astute group of buyers here in Everett. When
our team researched integration tools, we soon uncovered cracks that were not immediately
apparent; but with SchoolKiT, the deeper we looked, the more value we perceived. That's why we
chose edClass for our entire district' |
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| - Phil Biggs |
| Instructional Technologies Specialist |
| Everett Public Schools |
Phil states, "In our elementary and middle school math curriculum, we've identified all of
SchoolKiT's activBooks and aligned them to our online curriculum calendar. This is a great resource
that allows the teacher to teach a concept better using activBooks. It's the best professional
development activity I've ever seen. In fact, it's working so well, we're expanding the Curriculum
Calendar to include reading, writing and science. Our ultimate goal is, by using
edClass activBooks
as exemplars, to see our teachers develop their own activities which are just as strongly tied to
our curriculum objectives."
We asked Phil about the recent trend toward developing technology curricula for students.
"Having a technology 'curriculum' is just so backwards! If we were to do this, we would go back to
the beginning again. We want to move people forward. Sure, kids need to learn technology skills,
but research shows us that these skills are best learned in the context of standards-based best
practice activities. To think of developing a technology curriculum is really a bankrupt idea
because it's not about the technology, it's about continuously improving teaching and learning."
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About SchoolKiT Solutions
edClass is a complete library of classroom-ready integration activities that improve student achievement.
edClass activities are presented as small, interactive electronic books - called activBooks - that open on
students' and teachers' computers to guide them successfully through effective curriculum-based lessons.
pd21 enables an enterprise-level approach to professional development by equipping administrators
with the online content and tools they need to provide for and manage the learning of many teachers across
multiple schools in a cohesive and systematic manner. With
pd21's ongoing professional development
resources and classroom-ready 'best-practice' curriculum activities, districts realize an immediate increase
in the amount and quality of technology infusion in their schools, while achieving continuous school improvement
and institutional change.
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