Learning Technology Grant

Our Culminating Video, July 2021

Grant Narratrive / RFP

Section A:  Overview

Program Title: EduTech Online Learning (EOL) Program

Target Populations:

The project will include high school students and teachers.  Specifically, secondary students in the 26 school districts in Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Yates, Livingston, Genesee, and Wyoming counties. 

These districts are in the EduTech Regional Information Center; part of Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES (WFL BOCES) and serve component districts of WFL BOCES and Genesee Valley Educational Partnership (GV Educational Partnership).  The secondary students will include students with disabilities, English language learners, students from rural school districts, and students from Focus Districts. The project will also serve each district’s Online Learning Coordinator(s) with professional development, coaching, and a professional learning community.  In addition, this project will also benefit teachers from each district with professional development on blended learning.

Description of the Consortium Member:

WFL BOCES will serve as the lead applicant and the consortium includes 26 school districts:

• Attica 
• Avon
• Batavia City School Districts
• Byron-Bergen
• Caledonia-Mumford
• Clyde-Savannah
• Dansville
• Gananda
• Geneseo
• Letchworth
• Livonia
• Lyons
• Marion
• Midlakes (Phelps-Clifton Springs)
• North Rose-Wolcott
• Palmyra-Macedon
• Pavilion
• Perry
• Red Creek
• Red Jacket
• Romulus
• Seneca Falls
• Sodus
• Warsaw
• Wayland-Cohocton
• Wayne Central School Districts
•  

Many of these districts are transforming their instructional practice to personalized learning which has dramatically increased the need for blended learning.  The project will serve 9,580 students from these 26 districts and five private secondary schools, to include: eight rural districts, three focus districts, one districts with 5% or greater English Language Learners, and six districts with 15% or more students with disabilities. 

Description of Program:

The goal of this program is to offer online and blended courses to supplement districts’ personalized learning initiatives and provide high-quality, rigorous learning experiences to students of all abilities. We will do this with three main activities:

1. Develop and provide online courses to include
   • Intro to Engineering
   • Engineering Design
   • Introduction to Manufacturing
   • Computer Science
   • Foundations of Programming
   • Computer Coding
   • Digital Information Technology
   • Basic Web Design
   • C++ Programming
2. Develop and offer professional development, coaching, guided practice, and a professional learning community to school Online Learning Coordinators on facilitating blended and online learning, so that districts can build capacity to sustain and scale-up efforts to provide online/blended learning.
3. Provide blended learning professional development to district teachers. 

Challenges will include:

• Helping students gain success in a new learning model. This will include time management skills, self-regulating skills, advocacy, and collaboration.
• Modeling best practices for district staff who will act as online coordinators supporting online learners.
• Teaching classroom teachers how to be a successful blended learning teacher.

January 2021

Edutech's Learning Technology Grant was administered by Mike Morone and Heather Stonecipher of Edutech/Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES. Mike and Heather manage AccelerateU (online courses) and used this service as a vehicle for meeting the grant's goals. 

Professional development offerings within the grant were delivered by Raffaella Borasi and Dave Miller of the University of Rochester's Warner School of Education. Evaluation services were provided by staff of Laura Payne Bourcy Consulting. 

The goals of this three-year grant were to:

• expand educational opportunities through online learning
• increase the availability of online STEM courses
• increase capacity of districts to provide and support online learning

Halfway through year 2, the pandemic required us to shift activities as teachers began remote teaching. We redesigned the professional development topics, delivery methods, and eligible participants. As a result, this timely PD became popular, serving over 100 teachers. At the time of this writing, a final PD session is planned for late 2020-21, in response to suggestions from our advisory team and professional learning committee. 

We also expanded our list of online STEM courses from 9 to 38. We offered these courses in years 2 and 3, serving over 150 students in total. 

Due to lack of interest and turnover in districts, we were not as successful as we hoped in the area of increasing capacity of districts to provide/support online learning. However, there have been many bright spots with individual districts. 

In summary, we believe we achieved the goals of the grant to the extent possible. We also believe the grant's activities will lead to sustained growth in these goal areas and a strengthening of the AccelerateU program. 

Feel free to reach out to Mike or Heather for more information. 

Mike Morone, mike.morone@edutech.org
Heather Stonecipher, heather.stonecipher@edutech.org
 

---

Learning  Technology Grant Summary, Year 1 of 3
(this document will download as a Word Document) 

Learning  Technology Grant Summary, Year 2 of 3
(this document will download as a Word Document) 

Learning  Technology Grant Summary, Year 3 of 3
(this document will download as a Word Document) 

 

• Attica
• Avon
• Byron-Bergen
• Clyde-Savannah
• Gananda
• Geneseo
• LeRoy
• Livonia
• Lyons
• Marion
• Midlakes Education Center 
• Newark Education Center 
• North Rose-Wolcott
• Pavilion
• Red Jacket (Manchester-Shortsville)
• Seneca Falls 
• Sodus
• Waterloo
• Wayland-Cohocton
• Wayne
• Wayne Education Center 
  
  The following districts have opted out of participation in the grant: 
• Batavia 
• Caledonia-Mumford
• Dansville
• Midlakes (Phelps-Clifton Springs)
• Palmyra-Macedon
• Perry 
• Romulus 
• Warsaw 
• Notre Dame 
• Hillside Children's Center, Varick--CLOSED 
• Finger Lakes Christian School
• Gilead Schools 
• Genesee Country Christian School 

• 3D Modeling
• Aeronautics and Space Travel
• Animation
• AP Computer Science 
• Applied Engineering
• Artificial Intelligence 
• Augmented and Virtual Reality
• Automotive Basics 
• Biotechnology
• Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency 
• Blockchain and Cryptography
• Carpentry 
• Construction: Fundamentals and Careers 
• Cybersecurity 
• Drone Pilot Certification Course
• Drones, video-based course 
• Engineering and Technology Concepts
• Foundations of Programming 
• Game Design, Introduction
• Game Design, Creating a Game
• Introduction to Networking 
• LEED Green Associate Certification Course
• Manufacturing Introduction
• Network Security Fundamentals 
• Principals of Information Technology 
• Procedural Programming
• Python Multiplayer Adventure
• Robotics, hands on with kit
• Robotics, video-based 
• Scratch Coding
• Small Engine Repair
• Smart Cities 
• The Internet of Things and Cloud Technologies
• The History of Gaming and Esports 
• Transportation Technologies 
• Wearable Technologies 
• Welding

Final Year Course Offerings and Update
(This file will download as a PDF)

Online STEM Programming and Technology Courses Alignment 
(will download as a PDF)

Online Learning Coordinator Professional Development

Online Learning Coordinator 2-day Professional Development (docx)
(This file will download as a Word Document) 

Online Learning Coordinator Professional Development Make-up January 2020
(This file will download as a PDF)

Online Learning Coordinator Professional Development Day 1 
(This file will download as a PDF)
Online Learning Coordinator Professional Development Day 2
(This file will download as a PDF)
Online Learning Coordinator Professional Development 2 Day Planning 
(This file will download as a Word Document) 

Please click on the link above for the Professional Development description.

EduTech LTG Stipend Reimbursement Form, 2-day Online Learning Coordinator Professional Development
(This file will download as a Word Document)

---

Blended Learning Teacher Professional Development

We hosted our first Advisory Committee meeting on March 4th via Zoom.  Below are our meeting notes for reference. 

March 4, 2020

LTG Advisory Committee Meeting 1
(will download as a PDF)

Advisory Committee Follow up and Planning Correspondence
(will download as a Word Document) 

April 30, 2020

LTG Advisory Committee Meeting 2
(EduTech Broadcast Network video recording of session has been lost)

August 26, 2020

LTG Advisory Committee Meeting 3
(notes will download as a PDF)

September 17 ,2020
Postponed meeting until October 15th, due to many schedule conflicts with the start of the school year and many new protocols/procedures for districts. 

October 15, 2020

LTG Advisory Committee Meeting 4
(EduTech Broadcast Network video recording of session has been lost)

Further Advisory Group meetings did not occur formally. Members were too preoccupied with the demands of teaching in a pandemic situation. We did consult with UR (professional development partner) and Laura Payne Bourcy (evaluator) on various issues, as well as individual Advisory Group members from time to time. 

 

As part of the Learning Technology Grant, we have partnered with University of Rochester, Warner School of Education to provide ten local teachers the opportunity to participate in a free course.  Teachers from eight different school districts will be participating in EDE484A, Digitally-Rich Teaching and Learning in K-12 Schools.  

Through their work in EDE484A, Digitally-Rich Teaching and Learning in K-12 Schools, these teachers will also make up our Professional Learning Community.  They will not only meet for class, but they will also meet for a monthly PLC meeting to discuss best practices in online teaching and learning.  

The EDE484A, Digitally-Rich Teaching and Learning in K-12 Schools course will be running in Spring 2020.  

Syllabus for EDE484A
(will download as a PDF)

Resources from students in EDE484A

App Slam Examples 
(will download as a Word Document)

Concept Maps
(will download as a Word Document)

Lesson Planning Template 1
(will download as a Word Document)

Lesson Planning Template 2
(will download as a Word Document)

Final Reflection Example
(will download as a Word Document)

 

We kicked off our Professional Learning Community on March 26, 2020. 

Our first meeting was hosted by Dave Miller, from the University of Rochester, and members of our LTG grant and his EDE484A course.  The conversation was rich and many great topics and ideas were discussed.  The group compiled a wish list of topics they would like to see covered in our PLC over the next year.  That list is linked below. 

Professional Learning Community Wish List 
(will download as a PDF)

Professional Learning Community Meeting 2-- June 23, 2020
(notes will download as a PDF)

Due to the current situation of our schools and education, we decided to postpone our August 17, 2020 PLC meeting to mid-September.  Please see the notes from the facilitators meeting held July 28, 2020. 

PLC Facilitator Meeting Notes--July 28, 2020
(notes will download as a PDF)

Professional Learning Community Meeting 3--September 25, 2020
We postponed our September meeting in lieu of teacher schedule conflicts.  Please see above notes for the facilitator meeting notes. 
(notes will download as a PDF)

Professional Learning Community Asynchronous Meeting Notes--October 2020
(will download as a PDF) 

PLC Facilitator Meeting Notes--October 29, 2020
(will download as a PDF)

Final Performance Report Year 1
(will download as a PDF)

Final Performance Report Year 2
(will download as a PDF)

Interim Progress Report, Year 3 (February 2021). Final report: September 2021
(will download as a PDF)

Year 1

Evaluation Plan and Related Resources 
(will download as a Word Document)

The link below contains our evaluation for our 2 day Online Learning Coordinator Professional Development 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H53RBPR

Results from 2 day Online Learning Coordinator Professional Development
(will download as a PDF)

The link below contains our evaluation for our 4 hour Digitally-Rich Teaching "Awareness" Professional Development 

ttps://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7PWLZXG

Results from 4 hour Digitally-Rich Teaching "Awareness" Professional Development 
(will download as a PDF)

The link below contains our evaluation for our Leveraging Online Technologies for Remote Teaching Professional Development

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XL9JJ8F

---

Year 2

Enrollments Year 2; 2019-2020
(will download as a PDF)

Pre-Course Evaluation
The link below contains our pre-course evaluation for our LTG online learning students.  This evaluation helps us understand students current comfort with online learning.  

Student Pre-Course Survey Instrument 
(will download as a PDF) 

Results from Student Pre-Course Assessment Evaluation
(will download as a PDF)

Post-Course Evaluation
The link below contains our post-course evaluation for our LTG online learning students.  This evaluation will help us assess student success/failure in their online courses. 

Student Post-Course Survey Instrument 
(will download as a PDF) 

Results from Student Post-Course Assessment Evaluation
(will download as a PDF)

Online Coaching Logs
(Link to a Google Sheet)

---

Leveraging Online Technologies for Remote Learning

Leveraging Online Technologies for Remote Learning Survey Instrument 
(will download as a PDF) 

Leveraging Online Technologies for Remote Learning Summary Report
(will download as a PDF) 

---

Year 2 Summaries/Findings 

Learning Brief--WFL BOCES LTG Pre/Post Survey Summary Findings
(will download as a PDF)

Learning Brief--WFL BOCES LTG Completion Data and Coaching Logs Findings
(will download as a PDF)

Learning Brief--WLF BOCES LTG Predictive Variable--Success in Online Instructional Formats 
(will download as a PDF) 

---

Year 3

Pre-Course Evaluation
The link below contains our pre-course evaluation for our LTG online learning students.  This evaluation helps us understand students current comfort with online learning.  

Student Pre-Course Survey Instrument 

Post-Course Evaluation
The link below contains our post-course evaluation for our LTG online learning students.  This evaluation will help us assess student success/failure in their online courses. 

Student Post-Course Completion Survey
Student Post-Course Drop Survey

Online Learning Coordinator Survey
This survey was sent to ALL current active Online Learning Coordinators who are currently working with AccelerateU and student in their districts to determine how we can improve our program overall. 

Online Learning Coordinator Survey 

Online Course Needs Assessment Survey

Student Pre-Post Dropped Survey Summary of Findings

Online Learning Coordinator Survey Summary of Findings

EduTech: Student Survey - Pre-Course Assessment Evaluation Summary Results - December 2020

Grant Planning Meeting Documentation 
(will download as a Word Document)

School Visit Assignments
(will download as a Word Document)

Course Modification Documentation
(will download as a PDF)

August 2019 Updated Information
(will download as a Word Document)

Year 1 Annual Report
(will download as a PDF)

Year 2 Interim Report
(will download as a PDF)

Edutech/AccelerateU staff members Heather Stonecipher and Mike Morone have been involved in three NYSED grants.  

Together, they manage AccelerateU, the first BOCES-run online learning program in New York State.  

They are anxious to help other grantees or potential grantees by sharing their experiences.   

Feel free to reach them at heather.stonecipher@edutech.org and mike.morone@edutech.org.  

Below is a list of partners, all of which we highly recommend for your grant opportunities.  
 

Our grant writer 
Christopher Semler, MBA, PMP 
https://organizationalharmony.org/ 
585 200-2568 

Our grant evaluator (MWBE Organization) 
Laura Payne Bourcy Consultants 
http://lpbconsulting.org/ 
585 703-4733 
Laura Payne Bourcy 
Kelly Masters 

Professional development partners 
University of Rochester Warner School 
Dave Miller 
Raffaella Borasi 

Our program evaluator 
Dave Schmidt 
703 999-6879 
Vality, Inc.  
https://www.vality.us/   

LTG_Chromebook_Distribution_Summary.pdf