Innovation Plan Proposal

​​Dear Mansfield ISD Board of Trustees and School Board,

 

Currently, students in elementary schools are expected to work the same hours as adults.  Get up early, go to school for 8 hours, return from school, and continue to work on homework.  Many students struggle with waking up early, being on time, and being prepared, oftentimes due to reasons beyond their control. When students are lacking these things, negative behaviors occur within the classroom.  Overcrowding in the classrooms has led to students not receiving quality time with teachers to fill gaps in their learning.  Other debilitating factors exist within the classroom, such as lack of motivation, little or no support, learning disorders, quality of implementation, and non-relevance. Social adaptability and personality also play a significant role in the current educational paradigm. Cumulatively or individually, these factors can lead to a negative impact on their academic journey.  

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What if there was a way to circumvent these obstacles?  A solution that gives students meaningful ownership of their education while creating independence and personalized learning.  Students can achieve this by introducing a blended learning model into the district.  The model that our district will focus on is the Enriched Virtual Model.  By implementing this hybrid model, students will take control of their learning and monitor their progress. 

 

Here are the essentials to pilot this program.

• We will start by conducting a survey to evaluate various points, such as how many interested students we have, their technology needs, transportation needs, nutrition needs, etc. 

• Choose one out of the 25 elementary schools for the pilot program. 

• Students can opt out of the program and continue with a traditional classroom environment.

• The teachers selected will be highly qualified to lead the program. They will receive continuous professional development and collaborate with colleagues to discuss student data.

• Adopt a curriculum designed for successful hybrid learning that is accessible for parents and students to implement outside the classroom. 

• Students are issued technology devices, either an iPad for kindergarten through 1st graders or Chromebooks for 2nd through 4th graders. Students will also be issued mobile hotspots if they do not have home internet access. 

 

The hybrid model will focus on elementary students in the classroom on Tuesdays and Thursdays; the other days will be remote learning.  However, the students will still have access to their teachers on remote days.  Teachers will have virtual drop-in office hours so students can reach out for assistance.  Students' learning will be captured in digital formats for quick sharing with teachers using apps such as Google Classroom, Seesaw, and Classlink. 

 

The best part about the plan is the budget.  Since students already have district-issued iPads and Chromebooks for in-person learning, these devices will transfer from school use to home use at no additional cost to the district.  The only extra cost will be the mobile hotspots for students needing them.  This need will be based on a parent survey with a question regarding home internet.  If the parent marks that they do not have a home internet provider, a district-issued hot spot will be available for them.   For the pilot program, we will survey the total number of mobile hot spots needed, but we anticipate that number will be low.  Next, who will assist those at home with technology issues.  Since Mansfield ISD already has campus technicians, a new position will become available solely for "blended learning."  They will be available during regular MISD hours and have office hours for students to make an appointment and bring their device in for service.  A teacher from each grade level will go from in-person learning to blended learning.  No new teachers will need to be hired for this position.  Current teachers will be trained according to the modified curriculum. 

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Additionally, losing funding for students not in the classroom will not be an issue. Texas Virtual School Network through TEA states that independent school districts earn funding for a student enrolled in courses offered through the TXVSN OLS program in the same manner that the school earns funding for a student enrolled in a traditional classroom setting, provided that the student successfully completes the courses.  Worried about a student's attendance and not turning their work in, if they are not complying with the Enriched Blended Learning rules, the student will have to return to in-person learning. 

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The most significant incentives parents can take from this program are having a hands-on approach to their student's learning and transparency of what knowledge the district provides to their elementary students. Another added benefit is spending quality time with their student in the comfort of their home.  Snow days or bad weather won't stand a chance against the Enriched Virtual Model!  I’m excited to hear your questions and concerns regarding the pilot program.  Empowering our learners to become independent in their education will set a course for success in their educational journey and make it more widely available to students of various backgrounds. With a personalized learning approach, they will be the first in a long line of students to push boundaries into a new blended learning environment.  Link to ePortfolio.

 

Sincerely,

Cristy Silkin