writing policy to support the 21st century student: a policy advocacy document

100 Pages·2017·1.43 MB·English

National Louis University
Digital Commons@NLU
Dissertations
12-2016
GOING 1:1- WRITING POLICY TO
SUPPORT THE 21ST CENTURY STUDENT:
A POLICY ADVOCACY DOCUMENT
Tracey K. Landry
National Louis University
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GOING 1:1
WRITING POLICY TO SUPPORT THE 21ST CENTURY STUDENT:
A POLICY ADVOCACY DOCUMENT

Tracey K. Landry
Educational Leadership Doctoral Program

Submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements of
Doctor of Education
In the Foster G. McGaw Graduate School

National College of Education
National Louis University
December, 2016

ABSTRACT
In an effort to prepare its graduates with the 21st century skills of problem solving,
collaboration, technology savvy, creativity, and information literacy and to close the
learning gaps between students who have access to technology and those who don’t, this
study proposes that District 123 create a policy to support a 1:1 Chromebook initiative.
Using Browder’s needs analysis model, the impact of a 1:1 program is analyzed through
the educational, social, political, economic and moral frames (Browder, 1995). It is
determined that a 1:1 program can transform teaching and learning by giving equal
access to technology, by incorporating student-driven and inquiry-based lessons that
challenge students to meaningfully utilize resources outside the classroom walls and
contribute their voice to the digital sphere. This transition requires significant human and
financial capital, as well as careful planning, professional development, curricular and
classroom modifications and thoughtful assessment mechanisms. A proposed budget and
an assessment plan is included in the study.

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PREFACE: LEADERSHIP LESSONS LEARNED
In the process of leading a transition to a 1:1 Chromebook program, I learned
many important leadership lessons about the planning and implementation of policy.
Development of a common vision, negotiation and compromise, adherence to core
beliefs, implementation of small-scale pilots, careful data collection and analysis,
inclusion of stakeholder voice, and planned assessment mechanisms all proved to be
important components of 1:1 policy development.
When developing a new policy or program, a shared vision and common priorities
amongst district and building leadership is essential. District 123 initially suffered from a
divided administrative team regarding 1:1 technology. While many of the district and
building staff were in support of implementing a 1:1 Chromebook model, not all District
leaders were sold on the importance of 1:1 technology, one leader referring to computers
as “thousand dollar pencils”. Others were concerned much more with the financial
implications of the program than the instructional ones. As a result, those of us fighting
to implement this technology faced an internal uphill battle. But, by never wavering in
our belief that access to technology is best for our students, and sharing the pilot
participant feedback with our Board of Education, we eventually gained support to
implement such a program. This success would not have been possible, however,
without compromises from those on both sides of the 1:1 debate. For example, while the
1:1 model was ultimately adopted by the District, the financial model used to fund the
initiative was not the recommended one.
Because our community has one of the highest property tax rates in the area, I was
acutely aware that any additional fees would be unwelcome. As a result, and to
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demonstrate the value we place on a 1:1 technology model, the 1:1 committee
recommended the district contribute a small about toward the cost of each device.
However, that recommendation was not accepted, with District leaders instead opting to
pass 100% of the cost on to the families. The result was an increase of $95.00 to the
existing annual yearly registration fee. While those who finalized the financial structure
did not attend the parent informational meetings to review this fee increase, I did attend,
and felt the brunt of community displeasure. Nevertheless, this compromise was needed
to make 1:1 a reality for the students of District 123.
The collection and analysis of data also proved important during all stages of the
1:1 planning. During the two-year process of investigation, my team ran two pilots
across both buildings in the district. In both cases, we collected survey data from parents,
students, and teachers about the successes and challenges of a 1:1 model and shared the
analysis with the administrative team and with the Board of Education. The data was
overwhelmingly positive and helped demonstrate the urgency of getting widespread
access to our school community. We also filmed student and teacher responses to
questions about the 1:1 pilot and had all the pilot teachers present their experiences at a
public Board of Education meeting. No doubt, this information was crucial to gaining the
support of our elected Board Members and that of our superintendent.
When writing a policy which supports a 1:1 program, clarity on the goals of the
program, the expenditures on professional development, and the methods by which to
assess the success of the initiative must be included. In this way, all parties are aware of
the expectations of the program and the methods by which its impact will be determined.
To support policy, and supports its systematic implementation, procedural documents
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should construct parameters and guidelines for implementation. An assessment matrix is
included in the study for that purpose.
Through this process, I learned that the development of a common vision, the
need for compromise while adhering to core beliefs, and the use of data to reveal needs
and measure effectiveness are essential components of writing school policy.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT………………………………………………………….……………………i
PREFACE: LEADERSHIP LESSONS LEARNED…...………………………….……...ii
Table of Contents………………………………………………………………….………v
List of Tables...………………………………………………………….…………...….viii
List of Figures..………………………………………………………………….….…….ix
SECTION ONE: VISION STATEMENT..........……………………….………...…....….1
Awareness of Need for the Policy….………………………….…………...……..1
Critical Issues…………………………………………………….………...……...2
21st Century Skills……………………………………….………...………3
Equity and Access……………………………………….………...............3
Professional Development…………………………….………...………...4
Policy Recommendation and Envisioned Effect…………….………………….…4
SECTION TWO: NEEDS ANALYSIS………………………………………….….…….6
Educational Analysis…………………………………….……………...…….…..6
Impact on Student Achievement…………………………………….…….8
Professional Development………………………………………………...9
Economic Analysis……………………………………………………...……….12
Economic Trends………………………………………………...………16
Social Analysis…………………………………………………………………...19
Background……………………………………………………...……….19
Digital Citizenship………………………………..…………...…………20
Political Analysis……………………………………………………...………....24
Moral and Ethical Analysis…………………………………………………...….26
SECTION THREE: ADVOCATED POLICY STATEMENT…………………………..29
Policy Goals and Objective…………………………………………………..…..29
Needs, Values, Preferences Represented………………………..…………...…..30
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Access……………………………………………………….……...……31
Integration……………………………………………………..……...….33
Objectives are Appropriate and Good……………...………………..………...…34
SECTION FOUR: POLICY ARGUMENT…………………………………........…..….35
Arguments for 1:1 Policies……………………………………………………….35
Counterarguments against 1:1 Policies…………………………………………..37
SECTION FIVE: POLICY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN………………………………40
Background………………………………………………………………………40
Early Technology Expansion…………………………………………….41
Gaining Support From Veteran District Leaders……………………...…41
Launching a Pilot…………………………………………………..….…42
Expanding the Pilot…………………………………………………....…43
1:1 Budget Models…………………………………………………....….44
Developing a Common Vision…………………………………………….…..…45
Adult Learning………………………………………………………………..….46
Student Learning………………………………………………………………....47
Time Schedules………………………………………………………………..…48
Program Budgets……………………………………………………….…….…..48
New Staff………………………………………………………….……..49
New Software…………………………………………………………….50
New Hardware and Accessories…………………………………..……..50
Furniture and Classroom Set-up…………………………………..……..51
Contribution to Student Chromebooks…………………………….…….51
Summary…………………………………………………………………...…….51
SECTION SIX: POLICY ASSESSMENT PLAN………………………………….……53
Expected Results of the Policy…………………………………………….…….53
Areas to be Assessed……………………………………………………………..54
Effectiveness of the Device ...…………………………………...………54
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Technology Support………....…………………………………..….……55
Student Achievement…………………………………………………….55
Classroom Environment…………………………….……………………56
Cost Sustainability……………………………………………………….57
School Culture and Climate……………………………………………...58
Student Perceptions………………………………………………………58
Curricular Implications..…………………………………………………58
Teacher Training…………………………………………………………59
Community Perceptions………………………………………………….60
SECTION SEVEN: SUMMARY IMPACT STATEMENT………………………...…..61
Impact on Stakeholders..……………………………………………………...….61
Students……………………………………………………………..……62
Teachers…………………………………………………………….……62
Administrators………………………………………………….….……..64
Families and Community Members…………………………….………..64
Appropriateness of the Policy and Values Addressed………….………………..65
References…………………………………………………………………………….….68
Appendix A………………………………………………………………………………75
Student Survey……………………………………………………………..…….75
Appendix B………………………………………………………………………………82
Existing BYOD Policy…………………………………………………...………82
Appendix C………………………………………………………………………...…….84
Assessment Matrix…………………………………………………………...…..84
Appendix D………………………………………………………………………………87
Webb’s Depth of Knowledge Chart………………………………………...……87

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