#timetoinnovate

Historical events are shaping the new “normal” in the ways we learn right now. The scope of the effect is not just in one particular school district or state but global in its extent, and not just in schools but also the work place and beyond. Very quickly we have had to rethink how we can provide learning and this week’s essential question is very prescient. Facing pandemic situations and challenges, educators have had to pivot on polices around how we educate, more specifically how we educate in online and remote settings. Fortunately, many school districts have been reshaping their missions, vision and values to student centered approaches that put the learner at the helm. (Alberta Government, 2013) This gives way to policy reform and frameworks that can support a very swift move to support students and staff in the face of “shelter in place” orders. For myself working in a public sector setting is really no different as IT teams rush to support work from home scenarios through VPN access and web conferences. All of the sudden the word “Zoom” is part of everyday life for many students and employees. Having to shift so quickly has left policy makers scrambling to establish the new normalized learning approaches. Many concerns about access and security dominate the conversation as forced closures of schools have raised questions around accountability and instructional time. As I read through the Alberta Learning and Technology Policy Frame work, I was impressed with how cleanly it all fit together and how well it maps to the current events of Covid – 19. Additionally the 5 policy directions that comprise it are made up of very similar core components of high functioning business organizations e.g. strong mission statements, professional development, & innovation. The Alberta schools and Government Mission is simple but powerful: Inspiring Education through the innovative and effective use of technology in K–12 schools. Effective use of technology is being tested right now, and when things go sideways policy and procedures are the backbone of quick and professional response in crisis times. Both in the work place and in the class room what I have observed are policies that are helping with access e.g. economics of providing ways for all student to participate and remotely and safely. Professionally my contribution’s to support technology policy lately have been centered on building remote work learning & resources courses for AHFC employees and incorporating completion data of telework agreements for staff. This is really no different than what many of my peers in the class room are experiencing with shifting to online curriculum and “zoom” meetings with students. In conclusion, I really liked the Alberta schools outlook on the opportunity of optimizing technology with three key imperatives “the economic, the cognitive, and the social”. As districts and businesses scramble to draft new policies to address Covid – 19 learning scenarios using these key imperatives I believe will make the most of the opportunity we have to reshape the human learning condition.  

References:

Alberta Enterprise and Advanced Education. (2013). Highlights of the Alberta Economy 2013. Accessed 02/25/13 from http://albertacanada.com/files/ albertacanada/SP-EH_highlightsABEconomyPresentation.pdf.

At Home Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved April 16, 2020, from https://www.alaskapublic.org/education1/athomelearning/athomelearning-page/