TLA Blended Learning Snapshot: EdTech Procurement in Houston Released

A chalkboard with a hand writing a number of concepts related to the i-ready program for math, such as blended learning, training, and other things

The Learning Accelerator (TLA) released “TLA Blended Learning Snapshot: EdTech Procurement in Houston” (HISD), the first in their Blended Learning Snapshot Series.
This snapshot highlights HISD’s success with purchasing EdTech and is a real-world example of how to follow the recommendations found in the Smart Series Guide to EdTech Procurement.Written based on a series of interviews throughout HISD, the report captures the district’s procurement and implementation processes, including challenges and key recommendations for other districts looking into EdTech procurement.
The goal of the Snapshot series is to showcase best practices from successful blended learning implementation strategies from across the country. Seeing firsthand how Houston successfully accomplished its EdTech buying goals, provides a roadmap for other districts to follow as they implement their own blended learning programs.
To learn more download the report.
The full Press Release copied below.
The Learning Accelerator is Getting Smart Advocacy Partner.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*MEDIA CONTACT*
Jennifer Aalgaard at (206) 291-7190 or [email protected]
Kira Keane at (415) 860-5880 or [email protected]

The Learning Accelerator Releases Snapshot of EdTech Purchasing
in Houston Independent School District

New Blended Learning Snapshot Series will report on successful examples of
blended learning implementation across the United States

CUPERTINO, CA – JUNE, 3, 2014The Learning Accelerator (TLA) has released the “TLA Blended Learning Snapshot: EdTech Procurement in Houston” (HISD), the first in their Blended Learning Snapshot Series. The series captures and shares specific examples of success in key areas of blended learning implementation, such as education technology (EdTech) procurement, human capital, and others. Blended learning is an educational model that combines teacher­-led instruction in the classroom with online, mastery-based education that enables personalized learning for each student and increased effectiveness for teachers.
This snapshot highlights HISD’s success with purchasing EdTech and is a real-world example of how to follow the recommendations found in the Smart Series Guide to EdTech Procurement. The information in this snapshot is taken from a series of interviews with key leaders and stakeholders throughout HISD and captures the district’s procurement and implementation processes. The snapshot also highlights challenges HISD had to overcome and presents a list of key recommendations for other districts that are purchasing EdTech.  Interviewees included a full spectrum of staff, ranging from Houston’s Chief Technology Officer to principals at the pilot schools.
“Over the past year, EdTech purchasing mishaps often received more attention than successes,” said Daniel Owens, Partner at TLA. “HISD’s purchasing story is an excellent example of a district with a clear strategy and strong commitment to improving educational opportunities for students and staying true to learning goals throughout.”
HISD is the largest district in Texas and the seventh largest in the country and their successful strategy demonstrates that any size district, in any situation, can innovate. HISD’s leaders learned from others, took their time, supported teachers and students in the transition and effectively managed the initiative to bring EdTech devices to their students.
“Creating the conditions for long-term success before moving into key implementation decisions was critically important to our success,” said HISD Chief Information Technology Officer Lenny Schad. “We began with setting common goals, identifying funding, and securing stakeholder support as the strong foundation to move forward with this crucial transition.”
The HISD Snapshot is the first in a series of from TLA, whose goal is to showcase best practices from successful blended learning implementation strategies from across the country. Seeing firsthand how Houston successfully accomplished its EdTech buying goals allows other districts to emulate the key elements for a successful implementation of their own.
For more information and to download the full report, please visit: http://learningaccelerator.org/resources

About The Learning Accelerator
The Learning Accelerator is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming education by accelerating the implementation of high-quality blended learning in schools districts across America. Learn more at www.learningaccelerator.org. What is blended learning? Watch this brief video.

 
 

Getting Smart Staff

The Getting Smart Staff believes in learning out loud and always being an advocate for things that we are excited about. As a result, we write a lot. Do you have a story we should cover? Email [email protected]

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