Thursday Thoughts: A Little More about LoTI

What is LoTI? What was the intent of the LoTI survey?  What is going to happen with my results?   

These questions are just a few that popped up at yesterday's building meeting. I hope the answers will help clarify some of the confusion, as well as open up a line of constructive dialogue about what teaching and learning looks like at Emerson, and how technology can best support both.  

What is LoTI?

According to the LoTI Website...

 "The Levels of Teaching Innovation (LoTi®) Framework was first conceptualized by Dr. Chris Moersch in 1994 as a research tool to assess authentic classroom technology use. Several iterations later, the original LoTi® Framework has transformed into a conceptual model to measure classroom teachers implementation of the tenets of digital-age literacy as manifested in the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T). The LoTi® Framework focuses on the delicate balance between instruction, assessment, and the effective use of digital tools and resources to promote higher order thinking, engaged student learning, and authentic assessment practices in the classroom--all vital characteristics of 21st Century teaching and learning."

What was the intent of the LoTI survey?
The survey questions are designed to create a digital-age professional development plan based on the LoTI framework and NETS-T developed and supported by ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education). I realize that the survey questions were a lot to digest and process, especially at 3:30 during a jammed-packed building meeting.  To help visualize what the survey was asking, I created a Word Cloud from all of the questions on the survey.  If you notice, the three major themes are students, digital tools, and learning. 

Those of you who have used Wordle before to create word clouds may remember that the size of a word is based on how often it is used, but the arrangement of the words is completely random.  However, I think the arrangement of this word cloud speaks to the intent of the survey, as well as that of  TIC (Technology Implementation Committee) and the ITCs who chose this survey to gather information.  Students are in the center of our minds, and the single largest influence on any decision that is made.  The digital tool's main purpose is to support the students in their own learning.   As you all have heard me say over and over again, it is not about the stuff.  It is what we chose to do with it that can either enhance or detract from student learning.  My mission always is and will be to work with you to impact student learning in a way that is meaningful and student-centered.

If you were left feeling confused or just want a reminder about the LoTI survey, check out this user-friendly LoTI "Sniff Test". It contains the 7 Levels of Teaching Innovation and a quick "cheat sheet" to finding your level.  Please remember, no one (even your ITC) is expected to be at the highest level of innovation.  The goal is to have you know where you are at, and hopefully find ways to help you achieve the next level.


What is going to happen with my results?
School and District data will be used by TIC (Technology Implementation Committee) and the ITCs to help guide professional development this year.  I also hope to be sharing these results with the staff soon. The plan is to administer the survey again in the spring for comparison data.  This data will be one of many pieces used to assess technology implementation in the district. 

The individual results are yours to reflect on and use as you see fit. I know that my own results gave me plenty of food for thought, as well as a few goals for my own professional growth this year.   If you are interested in digging deeper or still have questions, I encourage you to see me. We can work together to translate some of the survey's "standards speak", make a goal based on your results, and plan how I can best support you.

To access your LoTI results, click here for Log-in information.

Thursday Thoughts: Taking Risks

Is it a coincidence that this quote showed up on my Facebook wall after coming home from watching many of our Emerson alums perform at the Maine South musical today?   It was quite the experience to see these kids we knew all grown up and fearlessly performing on stage.  It also reminded me of something I had noticed previously from the Student Technology Survey results.

When asked how often they are asked to do the following things at school:
    83% of our students said they were always or often able to problem-solve.
    80% of our students said they were always or often able to be creative.  
    76% of our students said they were always or often able to collaborate with peers.
    48% of our students said they were always or often able to take risks.

I'm not sure if the kids were giving us the answers that they think we want or if this is how they truly view what is happening in the classroom.  Either way, it revealed that we have an opportunity to show students the value of taking risks in their learning even if the "right answer" isn't guaranteed.

Personally, I have learned a lot about the benefits of positive risk-taking this year.  Every time I suggest a new idea for your classroom or vice versa, you are asked to take a leap.  While there have been many ups and downs, I have tried my best to have the successes outweigh the failures and appreciate your willingness to always keep trying.

With all this in mind, take a moment and think about what you would attempt in your classroom with technology if you knew you could not fail* Feel free to let me know what I can do to help make your answer a reality.

-If you want to experience a little "Where are they now?," stop by the LRC to check out the "Legally Blonde" program.  As you know, the musical itself is playing this weekend if you want to see it first hand.

-If you want more information about the Student Technology Survey, it was part of the April 8 BATC Report to the Board found here.

*My answer was starting this blog since I am not nearly brave or talented enough to sing on stage like our former students.