Managing Curriculum, Instruction, Managing Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment & Data in the Assessment & Data in the Information Age Information Age

Managing Curriculum, Instruction, Managing Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment & Data in the Assessment & Data in the Information Age Information Age

Linda Mora and Kelly SmithNorthside ISDSan Antonio, Texas (210) 397-8500 www.nisd.net

Texas Association of School BoardsSeptember 19, 2004

Background

The acquisition and development of a Curriculum Management System (CMS) was identified by the Division of Curriculum and Instruction and the Northside ISD 10-year Technology Master Plan as a high-priority need to facilitate standards-based teaching, learning

and assessment. To meet this need, a cross-representative team

from Curriculum and Instruction and Technology Services embarked on the "CMS Project" in February 2003.

Session Objectives

Understand the components of a comprehensive CurriculumManagement System

Understand the benefits of a Curriculum Management System

Review the Northside process for acquiring and implementing a Curriculum Management System

Know the "look fors" when purchasing a Curriculum Management system, including writing the RFP (Request for Proposal)

CMS…What is it?

A well designed Curriculum Management System (CMS) is a computer-based system that seamlessly links and aligns all teaching, learning and assessment components so that teachers and administrators are able to focus on teaching and on meeting the needs of each and every student.

CMS Facilitates Our Goal…

To increase student achievement in an environment where standards, curriculum, instructional resources, continual assessment, and staff development on research-based best practices are totally aligned.

Components of CMS

Data Warehouse Curriculum Instructional Resources Assessments In-depth, Customizable Reporting Best Practices Staff Development

Resources Internet Outreach Gradebook Component

Components of CMS

Data Warehouse– Student demographic data– Standardized test data – Benchmark data– Attendance data– Course data – Campus and staff data– Special programs and intervention data

Components of CMS

Curriculum (State, Local, National)– Standards– Goals– Objectives– Student Expectations

Components of CMS

Instructional Resources– Scope and Sequence– Calendars– Lesson Plans– Activities– Online Resources– Audio and Video Clips– Links to software, library materials, and

other resources

Components of CMS

Assessments– Various Types

State National Benchmarks

– Learner Profiles By student By question, objective, standard Across all test and years

Components of CMS

Reporting – various levels of secure access– To teachers, administrators, program

directors, parents By classroom, campus, grade level,

student groups By question, objective, standard Current and longitudinal

Components of CMS

Best Practices Staff Development– Resources to improve teaching– Audio and video clips– Workshops opportunities– Online classes– Online collaboration– Articles

Components of CMS

Internet Outreach– School and teacher web pages– Parent “portal”

Components of CMS

Gradebook Component– Linked to TEKS/Standards, allowing

multiple scales and symbols– Lesser priority, development to begin in

year two for Northside

A Curriculum Management System Can …

Seamlessly link and align all teaching, learning and assessment components so that teachers and administrators are able to focus on teaching and on meeting the needs of each and every student

Help students, parents, teachers, and administrators focus on knowledge and skills required for promotion, course completion and success on standardized tests (e.g. TAKS)

Enable the systematic collection of data pertaining to school, district, state and national standards and assessments

A Curriculum Management System Can …

Seamlessly aggregate, disaggregate and report assessment information immediately to all appropriate stakeholders

Provide all stakeholders with a standardized Web-based system for monitoring and reporting student and group progress

Allow District and campus instructional staff to analyze and interpret the data to guide decision-making and identify strengths and weaknesses in student, teacher, curriculum, program and school performance

A Curriculum Management System Can …

Facilitate curriculum design and development, lesson planning, teaching and learning, standards mastery, testing, and grading

Reduce paperwork and save time for teachers and administrators

Help teachers improve their effectiveness in the classroom

Help the District ensure that all legal requirements are met (NCLB, AEIS, IDEA, etc.)

A Curriculum Management System Can …

Streamline the benchmarking process Allow teachers to share model lesson plans and

teaching practices Help teachers customize instruction based on

student progress and individual learning needs Reduce overall printing costs Improve communication with parents Give teachers the ability to provide online

resources for students and parents

Project Development Process

Preliminary Identification of Needs and Investigation of Technology Solutions

Determination of NISD Requirements and Thorough Research of Technology Solutions

Procurement Process, including RFP and In-depth Evaluations of Solutions

Project Management and Implementation

Preliminary Identification of Needs & Investigation of Technology Solutions

Curriculum & Instruction and Technology Services formed Project Leadership Team in February 2003

Performed literature review of K-12 curriculum management systems

Published CMS Project Development Website - single repository of all information related to the project

35 staff members attended CMS Project Overview / Needs Analysis Meeting

Staff began to provide needs analysis input (content, instructional, operational) via the website

Product demonstrations held in March & April, 2003– Pearson Educational Technologies, 25 staff

members attended– Campus Online, 30 staff members attended– Edsoft, 30 staff members attended– Edmin, 19 staff members attended– SchoolNet, 18 staff members attended– Lightspan, 21 staff members attended– Edusoft, 27 staff members attended

Project Leadership Team met to debrief after each presentation, using Product Evaluation Instrument

Staff members provided feedback via the website after each presentation

Preliminary Identification of Needs & Investigation of Technology Solutions

Determination of NISD Requirements & Thorough Research of Technology Solutions

Staff explored demo sites in April and May, using trial accounts provided by vendors

CMS Needs Analysis Summary drafted – compilation of input and feedback submitted to the website and from various discussions

CMS Needs Analysis Summary discussed and refined by Project Leadership Team

Purchasing Department provided guidance in development of Request For Proposal (RFP) process to Technology Services staff

Procurement Process, including RFP and In-depth Evaluations of Solutions

RFP released June 23, 2003 Preliminary evaluation of seven proposals

conducted by Project Leadership Team in August

Semi-finalists' presentations held in October & November (SchoolNet, Campus Online, Lightspan)

Two finalists (SchoolNet, Lightspan) were invited to provide best cost and purchase options

Procurement Process, including RFP and In-depth Evaluations of Solutions

CMS concept presented to Northside Educational Improvement Council (NEIC) in December

CMS update provided to Academics and Technology Committees of the Board in joint meeting in December

Project Leadership Team made site visits to San Antonio ISD (Lightspan implementation) and Judson ISD (SchoolNet implementation)

SchoolNet named the recommended finalist in January, 2004

Procurement Process, including RFP and In-depth Evaluations of Solutions

CMS update provided to Academics Committee of the Board in February, 2004

SchoolNet made five presentations to a variety of Northside groups (Cabinet, elementary and secondary administrators, secondary department coordinators, technology staff, etc.)

Northside team made site visit to School District of Philadelphia to discuss their SchoolNet implementation in early March

Why SchoolNet?

Best meets C & I requirements Feature-rich, with more functionality

than competitors Highly customizable for NISD needs Content-neutral, “open container” Proven solution for very large school

districts (scalable) Detailed, multi-phase, realistic project

management plan

Why SchoolNet?

Highly secure and dependable technology and methodology

Moves the District toward the goal of a data warehouse

Provides Web portal components (also a District goal)

Most attractive purchase plan Stable company history with highly

qualified staff

Contractual Considerations

Bond-eligible, outright purchase Payments based on defined project

deliverables/milestones Warranty and upgrade terms Confidentiality assurance of all NISD data/

information Service Level Agreement (tier problem

resolution with identified name and contact information, email, help desk, additional technical support by phone and in person)

Disaster Recovery Plan (guaranteed uptime, on-site support staff, back-up data nightly, system back up)

Project Management and Implementation

Project Manager and Design Team (Instructional, Technical, Training, Contractual)

Weekly internal meetings Weekly phone conference with

SchoolNet Loading of historical and current

data SchoolNet continues to build the

system to our specifications

CMS Implementation Timeline

User Acceptance Testing– January, 5 to 15 days

Launch and Training– February– 125 Certified Trainers, taught by

SchoolNet District-wide Implementation

– March