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iLearnNYC

What is the iZone?Schools in the iZone are focused on meeting the needs, motivations and strengths of every student. The Innovation

Zone (iZone) is a community of innovative New York City schools committed to personalizing learning. By meeting the

needs, motivations and strengths of each child, students will be better prepared for success in K-12, college and

career. Across the iZone, schools achieve personalization in a variety of ways based on which ideas, technology, and

tools work best for their school community.

What is iLearnNYC?

iLearnNYC is an initiative to support schools in the implementation of online and blended learning models.Blended learning refers to some combination of online and in classroom instruction. Successful blended learning

requires an intentional and integrated approach, the methods of which depend upon the needs of the students

and the school. Online learning consists of students and teachers leveraging online and digital resources, including

our online learning platform, to personalize instruction.What might you see in an iLearnNYC school?Personalized Instruction

Teachers can now manage personalized learningwith online resources tailored to each students

optimal learning style and pace.Expanded Opportunities

Students can get access to courses not currently taught in their schools such as Advanced

Placement, world languages, or credit recovery

Increased Flexibility

Students can complete their work anywhere, anytime, from any computer with Internet access,

allowing for increased learning time and opportunities.

Ensuring that Innovations Work for Students

iZone is committed to understanding what innovations work best for students. The iZone research team

will look at how the innovations impact on student achievement data, such as Regents scores, grades, AP

performance, NYS test performance, and graduation rates. The iZone will also assess the impact of theinnovations metrics that have been linked to college and career success, such as motivation, engagement,

self-regulated learning, and cognitive traits.These analyses will be utilized by schools and iZone staff to

consistently improve the school experience for students.

For more information, visit the iZone website:http://schools.nyc.gov/iZone

http://schools.nyc.gov/iZonehttp://schools.nyc.gov/iZone

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What is the iZone?

Schools in the iZone are focused on meeting the needs, motivations and strengths of every student. The

Innovation Zone (iZone) is a community of innovative New York City schools committed to personalizing

learning. By meeting the needs, motivations and strengths of each child, students will be better prepared

for success in K-12, college and career. Across the iZone, schools achieve personalization in a variety of

ways based on which ideas, technology, and tools work best for their school community.

What is iZone360?

iZone360 is an iZone initiative. Through iZone360, schools are reorganizing all aspects of their school,

including budgets, staff, space, instruction, scheduling, and technology, around meeting the needs of

individual students.

Through a rigorous application process, iZone360 selected 26 schools to join its inaugural cohort which will

begin in Fall 2012. Schools were selected based on their proven commitment to personalizing learning for

their students.

What might you see in an iZone360 school?

Personalized learning tailored to each student

Curriculum and assessments are aligned to college and career readiness standards and students

receive credit by mastering concepts rather than for time simply spent in the classroom.

Students work in ways that best suit their learning style, such as one-on-one with a teacher, in small

groups, in teacher-led online environments, or through internships.

Real-time data is used to support each student, evaluating their level at the start and charting their

progress, so teachers may provide extra help, or new challenging opportunities, as needed.

Increased collaboration between students, teachers and parents

Teachers have more time to plan lessons alone and with fellow educators so they can identify and

address each students needs.

Through peer to peer learning, children who have mastered new information coach their peers,

fostering leadership and socialization skills.Parents are actively engaged around their students academic goals and are given the resources to

monitor their students progress and help their child succeed.

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Access to a wide range of resources

Partnerships: Support from worldwide experts that have proven personalization leads to greater

student success. They include New Tech Network, Generation Schools, the Buck Institute,

Kunskapsskolan, Reinventing Schools Coalition (RISC), Eskolta and more.

iLearnNYC: Access to a complementary iZone initiative called iLearnNYC which leverages online and

blended learning tools to personalize learning. Additional courses, including college-level, credit

recovery, elective, and language courses, are offered using digital resources, with the guidance and

support of a classroom teacher.

Innovation Coaches: Support of designated coach to help schools implement the unique

combination of resources it has designed.

Policy Support: Support of iZone staff who help create a policies that allow schools to innovate and

better meet student needs.

Teachers Supports: Access to multiple professional development opportunities that enable

teachers to effectively use new tools and strategies that personalize learning. Technology: Schools

have access to additional technology resources (hardware and software) that facilitate persnalized

learning.

Ensuring that Innovations Work for Students

iZoneis committed to understanding what innovations work

best for students. The iZone research team will look at how

the innovations impact on student achievement data, such

as Regents scores, grades, AP performance, NYS test

performance, and graduation rates. The iZone will also

assess the impact of the innovations metrics that have been

linked to college and career success, such as:

motivation,

engagement,

self-regulated learning, and

cognitive traits

These analyses will be utilized by schools and iZone staff to

consistently improve the school experience for students.

Where can I find more information on the iZone?

http://schools.nyc.gov/iZone

By acknowledging that different

students learn at different rates

and attending to those differences

as part of the educational

endeavor, we can ensure equal

opportunity by customizing

appropriately without sacrificing

high expectations.

-Nicholas C. Donohue, President

and CEO, Nellie Mae Education

http://schools.nyc.gov/iZonehttp://schools.nyc.gov/iZonehttp://schools.nyc.gov/iZone

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The iLearnNYC PartnershipMission: iLearnNYC, an iZone initiative, expands access to high quality online and blended learning opportunities

to meet the needs of individual students, thus increasing student achievement.

Expectations of Schools

Expansion of iLearnNYC Schools

iLearnNYC will accept up to 175 more schools for School Year 2012-2013.

All schools will be eligible to apply.

The application process will begin in late Fall with information sessions

beginning in late September. Details forthcoming.

Supports from Office of Innovation

iLearnNYC Platform iLearnNYC schools have access to a state-of-the-art online and

blended learning platform that aggregates content from 14 vendors,allows for authoring of online content, and facilitates cross-schoolcollaboration around instruction and best practices.

Implementation Managers

The Implementation Manager (IM) will help ensure successful

implementation by providing leadership, support, and guidance foriLearnNYC schools as they develop and undertake theirimplementation plans.

Professional Development iLearnNYC provides schools with professional development based on

individual school need assuring school leaders, teachers and staff areequipped to effectively use online and blended learning to increasestudent achievement.

School Readiness

iLearnNYC schools receive the hardware and infrastructure requiredfor teachers, staff, and students to participate in the online andblended courses. This includes improvements to bandwidth, wireless,and electrical upgrades, based upon the schools iLearnNYCenrollment allocations.

Technical Support iZone manages a 24/7 Help Desk to provide support with content,

platform, hardware, and network connectivity issues that would havean effect on the iLearnNYC program.

Digital Curriculum and Content

A marketplace of fourteen vendors providing courses andsupplemental resources aligned to the Common Core and NYSStandards.

Collaborative, Online Portal

All members of the iZone will be invited to join a collaborative, onlineportal to share information across and within schools in Fall 2011.

Policy iZone has successfully advocated for credit accumulation based on

online content and for freeing up textbook funding for digital learningresources. The iZone continues to strategize and advocate on behalfof schools to allow them to operate in a more flexible instructionalenvironment.

Commitment

Schools will develop and execute a plan for using online and blended

learning to personalize learning and increase student achievement.

iLearnNYC schools will work with their CFN to integrate iZone

gorals with DOE instructional expectations.

Based on the schools professional development needs, school staff

will attend opportunities put forth by iZone.Collaboration & Communication

Schools will actively participate in ongoing opportunities to

collaborate with Implementation Managers and other iLearnNYC

schools.

Schools will engage families and the community to better

understand and support the implementation of iLearnNYC.

Schools will contribute to the iZone and wider DOE community by

sharing school practices, successes, challenges, and problems of

practice.

Resources

iLearnNYC schools will provide a dedicated school-based technician

who will support iLearnNYC technical and maintenance matters

alongside iZones full-time technicians and Implementation

Managers.

Research Schools will reflect, share, and take part in research by participating

in studies administered by iZone. Details forthcoming.

Schools will monitor student, teacher and program performance and

complete an internal program evaluation with support of the

iLearnNYC Implementation Manager and the Network.

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The iZone360 PartnershipMission: iZone360, an iZone initiative, works to foster a community of schools who both individually and

collectively develop school structures around the needs, strengths, and motivations of individual students.

Network

Collaboration iZone360 schools in each network will have opportunities to collaborate

and share and reflect on implementation.

Innovation Coaches (iCoach) The iCoach will help further the iZone vision by providing

leadership, support, and guidance for iZone360 schools as they implement their future-state

designs.

Funds Each iZone360 school has funds to support teacher teams who are leading iZone

work through per session, per diem and training rate.

Computers, carts & printers The first installment of each schools tech hardware will be in

place for 2011-12 school year to better support personalization.

hool-to-School

Innovation Lab Sites iZone teachers and principals interested in collaborating on similarinnovations will have opportunities to do so with schools from both within and acrossnetworks. Schools interested in working as a Lab Site will receive a stipend for theircommitment. Details forthcoming.

Collaborative, Online Portal All members of the iZone will be invited to join a collaborative,online portal to share information across and within schools in Fall 2011.

artnerships

Design Partnerships Design Partners offer customized consultation and products tosupport the creation and implementation of each schools future-state design. Partners willcontinue providing support through the end of November when contracts are up forrenewal. There will be an opportunity this Fall to re-calibrate partnerships for 2012support.

Component Partnerships and Tools Component Partners, including iLearnNYC provideconsultation, professional development and innovation products aligned to one or more ofthe iZonedesign principles.

olicy Supports

Online Credit accumulation - After 18 months of advocacy, the State Education Departmenthas now allowed for credit to be obtained for online coursework

NYSTL - textbook funds are now freed up to fund instructional technology

Seat Time Waiver DOE submitted a waiver with four other NYS cities to allow credit

accumulation based on mastery, not seat time. Awaiting decision.

The iZone is continuing to strategize and advocate on behalf of schools to allow them tooperate in a more flexible instructional environment.

iZone360 Vision of Personalized, Mastery-Based Learning for Each Student

Aligning Practice iZone360 schools will work with their CFN to integrate iZon

with DOE instructional expectations (Common Core and Teacher Effectiveness)

school accountability systems (PPR & CEP).

Assessing Practice iZone360 schools will use the iZone Framework (SCLI) and

future-state designs themselves as a self-accountability tool for their progress to

personalized, mastery-based learning.

Developing Practice In order to rapidly accelerate high school, college and care

readiness, iZone360 schools will transform practices and structures in order to

school around a personalized, mastery-based learning experience for all studen

Community

Collaboration Schools will actively participate in ongoing opportunities to coll

with their Innovation Coach, Partners, and other iZone360 schools (within and/

across network).

Contributions Schools will contribute to the iZone and wider DOE community

sharing school practices, successes, challenges, and problems of practice.

Communication Schools will provide opportunities for families and school

communities to engage with the iZone vision.

Research

Reflection Share artifacts and documentation to assess the level to which your

is working to personalize school for its students. Schools will be required to col

share artifacts of implementation and works in progress at some point during th

Outcomes Research- All iZone schools are asked to participate in research by h

students and teachers complete pre and post surveys in t he Fall and again in the

Additionally, the research office will conduct focus i nterviews with teachers ove

course of the year. Details forthcoming.

Supports from Office of Innovation Expectations of Schools

Expansion of iZone360 Schools

iZone360 will accept up to 25 more schools for School Year 2012-2013.

Schools within existing Innovation Networks, as well as other interested schools/networks can apply.

The application process will begin in late Fall with information sessions beginning in late September. Details forthcoming

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iZone: Frequently Asked

Questions

Overview

What is the iZone?

The Innovation Zone (iZone) is a community of

innovative New York City schools committed to

personalizing learning to meet the needs, motivations

and strengths of individual students.

How are schools being innovative?

With these principles as a foundation, iZone schools

select one or more strategies that allow them to

design certain classrooms, grades or even the entire

school around individual students:

iZone360:Redesigning the whole school, includingbudgets, staff, space, scheduling, instruction and

technology, around needs, motivations and strengths

of individual students.

iLearnNYC: Flexibly meeting the needs of individualstudents through online and blended learning.

InnovateNYC:Piloting, evaluating and scalinginnovations that meet school needs and accelerate

student learning.How is the iZone funded?

iZone support to schools is primarily funded by

Federal Race to the Top funds and private funds from

Google, Cisco, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and

Ford Foundation. The Department of Education is

investing in all schools' technology infrastructure,

increasing network bandwidth and access to

computers so that students can access rich, 21st

century learning opportunities.

How does the iZone measure success?

The iZone will gauge success based on:

creating an environment that allows forinnovation,

organizing school practice and resources to enablepersonalization and,

increasing student achievement and college andcareer readiness.

What schools are eligible to join the iZone?

All schools are eligible to apply. Selection is based

primarily on a school's vision and commitment topersonalizing learning. To apply, Principals should

speak with their network leaders or email

innovation@schools.nyc.govto learn more.

Why aren't all schools iZone schools?

The Department of Education is consistently creating a

wide range of learning experiences and options that

prepare students for college and career in a setting

where they learn best. Schools in the iZone are all

dedicated to designing, implementing and evaluating

new school models rooted in personalization. For

school year 2010-2011, 81 schools across all five

boroughs of New York City joined the iZone

community. And in school year 2011-2012, that

number will more than double to over 160 schools. By

2014, the iZone community will grow to 400 schools.

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What are the core design principles at the

core of iZone Innovations?

Globally Competitive Standards Student learning

outcomes are aligned to rigorous standards and

assessments, such as the Common Core, that definethe knowledge, skills and habits of mind graduates

need to be successful in college and career.

Competency Based Learning and Assessment

Students advance by demonstrating they have the

skills, abilities and knowledge to be successful, rather

than the traditional way of receiving credit based on

simply spending time in the classroom.

Personalized Learning Plans Teachers, advisors,

students and parents manage a personalized learning

plan that accounts for each student's preferred pace

and learning style.

Multiple Modes of Learning Students learn in the

way they learn best be it independently, one-onone

with a coach, collaboratively in small groups, online,

or beyond school, in realworld contexts, such as

internships or early college courses.

New Staff and Student Roles

School staff will adoptnew roles as learning coaches, advisors, content and

assessment experts. And students will be empowered

to plan and manage their own studies in a variety of

ways.

Do iZone schools use the same schedule as

non-iZone schools?

Each iZone school schedule is structured to best meet

the needs of its students and teachers. iZone schools

may allow students to learn outside the traditionalschool day, progress at a pace that works best for

them and accelerate toward graduation. Teachers

have more time to plan lessons alone and with fellow

educators so they can identify and address each

student's needs.

What new resources are available to iZone

teachers and how are they prepared to use

them?

In an iZone classroom, teachers are empowered to

personalize learning for each of their students.

Teachers participate in professional development

throughout the year to help gain the knowledge and

skills they need to teach effectively in technology-rich,

student-centered learning environments. This includes

analyzing student performance data to better

personalize instruction and incorporating online

content and collaboration tools into their regular

classroom instruction.

iZone staff and external partners support educators

with technology tools and the infrastructure to

effectively use it, as well as technical and

programmatic support.

How are students graded and assessed?

Some schools are considering new ways of grading

students. For example, some are incorporating

competency-based grading which measures whether

students are mastering concepts, rather than granting

a single number grade based solely on right or wrong

answers.

In what ways is the iZone committed to

understanding what innovations work best

for students?

The iZone research team will look at the innovations

impact on student achievement data such as Regents

scores, grades, AP performance, NYS test

performance, and graduation rates.

The iZone will also assess the impact of the innovative

metrics that have been linked to college and careersuccess, such as:

motivation,

engagement,

self-regulated learning, and

cognitive traits

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These analyses will be utilized by schools and iZone

staff to consistently improve the school experience for

students.

Do iZone students earn credit in the same

way?

Currently, students in New York State can only obtain

credit if they spend a certain amount of time

physically in a class. The iZone is looking into ways to

allow students to advance in school based on

understanding content, no matter how long that

takes. In order to do this, the New York City

Department of Education has submitted a waiver to

the New York State Education Department.

Does the iZone mean more homework?

Schools in the iZone are thinking through how learning

can happen anywhere and at anytime. This can mean

during regular school day hours, before school, after

school, or on weekends depending on each student's

needs. This doesn't mean more homework, but it may

mean more time learning outside of the traditional

school day, based on each student's preferred

learning style and pace.

Digital Learning

What is online and blended learning?

Blended learning refers to some combination of

online and in classroom instruction. Successful

blended learning requires an intentional and

integrated approach, the methods of which depend

upon the needs of the students and the school.

Online learning consists of students and teachers

leveraging online and digital resources, including ouronline learning platform, to personalize instruction.

What are some of the benefits of increasing

access to technology in the classroom?

Technology offers an unparalleled, in-depth look at

student progress. Real-time data evaluates each

student's level at the start of a lesson and charts their

progress allowing teachers to provide extra help, or

new challenging opportunities, as needed.

It also links students with world-renowned experts for

insights not found in any textbook and enables

collaboration with peers from around the world.

Does integrating technology into the

classroom mean students aresitting alonein front of computers all day?No; students in iZone schools interact with one

another and peers throughout the world as much, if

not more, than students in non-iZone schools.

Students experience a variety of learning experiences,

including solo work time, small group sessions, class

discussions, and technology-facilitated learning with

peers and experts.

Do computers replace the work of the

teacher?

No; to quoteSonia Morgan, a teacher at P.S. 327 said,

"Technology does not replace the teacher. That's what

other teachers need to understand," she explained.

"That will never change." A teacher still provides

continual guidance and support to each student,

helping set the direction and scope of a student's

education. The strategies used by teachers in iZone

schools are additional tools at educators' disposal.

What if a student doesn't have a computer at

home?

iZone recognizes that not every student in New York

City owns a computer or has access to the internet at

home. To that end, some schools provide their

students with laptops that they may bring home;

others offer extra time during and outside of school

hours for students to work on computers to complete

their online assignments.

http://schools.nyc.gov/community/innovation/izone/ForTeachers/soniamorganhttp://schools.nyc.gov/community/innovation/izone/ForTeachers/soniamorganhttp://schools.nyc.gov/community/innovation/izone/ForTeachers/soniamorganhttp://schools.nyc.gov/community/innovation/izone/ForTeachers/soniamorgan