The Technology Department’s

Role in Enabling Personalized

Learning

Denver Public Schools

2

DPS Personalized Learning Framework

DPS has created a framework to serve as the “north star” for schools seeking to

further personalize learning for students

Source: Framework inspired by framework of NYC iZone, modified based on DPS stakeholder interviews ; Note: Definition subject to change based on broader stakeholder engagement and feedback in months to come

Individualized Learning

Paths

Next Generation Curriculum

and Ways to Demonstrate

Learning

Evolving Teacher

Administrator and

Student Roles

Strategic Use of

Time, Physical

Space,

Technology and

Community

Every Child Succeeds

through academic, social and emotional

growth

Students work with teachers and school leaders

to co-create individual learning paths, and match

student interests and learning needs

Students experience

standards-aligned curricula

through a variety of

delivery methods, which

are informed by individual

learner profiles;

demonstrations of learning

are used frequently

Personalized learning for adults supports

flexible staffing school operational

structures. Teachers also act as

facilitators of learning. District and

organizational cultures create conditions

that support continuous learning

Space, time, technology,

and community

partnerships adapt to meet

each student’s needs; parents

and community partners are

intentionally integrated into

students’ learning experiences

Students take ownership

of their learning by

playing an active role in

selecting the what,

where, how of their

education

Proposal Pages:

3

DPS Personalized Learning Plan

DPS has created a definition and framework to serve as the “north star” for

schools seeking to further personalize learning for students

Each student:

• Actively engages in the development of his or her goals and growth

opportunities

• Works with teachers to co-create a customized learning plan that

leverages his or her strengths to reach content mastery;

• Accesses engaging and standards-aligned curricula that supports

his or her academic, social, and emotional needs through a variety

of delivery methods.

Effective personalized learning will create life-long learners that graduate

prepared for success in college and career.

DPS Personalized Learning Definition

Note: Definition subject to refinement based on broader stakeholder engagement and feedback in months to come

4

Technology Department Involvement

as an Enabler for Personalized

Learning

Understand the Current PerceptionTop 10 Critical Barriers to Personalized Learning

by Importance vs. Degree of Barrier in DPS

Rated on 1-5 Scale (1 = Not important / No barrier, 5 = Critical / Significant barrier)

Understand the Current Reality

Facilitate Building a Vision for the Future

DPS Vision | How Technology Empowers Personalized Learning

Map the Vision against Current State

Governance

Establish a technology working group

Embed technology in each working groups to inform systems design

Learning

Participate in learning about other platforms available on the market and used in personalized learning schools

Pilot Support

Participate in design sessions

Conduct readiness reviews, create individual support plans, identify cohort-wide readiness needs

Identify technology priorities and create cohort priority matrix

Planning and Alignment

Map the elements of the ILP, LMS, and Future State Learning Platform.

Prioritize cohort needs.

Proof

PointsEcosystem

Help schools understand how technology enables their personalized learning designs.

Ensure schools have the hardware, software, infrastructure, and capacity to implement technology-enabled learning in year one.

Identify specifications for the Individual Learner Profile as part of the district’s overall Student Learning Platform design.

Str

ate

gie

sG

oals

Make a Plan & Engage

Make a Plan & Engage

Assess School Readiness

Assess Needs

Prioritize

Considerations and Questions

• Does your district equate Personalized Learning with a technology initiative?

• Is the technology marketplace ready to support personalized learning?

• Managing the inherent tension between innovating on a small scale to create proof points and preparing for system-wide change is challenging

• How are you thinking about and supporting the shift to cloud-based, retail-like technologies vs. “enterprise IT” systems (aka Bi-Modal IT)?

• End user training and support

• Integration

• System reliability

• IT team skills and comfort zones

• How are you managing the use of free and freemium tools in your schools and classrooms?

• Alignment with curriculum, Security & privacy concerns, technology compatibility