Environmental Scan
In researching, it was learned that my district Laredo Independent School District (LISD) located in Laredo, TX serves an “average of 25,000 enrolled students and over 4,500 employees” (Laredo Independent School District, n.d.-c). Throughout the city, the climate is known to be semiarid with humid temperatures from time to time. Our district consist of 20 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 6 high schools, and 3 specialty schools. (Laredo Independent School District, n.d.-c) Within the district it is learned to have a majority population that is Hispanic. According to Data USA, it recorded 261K population in Laredo TX with “Office & Administrative Support Occupations, Sales & Related Occupations, and Management Occupations” are the most common workforce that are seen throughout the community. (2020)
Photo 1
Photo 2 Citation: Occupations. (2020). Data USA. https://datausa.io/profile/geo/laredo-tx
In reflecting and observing district, it was understood that they have made a plan to keep students connected with technology devices. With all the students enrolled, LISD is “dedicated to ensuring ALL students have equal access to technology regardless of economic status” which entails a “1:1 students to computer ratio” (Laredo ISD Instructional Technology - 1:1 District-Issued Device Program, n.d.). In expanding this motion to schools of all ages throughout the district, it shows great initiative in striving to have academic success through technology. In addition to the students receiving a technology device, so do all educators, administrators, and staff members. These devices are allowed to be taken to and from school where students and staff members can use to complete daily activities.
As for the broadband connections, all students who are enrolled and staff members employed have access to the internet to utilize on a daily basis. The broadband connection is spread throughout the schools where all can use it freely. All that is needed to access the connection is the credentials provided by the district. For the most part, the majority of students have access at home with their own connections and for those that do not most schools within the district help provide a broadband connection. This helps lead to the utilization of technology and internet connection to help strive for success in their academic journey.
Throughout the district, technology is used on a daily basis for instructional purposes. The goal of the district is to move from a teacher centered classroom to a student centered where students are capable of a variety of learning modes. Based on the different learning modes, it helps promote collaborative learning, blended learning, and hybrid learning classes. The use of the technology helps display instructional materials as well as tasks, projects, books, etc. In addition to the use of technology in the classroom, it is also used for communication purposes. The district and schools all have a Facebook and Twitter page which helps communicate different announcements to the community. Along with the social media pages, most schools in the district especially elementary utilizes the app of ClassDojo to help reach the community population of the school.
In helping students, staff members, and parents to stay updated with the different technology updates and opportunities my district also provides a variety of professional developments. There are different learning hubs on the district site that are available to anyone to view and they are categorized based on the audience. In the hubs, there is one for educators, parents & students, digital learning resources, etc. (Laredo ISD Instructional Technology, n.d.) Keeping all staff members along with students and parents updated with the technology is a goal for the district in order to help meet all learners needs with the accurate information.
Overall, I believe that the technology plan put into place throughout the district is developed fairly well. It provides all staff and students with equal opportunities in utilizing technology devices and the internet. If this is going throughout the years to come, I see the district meeting their goal of achieving success throughout the academic years of all students and staff members.
Resources
Laredo, TX | Data USA. (n.d.-b). Data USA. https://datausa.io/profile/geo/laredo-tx
Laredo Independent School District. (n.d.-c). https://www.laredoisd.org/page/about-lisd
Laredo ISD Instructional Technology. (n.d.). https://sites.google.com/laredoisd.org/lisdit/home
Laredo ISD Instructional Technology - 1:1 District-Issued Device Program. (n.d.). https://sites.google.com/laredoisd.org/lisdit/11-district-issued-device-program?authuser=0
Occupations. (2020). Data USA. https://datausa.io/profile/geo/laredo-tx
Race and Ethnicity. (2020). Data USA. https://datausa.io/profile/geo/laredo-tx
Hi Stacey,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like Laredo ISD is doing a good job of connecting the teachers, students, and parents with technology. Thank you for your post!
I think it's great that everyone is given a technology device to be able to use. Our district is somewhat like that, but the devices for the students stay in the classroom and the only people that get devices are of course the teachers, and admin. The staff have access to the laptops in the computer room that they can use when needed.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds very similar to my district. It amazes me to think that technology has changed so much since I went through college in the mid-2000s.
ReplyDeleteStacey, do the elementary kids get to take their devices home as well? Ours have to leave them at school until intermediate. I can see the negatives and positives to both sides. How do you feel about the younger kids taking them home?
ReplyDeleteStacey,
ReplyDeleteThe graphics in your post were a great visual! I see a lot of similarities between Laredo and Mansfield