Page 36 - Technology plan fy2023-27

Over the next five years, the ESE department needs increasingly robust connectivity at all
schools to meet the growing needs for accessibility which include the demands for digital tools
and resources. Additionally, there is a need for increased access to district laptops, iPads, touch
screen Chromebooks, desktops, and cloud storage for students and staff.

English Language Learners

Our multilingual learners have needs, beyond those of all students, which can often be met
using technology resources in the classroom. Considering the needs of this group of learners is
especially critical in the School District of Palm Beach County due to the diverse student
population representing more than 197 countries, speaking more than 146 languages.

Specific needs for our multilingual learners include lesson directions in their native language
and extended scaffolded lessons that meet their linguistic needs. Beginning English speakers
may have difficulty when instruction is delivered only in English. The district has identified and
purchased several computer programs that provide language support in a variety of heritage
languages. These programs provide comprehensible instruction and facilitate understanding for
our multilingual learners while working on computer-delivered lessons.

The Multicultural Education Department has purchased both hardware and software resources
to support the specific needs of ELL students. Software programs implemented to support the
language needs of multilingual learners include Achieve 3000, Imagine Learning English,
Rosetta Stone, Nearpod, and iStation in Spanish.

Library Media - Reimagining the Library Media Center as the Learning Commons

Library Media Centers should be the model Future Ready Classroom. Over the past decade,
school librarians have been redesigning their physical spaces, library collections, and pedagogy
to support learning in the digital age. The district has removed entire print reference sections to
make way for charging stations and Makerspaces. Our libraries are also “moving their
collections and services online, and they are transforming their buildings into collaborative
learning spaces.”l 7 According to an article in the Modern Library, “Libraries are emerging as
ideal spaces for MakerSpaces; this means libraries can inspire next-generation STEM leaders
by offering resources to learn about subjects including computer programming, audio, and video
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capture and editing, self-publishing, and laser cutting.” School librarians embrace mobile
learning and digital publishing. School librarians have taken a lead role in teaching digital
citizenship and combating cyberbullying. But these efforts have been grass-roots and limited in
scope. To meet the needs of digital learners and create future-ready students, every media
center in the district needs to be remodeled into a flexible, collaborative, technology-rich
learning space.

The school library media center should be the learning commons space that empowers and
engages learners through information in multiple and varied formats beyond traditional print
material's limits. The 2014 Aspen Institute report “Rising to the Challenge” outlines three key
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assets of public libraries; people, place, and platform. These three assets are pertinent to
school libraries as well. Changes related to these three assets are essential to transforming
media centers into learning commons.

7 Pierce, D. (2021, June 21). 21st-century libraries: Changing from the ground up. Library Journal.
8 Bridgeall Libraries. (2019, March 13). What does the modern library look like? collectionHQ.
9 http://csreports.aspeninstitute.org/documents/AspenLibrariesReport.pdf

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