Online platform going districtwide for 2015–2016 school year
HISD’s online teaching and learning platform, known as the HUB , is moving from its pilot phase at a group of schools to full districtwide implementation during the 2015–2016 school year. To assist with the transition, K–12 teachers have been or will be attending a variety of training sessions this summer to learn how to use the online platform for classroom instruction and for collaboration with their colleagues.
Online platform to go live districtwide at all K-12 schools this fall
Summer camp may be traditionally for students, but during the first two weeks of June, nearly 1,000 HISD elementary teachers and campus instructional technologists attended “HUB Camp” to receive training and learn more about the district’s online teaching and learning platform, known as the PowerUp:HUB, or “HUB” for short. During the 2015–2016 school year, the HUB will be transitioning from the pilot phase at 48 schools to full districtwide implementation at all 283 HISD schools. The implementation is part of the district’s larger efforts to digitally transform instruction and integrate technology into content development and classroom instructional practices.
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HISD’s pilot implementation of the HUB, the district’s online teaching and learning platform, has received a 2015 Learning Impact Award from IMS Global Learning Consortium, the world leader in EdTech interoperability and impact. The district was one of eight winners selected from K–12 school districts, colleges and universities, and education technology corporations from around the world.
HISD’s efforts to digitally transform teaching and learning in national spotlight during digital learning day
At Burbank Middle School, students are creating videos about their future and life goals using Adobe Voice. At Herrera Elementary, students are using tablets and digital programs such as iMovie, Animoto, Prezi, and Roxio to produce digital book trailers instead of a standard book report. And at Austin High School, teachers are using the HUB, the district’s new online learning platform, to create online discussions and group activities.
Every day, students and teachers across the district are using digital tools and resources to transform teaching and learning inside their classrooms. Recently teachers and students from nearly 50 HISD campuses gathered in the lobby of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center to showcase their efforts at the district’s first ever Digital Learning Expo.
Watch event live from 12 to 1 p.m. on Friday featuring district’s digital transformation
Every day, students and teachers across the district are using digital tools and resources to transform teaching and learning. On Friday, March 13, HISD teachers and students will share on social media how they are using technology in the classroom using the hashtags #HISDdigital and #DLDay as part of national Digital Learning Day.
HISD’s efforts to digitally transform teaching and learning in national spotlight for #DLDay
At Burbank Middle School, students are creating videos about their future and life goals using Adobe Voice (see video below). At Herrera Elementary, students are using tablets and digital programs such as iMovie, Animoto, Prezi, and Roxio to produce digital book trailers instead of a standard book report. And at Austin High School, teachers are using the HUB, the district’s new online learning platform, to create online discussions and group activities.
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Every day, students and teachers across the district are using digital tools and resources to transform teaching and learning inside their classrooms. On Thursday, March 12, from 4 to 5 p.m., teachers and students from nearly 50 HISD campuses will gather in the lobby of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St., 77018) to showcase their efforts at the district’s first ever Digital Learning Expo.
The Houston Independent School District will showcase the power of digital teaching and learning as students demonstrate their abilities on Thursday during HISD’s first Digital Learning Expo.
The Digital Learning Expo will feature students and teachers from 41 HISD schools, all showcasing what they do each day and how the power of digital learning has transformed their classrooms into dynamic, 21st century learning labs. Their work will be on display from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, prior to the start of the Board of Education March meeting. Continue reading
Students can access 24-7 via the HUB
Every student in Texas must pass five end-of-course exams in order to graduate, and HISD has created a series of online tutorials to help students prepare for the state exams. HISD high school students can access the tutorials — including videos, handouts, and helpful links — through the HUB, which is the district’s online teaching and learning platform. Students can click here (.pdf) for a tip sheet on how to access them or they can go directly to the HUB at www.houstonisd.org/hub and use their district login and password.
The tutorials were created and designed by a team of HISD teachers, teacher developments specialists, and representatives from curriculum, academics, and the schools’ office. They are designed to be self-paced and can be accessed by students 24-hours a day—at school, home, or anywhere with an Internet connection through a computer, tablet or smartphone. The material can also be downloaded and viewed offline. Quizzes are also provided to assess mastery of the coursework.
Volunteers spend afternoon at Milby HS learning more about the HUB
Houston community members and local businesses are supporting PowerUp, the district’s effort to digitally transform teaching and learning in the classroom. Recently a group of volunteers spent the afternoon side-by-side with teachers at Milby High School learning more about the HUB, the district’s new online teaching and learning platform.
HISD Instructional Technology Program Specialist Diana Bidulescu came up with the idea of having a support group of volunteers at Milby assist with the school’s recent distribution of laptops to students and its ongoing transition to digital learning. She hopes to expand the program to other HISD high schools in the future.
HISD’s PowerUp technology initiative is receiving national attention this week in Education Week’s 2015 Leaders To Learn From report, for “setting the bar for how to manage the digital transformation of a large urban school system.”
Superintendent Terry Grier and Chief Information Officer Lenny Schad are cited for their leadership on PowerUp, which combines a one-to-one laptop program for high school students with an all-encompassing digital “HUB” accessible to students, teachers, and parents for information, teaching, and collaboration.
The article also focuses on Chavez HS, whose students have embraced the laptop program that allows them to use the devices both in and outside school.