NCCE assisted Post Falls School District’s digital transformation over the summer of 2020, just after the COVID-19 pandemic shifted all public schools in Idaho from in-person to online learning. There is much to learn from how a rural school in North Idaho pivoted successfully by using Google Workspace for Education to teach nearly 6,300 students in a matter of weeks. Creating an online teaching and learning plan for an entire school district meant transforming traditional teaching-learning practices and turning what we thought we knew about teaching
and learning on its head. Since the summer of 2020, with the investment of Post Falls’ district leaders, school administrators, and teachers, NCCE partnered to provide effective and timely Google training to 690+ certified and classified Post Falls School District staff. District leaders, school administrators, and nearly all Post Falls’ teachers have participated in some form of professional learning focused on productivity and collaboration using tools like Google Classroom, Google Apps, and Google Meet training.
The most successful training NCCE offered was a facilitated 6-week blended learning experience entitled Google Classroom Superstar.
[bctt tweet=”Post Falls School District is proud to partner with NCCE in bringing technology-based professional development to our teachers, classified staff, and administrators. We have utilized the expertise of NCCE trainers to offer a variety of ongoing training opportunities, and their 6-week Google Superstar course continues to provide quality PD experiences for both novices and those seeking more advanced skills.” username=”ncce_edtech”]
– Anna M. Wilson, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Programs
Before Google Workspace, Post Falls students worked remotely using teacher-created packets and handouts; however, with Google Classroom, students could work and learn more effectively with their teachers and peers. Google Classroom and supporting apps like Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms allowed educators in Post Falls to teach and work collaboratively with students. It was vital to ensure that every student received the same level of support and more as they would have gotten in the traditional classroom setting.
[bctt tweet=”After just a few weeks of training, we noticed that PFSD teachers were collaborating on lesson plans, co-teaching in Google Classrooms, participating in Google Meets, and utilizing Google calendar integration to keep themselves organized and online ready,” username=”ncce_edtech”]
– Dr. Michael Higley, NCCE eLearning Director.
PFSD Leaders Key to Success
Post Falls School District leaders worked alongside NCCE staff to offer a complete slate of professional development opportunities for administrative, certified, and classified staff.
The district began by setting specific goals to increase productivity, efficiency, and student accessibility using Google Workspace in Education. Post Falls School District goals were to:
1. Adapt instructional strategies and techniques to engage, motivate and challenge students to achieve at their highest level regardless of delivery model (face-to-face, blended, or online learning). The main objective was to successfully plan and execute lessons that allow for developing future-ready skills for students.
2. Support every teacher in utilizing an online, virtual classroom available to students and families to allow for a seamless transition to blended or online remote learning based on changing COVID scenarios in our community. The objective was to use approved digital tools effectively for frequent, meaningful feedback that promotes student learning growth.
The district began seeking professional learning experiences that leveraged Google Workspace in Education and were customized to meet the needs of specific educator groups serving students. As the two institutions partnered to develop a comprehensive plan, they created a consistent and clear message focused on short- and long-term goals, including learning for building leaders, district leaders, classroom teachers, school-based technology coaches, and virtual school educators.
Learning was grounded in best practices for collaboration and digital learning utilizing the environment of Google Workspace in Education and focusing on developing learning that addressed ISTE Student Standards. Experiences were devised to support educators in all three content levels of Elementary, Middle, and High School with relevant examples. Educators also had the freedom and choice to attend sessions appropriate to their ability, including a range of novice to experienced sessions.
[bctt tweet=”It was fun to collaborate and explore how Google Classroom could be the backbone to delivering great online content while also focusing on strategies for engagement.” username=”ncce_edtech”]
– PFSD Teacher
What’s Next for PFSD?
Since returning to the traditional classroom space, Post Falls’ teachers have continued to successfully use the Google Workspace suite of tools and resources for teaching and learning, which has now turned into a blended approach to education. Post Falls is a model of success for teaching and learning online using Google Workspace. Today, teachers and administrators are still learning how to integrate technology and navigate and manage an online learning environment into their best practices. Using Google Workspace helps make the process for what is now blended learning so much easier! NCCE will continue to support teaching and learning with Google through coaching, mentor, and professional development training as we finish this school year with Post Falls and move into the next.
NCCE works closely with schools and districts of any size, across the globe, to provide relevant and rigorous professional learning experiences. See what our Professional Learning team can do for you.
[maxbutton id=”4″ url=”https://ncce.org/professional-learning/professional-services/” text=”Professional Learning Opportunities” ]
For more information on how NCCE can help you with your Google Workspace professional learning needs, contact Dr. Michael Higley at mhigley@ncce.org