in Action
Partnership Helps Schools
Succeed with Mobile Learning
T hrough a strategic partnership with the Verizon Foundation (VF), ISTE is leading the implementa- tion of the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools
Program (VILS, vz.to/NkcVUU). Together, the two organizations are actively supporting school leaders and technology coaches from 24 U.S. schools that, through a VF
grant, are members of the VILS community. The program
is designed to increase student engagement, academic
achievement, and the effective use of mobile technologies in STEM classrooms.
In April 2013, we started Year 2 of the VILS program.
ISTE continues to lead the professional learning pathway
for program participants from 18 states, working closely
with 49 district- and school-level leaders, 44 technology coaches, and 240 teachers (for a list of schools, visit
vz.to/169ubr Y. ISTE provides support services including
needs assessment, professional development, and program
evaluation, and schools receive those onsite and via webinars, a virtual conference, and the Thinkfinity Community
( www.thinkfinity.org).
This model is designed to be highly sustainable because
it builds school-based leadership. It gives ISTE the opportunity to build close relationships with school leaders; to
understand their vision and goals for their schools,
1: 1 learning, and collaborative projects; and to ensure
the likelihood of each project’s success. To this end, ISTE
interviews school leaders to learn about their equipment
and infrastructure, personnel skill levels, and other factors
to help them meet their goals.
As a result of the partnership to date, we’ve learned two
important lessons. First is that mobile learning is not just
about access to equipment. Access is redefined as teachers
who are prepared to use technology in powerful classroom
activities. As Michael Fullan, change agent and educa-
tion consultant, says, “The more powerful technology
becomes, the more indispensable good teachers are”
( bit.ly/13N6pDZ).
The second lesson is that effective professional development programs are key to successful implementation of mobile learning initiatives.
ISTE designed its mobile learning implementation
pathway to achieve a sustainable and scalable professional learning experience. The pathway:
• Supports standards-based instruction
• Trains teacher leaders to serve as peer coaches
• Fosters systemic technology integration
• Assists teachers with integrating technology
in ways that will engage students
• Enhances each school’s capacity to offer sustained,
high-quality assistance to its teachers
• Helps schools adopt and sustain new initiatives
and mobile learning programs as part of an effective
school professional development plan
In Year 2, ISTE turns its focus to building leadership
at each participating school through its coaching model.
Instructional consultants and coaching faculty will work
closely with school-based coaches to develop proficiency
in the NETS for Coaches ( iste.org/standards/nets-for-
coaches) and set them on a path to help them remain
pioneers on the mobile learning frontier.
Our goal is to inspire teachers to explore and experiment with mobile learning activities in their classrooms,
evaluate the outcomes, and move toward designing
learning experiences that fully harness the power of
mobile learning.
ISTE’s Director of Professional Development Services
Yolanda Ramos and Verizon Foundation’s Director
of Education Justina Nixon-Saintil discuss the
Verizon Innovative Learning Schools Program.
