Kansas District Takes Planned Approach to Digital Citizenship

When leaders of Wichita Public Schools considered how they would build digital citizenship into the learning of every student, the 94-site district knew they needed to take a measured approach. The result was a 3-year plan that focused on middle schools the first year, elementary the second, and high schools the third. The district developed common teaching strategies and provided professional learning for teachers to build their capacity. The team leading the charge included the district’s Chief Information Officer, Digital Literacy Coordinator, and 12 instructional learning coaches/primary digital citizenship coaches. The core team meets monthly to share new resources, provide professional development, share best practices, address challenges, and offer collaborative support. Keys to Wichita’s success include identifying expert teachers to lead professional learning and offering insights and alignment to state standards and initiatives such as computer science, social emotional learning, computer literacy, and media literacy.