Reconsidering Educator Learning Time to Improve Student Learning Time

When Brigantine Public Schools in New Jersey considered how they might improve the active use of technology for all students, they realized they needed to attend to educator needs first. They needed to reconsider teacher schedules to provide them with what was needed to design digital learning experiences that meet the needs of all students. They also realized this meant overcoming logistical and cultural challenges, including scheduling, budgeting, mindsets, and tradition. After a thoughtful design process that included school and district administrators, educators, and instructional coaches, the district arrived at a solution. They developed a new schedule that includes an additional planning period for common teacher planning, articulation meetings, and sharing/teaching new approaches to technology use for staff and students. The new systemic approach closes the design divide in ways that translate to greater active use for all students.