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P-12

District : White Oak Independent School District

State : Texas

Level : P-12

District Enrollment : 1,001-10,000 students

Community Type : Rural

Related Tags : professional learning

Starting small and encouraging innovation

White Oak Independent School District spans 15.7 square miles and serves White Oak City, Texas, and its 5,624 residents and over 1,300 students. All four schools are located on one campus, and of those more than 1,300 students, 87.7% are white, 2.9% are African American, .9% are Native American, 6.3% are Hispanic, and .1% are Asian or Pacific Islander. The district prides itself on being at the cutting edge of digital learning practices. The district applies technology-enabled professional learning for its educators, and engages students with use of blogs, ePortfolios, podcasts, video, and Moodle course environments.

The Solution

Rather than mandate the use of technology, White Oak applied a viral approach by selecting a few eager primary grades teachers, supplying them with technology tools and instructional freedom, and allowing those teachers’ innovation and enthusiasm to spread to other staff to scale the program. Enthusiasm and positive impacts to student learning generated instant interest among other staff, who then sought ways to transform their practice. Web 2.0 tools are the norm in K-12 classes while mobile device apps have become a leading contender for personalization of the learning process. Collaborating with learners from around the globe in an inquiry-driven mode gives students a real-world application of both the content and the style in which they are learning.

Tips

  • Start with early adopters and encourage the spread of innovation and enthusiasm to others.
  • Support core group with technology tools and instructional freedom and help early adopters think through how they will capture impact.


Additional Resources

From White Oak Independent School District:

From the U.S. Department of Education:

District Point of Contact

Phone: (903)291-2000