Wilton Schools Harness and Implement New Technology

With construction nearing completion on state-of-the-art facilities at Wilton High School, the school system is making sure its method of curriculum construction is getting a forward-looking renovation of its own.

The Board of Education convened Thursday night in its new meeting place, an elegant room in the WHS Professional Library. The chief topic of discussion was the new curriculum mapping project, which had most in attendance abuzz with its potential.

"[Curricula] are typically compiled in binders and then placed on a shelf," said Assistant Superintendent Arlene Gottesman, who presented the new project. "Curriculum mapping is a time consuming, complicated process. This new Rubicon Atlas tool is going to be a big help."

The web-based, "highly customizable curriculum management tool" is designed to comprehensively compile lesson plans for Wilton's entire school system, from Kindergarten through 12th grade, and is supported by Rubicon Atlas, a Portland, Orgeon-based technology and educational consulting company.

Gottesman and Eileen Foley walked the meeting through the site, organized by class and beginning with clickable time-lines that show courses' topic arcs. The individual units within the time-line break down further into more detailed outlines that include essential questions for the unit and sections on content, skills, assessments/strategies, learning experiences, integrations of technology, and resources.

"We purposefully put technology as a section to remind teachers that they should be integrating technology into the lessons," Gottesman said. "Eventually this will go into the learning strategies section as an almost assumed portion of the lesson."

As technology becomes a focal point for the student learning experience, it appears it will also become a critical component and a powerful tool of the teacher and faculty arsenal. One of the system's highlights is that teachers can and are encouraged to access lesson plans for any grade and class, which both ensures that students are getting set timetables and uniform experiences (preventing overlap and curriculum redundancies) and greatly increases teachers' efficiency.

"I am very excited to be able to look across all lessons and grade levels," said one teacher in attendance. "In the time it would take me to email a specific teacher about one of her courses, I can go on the curriculum mapping tool and look across a number of grades and lesson plans all at once."

In addition to housing all course information in a readily accessible and centralized location, Dr. Richards said he anticipates the tool will stimulate active discussions among the faculty about what they are covering and how they are covering it. This, in turn, will lead to more comprehensive and up-to-date coursework, as teachers share ideas about their best practices, eliminate ineffective or archaic topics, and cross-pollinate by linking to other subjects' lesson plans and expanding on them.

"I think it gives youngsters a pattern and a road map to study to help them understand why we're covering what we're covering," Richards added. "I think the dialogue that teachers will have is going to be really helpful in the communication with their students."

Following the presentation, an interesting conversation ensued on what the Board of Education's role will be in regard to the new tool. After some back-and-forthing, the board came to a consensus that they would need to take a close look at how they interact with the curriculum so that the technology would not outpace their policies and responsibilities.

Outside of the Rubicon Atlas presentation, Dr. Richards reviewed highlights of the previous night's tri-board meeting and updated the board on timetables for the following year's school budget. Their goal is to have a budget presented to the Board of Finance for final decision by early Feb. before it goes to a public hearing in March and then to a town vote on May 4. Richards stressed that they are facing another difficult budget year and that the process should not be taken lightly.

"Our process is not and has never been that we simply rollover line items," he said. "Rather, we analyze each line item carefully and determine what's appropriate...and we look at each staffing position individually, as well...we're always looking at ways to contain costs...and we're fully aware of the financial difficulties that are facing the town."

Vice Chairman Gilmore Bray outlined the school system's plans for a National Advisory Session and said they are preparing for a K-12 Technology Expo that will likely be held in the first half of the year.

Finally, Dr. Richards touched on the board's strategic planning, articulating its "theory of action," which was a series of "if...then" statements.

"If Wilton maintains a high quality of faculty and staff...and if the curriculum is aligned both vertically and horizontally...and if information is utilized effectively...and if every student is known well...and if the community involvement in the schools can be expanded...then all students leaving the school will possess the knowledge and skills to function as effective members of 21st century society."