34 | FEBRUARY 2018 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM | FEBRUARY 2018 | 35
By Lisa NielsenT
he theme of Tech & Learning’s
December leadership event was
“Curriculum & Tech: Can This
Marriage Be Saved?” Each of the
sessions at the Summit explored ideas
for ensuring that the organizational
structure, communication channels, and other
elements are in place to make the marriage
between technology and learning a successful
one. Over two days in Phoenix, Arizona, school
leaders from around the country engaged in
working groups, a panel, and a school visit,
with a focus on how to help both sides better
understand each other’s challenges, improve
collaboration, and support their district’s
instructional goals through powerful uses of
technology.SCHOOL VISIT: PHOENIX
CODING ACADEMY
To kick off the conference, attendees visited the
Phoenix Coding Academy (phxhs.k12.az.us/coding), the state’s only public high school that
integrates technology into each content area.
Principal Seth Beute gave attendees an overview
of the school, highlighting the importance of
partnering with businesses to ensure students
are prepared to enter a job market in which
technology skills are a basic requirement. This
is critically important because employment
opportunities in technology-related careers are
growing at a faster rate than other industries.
Some of the ways the school partners with
businesses include providing students with:
n Job-shadowing opportunities
n Mentorships
n Internships (for seniors)
n Guest instructors
n Field trips
n The chance to serve on advisory councils
and provide input on the curriculum and
ways it can be aligned to the skills needed
to work in technology fields.
These businesses realize the need to develop
more talent from underrepresented groups, and
Phoenix Coding Academy addresses that need.Summit attendees heard from students during a
school tour and panel. During the panel, students
suggested three strategies for targeting groups
that lack representation in STEM fields:
n Go where these populations are and show
them what is available.
n Show female students that tech careers
are within reach for them.
n Connect students to a learning network
of others who look like them and who are
successful in this industry.
During the school tour, Summit attendees
saw the school’s student-centered academic
approach. This starts with ensuring that
everyone in the school is familiar with the
strengths of the students and staff. The
school does this by posting the students’
strength profiles prominently, using a tool
called Indigo (similar to Thrively). These are
constant reminders of the collective talent and
intelligence that surround and support students
and staff. Educators and students can use
these profiles to customize their schoolwork to
ensure that what they do best matches the needsT&L PHOENIX
LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Curriculum & Tech: Can This Marriage Be Saved?