ON_DEC: Our Neighborhood Digital Education Community
ON_DEC is a "partnership" model dedicated to fostering transformational change and developing school leaders – those in and out of the classroom - who are committed to using technology to manage the schoolhouse and to integrate the tools of technology into instruction.
For the business and/or funding partner, ON_DEC provides a meaningful and lasting way to have an impact in a community school.Since technology is such an important aspect of our society today, it should play a central role in young people’s education. In schools around the country where technology has been embraced, we have seen technology positively influence the way students learn and teachers teach. Many school systems want to make this change, but are hesitant to take the first step. The ON_DEC model was developed to provide a proven framework for technology integration which can be adapted to accommodate individual school requirements.
We know that ON_DEC engages and involves all members of the school community and employees from the business partner to leverage the power of technology in the educational system.The program takes commitment from the entire school community, with everyone working together to bring about positive changes. ON_DEC offers a flexible array of technology components for the student, parent, teacher and school leader. Once the "partnership" is established, a needs assessment will be performed to determine which elements of ON_DEC best meet the specific needs of the school community and a multi-year plan of action developed to guide the course of change at that school.
Overarching goals of ON_DEC:
Provide a PC and access to the Internet for all members of the school community
Support training to build proficiencies in using the PC and related technologies
Focus support on the teachers in the areas of professional development and creating new curriculum, anchored around using the tools of technology in the classroom
Enhance the in-school network to support communications, instruction and administrative functions
Build leadership capacity of staff in the school so that the program is sustainable over time
Engage all members of the school community to take an active role in ON_DEC including teachers, administrators, parents and students and encourage involvement of the local community and the employees of a sponsoring company (if applicable)