Page 35 - EducationWorld November 2020

EMPOWERED SCHOOLS

Learning without limits
The school in the Connected Learning Community is
education’s home base, operations center, and data Learning without limits
center. It is where teachers and students meet, discuss
projects, establish learning goals, solicit help from one
another and embark on new missions of discovery and Building The Connected Learning Community
creativity. These schools have embraced technology
and made the organizational changes necessary to use
it effectively. In the Connected Learning Community, formal education
simultaneously meets dual objectives. First, it creates a
Schools can continuously improve and provide lifelong passion for learning in every student that transcends
efficient service and outlives school. Second, it encourages and supports the
highest level of student academic achievement.
With a ubiquitous network, enterprise software
can help schools track inputs -- such as finances, The Fundamental Building Blocks:
procurement, inventory, schedules, human resource
information and student demographics -- and outputs, Connected Learning Communities are coming to
such as performance information on pre-determined life all around the globe. At times, they emerge from
benchmarks and goals. comprehensive school or community plans. Other times,
they emerge through the hard work and perseverance of
With better management information, schools innovative individuals. The possibilities for how to get there
can make better decisions. However, such data are infinite, limited only by our collective imagination,
management requires an organizational commitment energy, and commitment. No matter the approach, there
from the highest levels of leadership. are three fundamental building blocks:
Schools support teachers, students, and families 1. A modern learning infrastructure
and reorganize to take advantage of technology 2. Anytime any place access
3. Seamless integration of technology
Using technology, schools encourage teachers to
experiment with team teaching, longer class periods, A Modern Learning Infrastructure
experiential learning, or other pedagogical models.
Such organizational change can unleash the power of A modern learning infrastructure is an information
teacher and student creativity. infrastructure that includes technology (hardware, software,
peripherals, and connections to the Internet) and a network
Administrators must ensure that teachers are equipped of people with technical expertise, practical experience, and
with the information resources that they need such knowledge to share. It also includes information in all its
as just-in-time information on students, local and available forms.
state standards, lesson plans and content reviews.
Administrators must also ensure that parents have The learning infrastructure for each community will
the information that they need such as on-demand, include some combination of these core elements but will
convenient access to student grades, absences, learning be unique to reflect the needs, interests, and resources of
goals, school projects and other information. the community.

India is the first nation in the world where educational Anytime, Any Place Access:
institutions have fulfilled the requirements of Knowledge
Age by becoming a “Connected Learning Community”. A community can only benefit from a modern learning
In history any nation or a society which adopts modern infrastructure if community members have broad and
education practices, they becomes the most progressive easy access to it. In a Connected Learning Community,
society of the world. India has the head start, we hope it learners of all ages and abilities gain access through
maintains the lead. desktop computers, laptops, handheld devices and other
Ali Sait portable technology tools available at school, home, in
CEO, Tech Avant-Garde libraries, businesses, youth centers, public kiosks, and

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