Setting criteria for innovation leader / ICT pilot schools

Kosovar teachers in their project-based learning workshop in July 2014.

We are handing out hundreds of laptops, tens of mobile devices, and we offer free training to use them and free facilitation in developing the use of ICT in education. Who wouldn't be interested?

We have a plan on investing in innovation leader schools: helping them to implement the new, progressive national curriculum framework of Kosovo, assisting them with their ICT in education implementation, and designing a model how these schools can serve as resource centres in their regions.

We are to support them in transforming their education, so that the bold words of the curriculum framework about key competences, learner outcomes, and curriculum area collaboration take their place in the classrooms.

What if we set criteria for the schools chosen and asked for promises about making a change? What are they obliged to accomplish (or try to accomplish) and what kind of changes can we expect? How should we assess and evaluate if the schools are progressing annually in the path we will pave with them?

What's your take on the list below – just a quick thought, even without knowing the context or the situation in Kosovo?

To get the extra supplies and support, the schools chosen to be pilots or “resource centres” are required to

• do an ICT equipment and training needs analysis,
• promote use of ICT in all subjects and in curriculum area collaboration,
• involve students in developing ICT use,
• inform and involve parents and community about whys and hows of 21st century learning (key competences),
• develop administrative use of ICT with assistance and expertise of our project,
• share their best practices with other schools (also online),
• provide onsite/on-the-job help as resource centres,
• give feedback and respond to surveys (onsite and online) during our project, and
• develop a plan for ICT use for SEN learners.

These sketchy thoughts are purely my own, uttered as a short term expert in the project. Some thoughts, please, especially if you've been on either side in a similar situation. Thanks!