MDUSD's technology upgrades featured in EdTech Magazine video focused on equity

The District's "digital equity initiative focused on making sure that every student and teacher had exactly what they needed to teach and learn effectively," said Robert Sidford, MDUSD's Director of Technology and Innovation, during an interview in the first of three planned videos looking at MDUSD's technology improvements districtwide and at Silverwood Elementary. The upgrades have been funded largely through Measure J, approved by voters in 2018.

"We are teaching in a 21st Century classroom," said Silverwood Elementary teacher Roxayn King, who asks her 4th grade students to use their Chromebooks to work on a research project, while she guides them using a Promethean board in the video. "One of the best things that our District did was when they rolled out the Promethean boards."

Student Subhan said the Promethean board is much easier to see than the white board and projector his previous teachers used. And Silverwood Principal Bruce Burns said the interactive Promethean boards have "had a significant impact in engagement," captivating students and providing visual stimulation, while also allowing them to manipulate shapes, write, draw and color on them in front of the class, then get immediate feedback.

The video also shows MDUSD Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark speaking with Concord HS students about their plans after graduation. "Our goal here in Mt. Diablo is to prepare each and every student for college and career," Dr. Clark said in an interview. "In our world, technology is everywhere." The District provides students with the technological tools they need to access the curriculum, and strives to expose them to what technology could become, as well as what's available to them, he said.

Sidford said that standardizing technology districtwide saves money because it is managed centrally and no longer requires the District to replace individual equipment that varies from one classroom to another. He noted that the District partnered with CDW an information technology corporation, to implement its technology plan.

The Board expects to approve the final phase of the Promethean Board project on Wednesday, Sept. 11. More information about MDUSD'S work with CDW is here.