In the course of the year I’m often asked how we implemented our many pilots and what steps need to be taken if someone else would like to do the same.  The info below is meant to be a brief guide (what worked for us may not work for you, you may have a better way of doing etc) every step of the way someone will say “You can’t do that!” and the purpose of this blog (and the entire Ning itself) is to show others it is being done and change the conversation from Can’t to How….It’s also…

This fall RUSD will be participating in another nationwide effort supported by the Federal Communication Commission. The pilot is called Connect2Compete (C2C) http://www.connect2compete.org/ Twenty RUSD schools will be participating in this phase of the pilot and all RUSD schools will have access in early 2013. Any family with a student receiving free and reduced lunch and attending the schools listed below are eligible for the $9.95 a month (no…

 Last week Madison Elementary became the first Pre-K-6 school in RUSD to go fully 1-1 using iPod touches.  RUSD Assistant Superintendent Judi Paredes, Riverside City Council member Rusty Bailey, Steve Reneker (Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Riverside) joined Principal John McCombs and others to hand out iPod touches to families attending the kick off.  Students will be checked out these devices to be used at school and at home and will continue RUSD’s Digital Learning Revolution. …

RUSD is proud to announce its renewed partnership with the California Emerging Technology Fund and its School2Home program. RUSD will be continuing the program at Central Middle School and expanding to Chemawa Middle School. Every student at those two sites will be checked out a netbook for the entire year. Parents will receive at least 6 hours of training and support on how to use the technology to enhance their students educational experience as well as how to look for employment and…

RUSD is proud to announce the receipt of a $100,000 grant that focuses on improving reading at the kindergarten level at Castle View and Washington Elementary schools.  Eight kindergarten classrooms will receive five iPads for small group in class instruction as well as each student will be provided with  an iPod touch to take home. In addition parents will be provided with training and support in the use of technology to support reading skills.  The grant will include dual language…

(New York, New York, 8 June 2012) – The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) today named Riverside,…

Once again Riverside has been identified as one of the most intelligent communities in the world.  Riverside joins Austin, Texas as the only other American city to make the top 7.  I will be traveling with a delegation from Riverside to New York in June to showcase what is happening in RUSD and specifically Ramona High School.  Although its already a great honor to be awarded one of the top 7 we hope that Riverside will be named The most Intelligent Community Award for 2012!  For more info…

Hi All,

I want to update you on the progress and intent of the Digital Destination Pilot we are implementing at Earhart and Sierra middle schools.  We identified two schools that represent both ends of the socioeconomic scale and surveyed parents at each site asking them to either allow their students who already have technology to bring it to school or to be willing to purchase technology to bring into our system.  RUSD committed to providing technology for those students who either did…

Fremont Elementary became the first k-6 school in the nation to implement Kindle Fires in grades 5-6. RUSD has entered into a beta testing agreement with Amazon to identify the most effective ways to use these devices and Amazon's incredible cloud resources to enable and empower students to learn. Ms. Patti Popovich (Principal) and her staff began checking devices out to students 2 weeks ago and is already seeing teachers and students using these devices to improve teaching and learning.…

In August of 2012 Madison Elementary School will be checking out iPod touches to all its students for use at home and at school.  Madison leadership understands the power and potential of student centered technology and especially it's capability to extend the school day.  RUSD has conducted many different pilots at the k-6 level (most recently an implementation of Kindle Fires at Fremont Elementary school) and sites all over Riverside are allowing students who already have technology to…

Today marks my 8 year anniversary at RUSD.  I had resigned my position at Perris Union High School district because of philosophical differences about how and when teachers and students should have access to technology (shocking I know) and started here in May of 2004.  The 8 years have flown by and many great people who were here are no longer with us for a variety of reasons and other new faces and names have joined us.   I have the distinction of having 6 different titles during that time…

Hi All,

We recently hosted a visit by Dr. Charles Kerchner a noted researcher and retired professor.  After his visit he posted the following blog on his site and I wanted to share it with you…it’s located at http://www.mindworkers.com/

Today we had a team of reporters out from Chinese Central television (CCTV) to cover what we are doing with empowering student learning in our district. To date we have had local, state, national and international coverage of what we are doing but the sheer size of CCTV’s audience (2 Billion) is staggering. I’m always surprised at the world view of the California educational system as they still view us as the leader in innovative educational reform, even though in reality our state systems…

Edweek Digital Content Story

Hi All,

Follow the link below for a recent NPR interview concerning the results of the HMH study at Earheart Middle School

http://www.scpr.org/programs/patt-morrison/2012/01/23/22220/ipad-textbooks/

Hi Everyone,

Sorry to have been so late in updating the Ning and wishing you a Happy New Year. During the holidays I celebrated the birth of my Daughter Fara Sabina McPhail and now more than ever am committed to making sure that our educational system is relevant and up to date. To that end I have placed a list of goals for 2012 and I look forward to working with you throughout the year to meet them.

1. Empower students:

A. Expanding access for all RUSD students who are…