Schoology Implementation Plan

Worcester County Public Schools
Implementation Plan
Overview
The purpose of this document is to provide stakeholders with information in specific areas to guide
their decision-making process as we transition from using Engrade to Schoology as our learning
platform. To ensure a smooth transition, we have provided six flyers with recommendations for
stakeholders with the rationale behind the recommendations. The flyers also address how the
recommendations address the four strategic goals of Worcester County Public Schools and resources
for implementing the recommendations.
Through the adoption and implementation of Schoology, we will provide students with the ability to
access course resources at anytime, from any location. This will allow teachers to guide students
directly to the appropriate resource while reducing the risk of time wasted searching for content or
materials. Students will be able to log in from any device to complete assignments or access learning
materials, creating a more efficient and effective learning environment. Students who are absent from
school can access the missed lessons and assignments before returning so they don’t fall behind in
their learning. Teachers will be able to provide feedback more quickly, which will improve the
learning process for students. The ultimate goal of this plan is to increase student achievement by
providing more flexibility in students’ learning experiences through the accessibility of the learning
content.
Below is a brief description of the topic for each flyer.
Digital Citizenship
We must teach students how to self-monitor the quality of their habits, actions, and consumption
patterns that impact the ecology of digital content and communities.
Professional Development
We must provide adequate, consistent professional development on Schoology that is relevant to the
needs of the teachers and students.
Onboarding New Staff and Students

We must ensure that all new staff and students are adequately prepared to use the learning
management system in an effective way.
Coaching
We must provide individual, personalized support for all teachers through teacher leaders.
Role of Adminstration
We must provide support from administration, who will use Schoology to provide professional
development, communicate with staff and students, and manage administrative tasks.
Role of Parents
We must provide parents with important information about Schoology so they can support their
children in the learning process.
Implementation Plan
Digital Citizenship
Recommendations
We are asking students to use technology in our classes. Therefore, we must teach them to use it
responsibly. Just as we teach students how to make physical healthy choices, we must teach students
how to make healthy digital choices. It is recommended that each school create a plan for teaching
digital citizenship to ALL students in a way that is appropriate for the level of the student. This could
include the following options:
● Primary classroom teachers can incorporate lessons on a regular basis.
● Secondary teachers of a specific content area (for example, all social studies teachers) can
incorporate lessons on a regular basis.
● Homeroom teachers can incorporate lessons on a regular basis.
● A required “specials” course could be offered.
The purpose is to teach all students positive digital behaviors so it must be a method that will provide
exposure to all students, not just those who choose to participate or used as a disciplinary action.
However, in addition to courses, there may be extra-curricular activities promoting digital citizenship
that students can join such as a club to tweet positive messages about students. There may also be
separate courses for students who make poor digital choices who need reinforcement in positive
behaviors.
Additionally, promotional and informative materials and programs can be used to spread specific
messages. This could include artwork/posters hanging in classrooms and halls, videos during
announcements or in the cafeteria, and positive digital behavior rewards.
Rationale
As Schoology implementation begins, students will be using devices more for education that ever
before. It is our responsibility, as educators who are requiring the use of technology, to teach our
students how to be good digital citizens. We already teach citizenship through our requirement of
community service hours and government courses, as well as our numerous initiatives and activities
that promote positive community membership. We must also guide students through this concept in
the digital world. Many of our discipline problems stem from social media and its misuse. Technology
is a powerful and beautiful tool, when used appropriately. However, it can be destructive and
damaging when misused. While students are still under our guidance, we must help them learn how
to self-monitor the quality of their habits, actions, and consumption patterns that impact the ecology
of digital content and communities.
Relationship with WCPS Strategic Goals
Academic Achievement
GOAL: Every student will be academically successful and experience continuous growth by
engaging in a rigorous instructional program preparing them for a competitive, culturally diverse
world.
Implementation Plan
By teaching students how to self-monitor habits, actions, and consumption patterns that impact the
ecology of digital content and communities, teachers will provide students with the skills needed to
make a positive impact on their community.
School Safety
GOAL: Every Worcester County Public School will be a safe and secure learning environment that
creates and maintains a culture of respect and positivity with the intention of promoting the
well-being of every student.
Students will learn the quality of habits, actions, and consumption patterns that impact the ecology of
digital content and communities. By implementing positive behaviors, the number of discipline issues
in the schools caused by negative digital behaviors will reduce creating a safer learning environment
for students. Encouraging positive digital behaviors will also promote a culture of respect and
positivity throughout the school.
Resources
The Definition of Digital Citizenship:
https://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/the-definition-of-digital-citzenship/
Digital Citizenship resources by Common Sense Media:

https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship
Digital Citizenship: http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/
Digital Citizenship resources by Edutopia: https://www.edutopia.org/topic/digital-citizenship
Digital Citizenship resources by ISTE: https://www.iste.org/learn/digital-citizenship

Implementation Plan
Professional Development
Recommendations
In order to effectively implement Schoology, the district will provide professional development
opportunities for all teachers. These include:
● Schoology Boot camps being offered during the summer to learn the features of Schoology
● Creation of a website that provides resources for using Schoology and other digital tools that
have been approved by the central office
● Continual training for lead teachers in each school
It is important that professional development is offered not just at the district level but also at the
school level. Therefore, for each school, we recommend:
● Regular (a minimum of monthly) PD sessions during the school year that focus on the basic
features of Schoology and provides teachers with work time to practice in the presence of
teacher leaders who can help guide the learning process
● After school (paid) workshops that focus on “extra” features of Schoology
Rationale
As teachers transition from Engrade to Schoology, they will need time to learn how to effectively use
the platform. The district-wide boot camps will allow teachers to spend time learning the platform
before implementation in the fall. Teachers can choose from one of three sessions and work, as much
as desired, over the summer to learn the platform and build their classes. The school-based time
needs to be provided during the bi-weekly, 45-minute in-service time so as not to take away from the
teachers’ normal planning and PLC time. The topic of these sessions, which should be lead by the
teacher leaders being trained at the district level, should be the basic features that all teachers must
use so that everyone has the opportunity to learn the tools that are expected to be used with students.
Those teachers who are interested in learning more may attend the after school workshops to learn
additional features to enhance their students’ learning. This will provide all teachers with the
opportunity to dig deeper in to the platform as it fits with the needs of their classrooms. The website
of resources will provide teachers with extra help at their own convenience as it will provide tutorial
videos and step-by-step instructions for various features of Schoology and other digital tools that can
be integrated with Schoology. It will also provide suggestions for how each tool might be used in
different grade levels and content areas.
Organizational Effectiveness
GOAL: Worcester County Public Schools will maximize organizational effectiveness through
professional learning, continuous growth and participative leadership while maintaining integrity,
transparency, and a commitment to professionalism.
The consistent professional development on Schoology will improve organizational effectiveness by

providing opportunities for teachers to lead their colleagues in growing in their use of technology and
learning the Schoology platform.
Resources
Implementation Plan
Beginner’s Guide to Schoology:

https://www.schoology.com/blog/a-beginners-guide-to-using-schoology-the-back-to-school-essentia
ls
Schoology How-to Videos:

https://support.schoology.com/hc/en-us/sections/200216633-Schoology-Videos
Schoology Help for Instructors:

https://support.schoology.com/hc/en-us/categories/202764287-Instructors
Schoology Help for Students:

https://support.schoology.com/hc/en-us/categories/200077723-General#section-header
Schoology Help for Administrators:

https://support.schoology.com/hc/en-us/categories/200077693-Help-Center#section-header
Implementation Plan
Onboarding New Staff and Students
Recommendations
As new staff are hired in the district, there needs to professional development that focuses on the
basic features of Schoology and provides teachers with work time to practice in the presence of
teacher leaders who can help guide the learning process. This PD should be given during the new
teacher orientation week and teachers should be grouped by school level and potentially content area,
depending on the number of new teachers and available lead teachers for training. The new teachers
will be accompanied by their mentor teachers who will work with them to learn and build their
courses in Schoology.
Students will be introduced to Schoology by their teachers. Each teacher will be given the login
information for his or her students to be able to help them log onto the platform. Teachers will guide
students through their courses in the platform to familiarize students with how to navigate the course.
If a student is having difficulty logging on, the teachers will notify the tech coach and lead teachers at
the school so they can help fix the issue.
Rationale
Since new staff will not have had the opportunity to participate in professional development prior to
their date of hire, they will need support in learning how to access and use Schoology. Sessions
specifically targeted to new staff will allow them to learn the platform and how it can be used in their
classroom with the support of lead teachers who are already using it.
While all classes will be expected to use Schoology, each teacher may use it differently based on his or
her content area and grade level. For this reason, teachers will be responsible for guiding students
through their own course in the platform so students understand how it will be used for that
particular course. This also allows students to learn the specific features that will be used by their
teachers. For example, if a teacher wants to use the discussions feature in his or her course, the proper
use of the feature must be demonstrated to students by that teacher because the students’ other
teachers may not use it and, therefore, will not teach them how to use the tool.
Academic Achievement
GOAL: Every student will be academically successful and experience continuous growth by
engaging in a rigorous instructional program preparing them for a competitive, culturally diverse
world.
By guiding students through their own courses in Schoology, teachers will provide students with the
skills needed to access the necessary content to be academically successful. Using an online learning
management system will also help students learn technical skills that will prepare them for careers
and college.
Implementation Plan
The targeted professional development for new teachers on Schoology will improve organizational
effectiveness by providing opportunities for new teachers to grow in their use of technology and
learning the Schoology platform with the support of the lead teachers and their mentor teachers.
Resources
ls



Implementation Plan
Coaching
Recommendations
Each school in the system has a group of lead teachers who have been and are continuously being
trained on the use of Schoology. It is the responsibility of these teachers to lead professional
development and coach other teachers in the building. Each school should create its own method for
how these lead teachers will coach their colleagues. The following are some options that schools could
use:
● At least one lead teacher in each department who can work with colleagues in an individual or
small group setting to provide more direct support.
● At least one lead teacher in each grade level who can work with colleagues in an individual or
small group setting to provide more direct support.
● At least one lead teacher in each hallway or pod who can work with colleagues in an individual
or small group setting to provide more direct support.
● A schedule of days and times when each lead teacher in the building is available to work with
teachers on specific Schoology topics or issues
Rationale
There will be some teachers who are part of the early adopters or early majority who will spend their
own time learning Schoology and will be more independent in building their courses. These teachers
may not rely on the lead teachers very often as they enjoy discovering the features on their own.
However, there will be teachers who are part of the late majority or laggards who will need more
support in recognizing the value of Schoology and/or how to use it because they may be less
comfortable with technology in general. Using a coaching model will help these teachers feel more
comfortable because they will be provided with more individual and personalized support.
Coaches will be able to build relationships with these teachers by spending time with them working on
their needs.
Using a coaching program will improve organizational effectiveness by providing opportunities for
teachers to lead their colleagues in growing in their use of technology and learning the Schoology
platform. It will also demonstrate the district and schools’ commitment to each teacher, regardless of
his or her level of comfort and independence with technology, by meeting the individual needs.
Resources
ls

Implementation Plan

Coaching for Change:

https://eleducation.org/resources/coaching-for-change-teacher-centered-coaching
Taking Teacher Coaching to Scale:

https://www.educationnext.org/taking-teacher-coaching-to-scale-can-personalized-training-become-
standard-practice/
The Art of Coaching Teachers: https://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/coaching_teachers/
A Coach for Every Teacher:

http://www.ascd.org/publications/newsletters/education-update/mar18/vol60/num03/A-Coach-for
-Every-Teacher.aspx
Coaching Classroom Instruction:

https://www.marzanoresearch.com/resources/tips/cci_tips_archive
What is Coaching: https://www.teachingchannel.org/coaching2

Implementation Plan
Role of Administration
Recommendations
It is important for the administrators in each school to be familiar with how Schoology is used for
teaching and learning in their buildings. They must also understand how it can be used to provide
professional development for teachers, to communicate with teachers and students (and parents, if
and when that feature is enabled for the district), to access data for decision making, and to manage
various activities in the school such as clubs, extra-curricular activities, and after school academies.
Administrators must also meet with the lead teachers regularly to maintain open lines of
communication with them and understand the progress and current needs of the staff and students.
They must support the leadership of the teacher leaders and provide resources, such as time and
funding, which are necessary for them to carry out their responsibilities.
Rationale
District and school administrators can use Schoology to provide professional development
opportunities for teachers using the groups or courses feature. This will allow professional
development to be more flexible regarding the time and location while maintaining accountability for
engaging in the activities. They can also use Schoology to communicate important information to
teachers and students. This will be especially helpful at the high school level where students may
attend two different schools and frequently miss announcements. Administrators can access various
data through Schoology to be more informed about student progress and for making decisions for the
school. They can also use the calendar feature to post the dates and times for all of the events in the
school so everyone has access to the information. This may encourage more staff and student
participation in school events.
Although the delivery of professional development often comes from administrators in a district or
school, sometimes the most effective sessions are led by teachers. Because teachers and students will
be the primary users of Schoology, teacher leaders should be leading the professional development
with the involvement and support of the administration. The faculty must understand that the
administration is part of the planning and delivery process, even if the role is small. Their support
provides a sense of value and accountability to the learning that is taking place. Teachers will invest
more time into Schoology if they understand that it is expected from the administration. Teacher
leaders will feel supported if the administration is involved. Regular meetings between teacher leaders
and administrators will build their relationships and allow for honest and transparent
communication. Problems and needs will more efficiently and effectively be addressed.
Communication and Collaboration
GOAL: Through collaborative relationships, staff, families and our community will experience
timely and honest communication about district initiatives, activities, and performance.
Using Schoology will allow the administrators a means to which they can easily communicate with
staff and students. This provides more effective and efficient communication so that everyone will
have accurate and timely information.
Implementation Plan
The administrative support of consistent professional development on Schoology will improve

organizational effectiveness by providing opportunities for teachers to lead their colleagues in
growing in their use of technology and learning the Schoology platform. Administrative support of a
coaching program will improve organizational effectiveness by providing opportunities for teachers to
lead their colleagues in growing in their use of technology and learning the Schoology platform. It will
also demonstrate the district and schools’ commitment to each teacher, regardless of his or her level
of comfort and independence with technology, by meeting the individual needs.
Resources
ls

Schoology Help for Administrators:

https://support.schoology.com/hc/en-us/categories/200077693-Help-Center#section-header
Creating a Culture of Coaching to Support Teachers in Every School:

https://edsource.org/2017/creating-a-culture-of-coaching-to-support-teachers-in-every-school/5918
56
10 Ways for Administrators to Support Coaches:

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/coaching_teachers/2014/10/10_ways_for_administrators_to_.ht
ml
How to Build a Successful Instructional Coaching Program:

https://www.insighteducationgroup.com/blog/how-to-build-a-successful-instructional-coaching-pro
gram
The Easiest Way to Triple the Impact of Coaching - Principal Support:

https://www.instructionalcoaching.com/the-easiest-way-to-triple-the-impact-of-coaching-principal-support/
Implementation Plan
Role of Parents/Guardians
Recommendations
The role of parents in the plan has the potential to change over the course of the implementation. At
the beginning, parents and guardians will not have access to Schoology just as they did not with
Engrade. Parents and guardians will still have access to the PowerSchool app, in which they can view
their children’s graded assignments and overall grades, as well as other school data such as
attendance. To inform parents of the implementation process and its implications for their children,
consider the following suggestions:
● Each school provides parents and guardians with information on the expectations for students
using Schoology.
● At back to school activities, teachers will demonstrate how Schoology will be used in their
classrooms and explain the expectations for the students.
● Information regarding current parent access will be communicated to all parents and
guardians using multiple methods such as text messages, phone calls, newsletters, and on the
district and school websites.
If, and when, parents and guardians are provided access to Schoology, information pertaining to
logging on and navigating the platform will be provided through each school and on the district and
school websites.
Rationale
The district leaders decided not to provide parent access to Schoology in the first year of
implementation in order to allow teachers the opportunity to learn the platform and design their
courses. At the end of each year, the district leaders will discuss the issue and decide whether or not it
will be provided for the following school year.
While parents and guardians will not have access to the platform in the first year, it is still important
for them to understand how it will be used in their children’s education. Therefore, we must provide
them with the information and be available to answer their questions. Teachers, administrators, and
district leaders will be available to answer questions that appropriate to their level of knowledge and
responsibility. Teachers will be able to address questions specific to their courses, while school
administrators and district leaders will answer questions about policies and school and district-wide
expectations. By being transparent, we are demonstrating to parents and guardians that we want their
children to succeed and we want them to be active participants in that success. The school staff,
parents/guardians, and students create a team that works together for each child’s success.
Communication and Collaboration
GOAL: Through collaborative relationships, staff, families and our community will experience
timely and honest communication about district initiatives, activities, and performance.
Providing parents/guardians with information about Schoology will allow them to understand the
district initiative and how they can help their children through the implementation process. Using
multiple methods of communication provides access to the information for all parents/guardians.
Implementation Plan
By providing parents/guardians with information about Schoology and their access (or lack thereof)
to it, the school system is maintaining transparency and a commitment to professionalism. Providing
honest answers and requesting feedback builds the partnership and mutual respect between families
and schools.
Resources
ls


Worcester County Public Schools: https://worcesterk12.org

Schoology Implementation Plan

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Worcester County Public Schools

Below is a brief description of the topic for each flyer.

Onboarding New Staff and Students

Digital Citizenship resources by Common Sense Media:

Digital Citizenship:​ ​http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/

Digital Citizenship resources by Edutopia: ​https://www.edutopia.org/topic/digital-citizenship

Digital Citizenship resources by ISTE: ​https://www.iste.org/learn/digital-citizenship

The consistent professional development on Schoology will improve organizational effectiveness by

Beginner’s Guide to Schoology:

Schoology How-to Videos:

Schoology Help for Instructors:

Schoology Help for Students:

Schoology Help for Administrators:

Onboarding New Staff and Students

Schoology How-to Videos:

Schoology Help for Instructors:

Schoology Help for Students:

Schoology How-to Videos:

Schoology Help for Instructors:

Coaching for Change:

Taking Teacher Coaching to Scale:

The Art of Coaching Teachers: ​https://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/coaching_teachers/

A Coach for Every Teacher:

Coaching Classroom Instruction:

What is Coaching: ​https://www.teachingchannel.org/coaching2

The administrative support of consistent professional development on Schoology will improve

Schoology How-to Videos:

Schoology Help for Administrators:

Creating a Culture of Coaching to Support Teachers in Every School:

10 Ways for Administrators to Support Coaches:

How to Build a Successful Instructional Coaching Program:

The Easiest Way to Triple the Impact of Coaching - Principal Support:

Schoology How-to Videos:

Schoology Help for Students:

Worcester County Public Schools: ​https://worcesterk12.org

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Digital Citizenship: http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/

Digital Citizenship resources by Edutopia: https://www.edutopia.org/topic/digital-citizenship

Digital Citizenship resources by ISTE: https://www.iste.org/learn/digital-citizenship

The Art of Coaching Teachers: https://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/coaching_teachers/

What is Coaching: https://www.teachingchannel.org/coaching2

Worcester County Public Schools: https://worcesterk12.org