The LT Media Lab (LTML) and Austin Public Schools (APS) are celebrating the culmination of their first year in partnership together and the launch of a second year (2015-2016). This “research-to-practice” partnership, which began in Spring 2014, is supported by the Hormel Foundation. Its purpose is to guide and support meaningful technology integration across the district. Dr. Cassie Scharber, Lana Peterson (LT PhD student), and Tiffany Nielsen-Winkelman (LT PhD student) worked closely with Austin district administration, technology integration coaches, and teachers throughout the past year.

This partnership is anchored in contemporary conceptualizations of teaching and learning that were created by a collective group of APS teachers and administrators. These five learning statements are driving change throughout the district, and provide continued support for the transformation of teaching and learning in Austin’s increasingly tech-infused schools.

Austin Public Schools is filled with talented and dedicated educators making this partnership a true pleasure for LTML staff to be engaged with this district. There are many highlights from the past year (2014-2015) including APS and LTML the presenting at the Society for Information Technology in Education Conference in March; helping Neveln Elementary School vision and plan for their new LaunchPad STEM classroom; leading APS staff from across the district in a coding-in-the-classroom workshop (pictures below); hosting a SciGirls training for APS and Minneapolis Community ED staff; and presenting to the Austin Public Schools’ school board.