Case Studies: How Successful Learning Engineers Use Technology to Improve Schooling

2. CASE STUDIES
How Successful Learning Engineers
Use Technology to Improve Schooling

3. CARPE DIEM COLLEGIATE HIGH
SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL
Yuma, Arizona
Through a blended learning
model that combines
computer-assisted
instruction with redesigned
classrooms, Carpe Diem
altered the traditional
school perspective to
provide more individualized
instruction for students.

4. CARPE DIEM
Making Technology Work
Carpe Diem changed the roles of
teachers, parents, students, and
administrators by relying on technology
to design personalized education
programs for students.
• Cultivated relationships among
students and teachers that span
grade levels and reduce the learning
curve each school year.
• Leveraged technology to build upon
new classroom design and studentteacher relationships. The school has
five teachers and four aids for the
entire student body since each
student has a digital curriculum to
follow.

5. Results
• In 2011-12, Carpe Diem
ranked among Arizona’s
10 highest-performing
charter schools.
• It has outperformed
Arizona’s four-year
graduation rate five of
the six years between
2007 and 2012.
• It has exceeded the
state assessment
average at every grade
level.
CARPE DIEM

6. MOORESVILLE GRADED
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Mooresville, North Carolina
By focusing on putting learning
solutions first, Mooresville used
affordable technology to engage
students and increase academic
performance. In
2007, Mooresville issued
laptops to all 4th and 12th
graders and licensed staff, and
added smart boards in all K-3
classrooms.

7. Making Technology
Work
• Redesigned classrooms to better
engage students and teachers.
• Focused on practice and
feedback rather than lectures.
• Provided 24-hour access to
learning materials.
• Held formative data meetings
through the year to look at
class, school, and individualstudent performance.
• Encouraged teachers to discuss
their work.
MOORESVILLE

8. MOORESVILLE
Results
• In 2013, Scholastic
Administrator named
Mooresville the best school
system in the country.
• Mooresville superintendent
Mark Edwards was named
Superintendent of the Year
by the American
Association of School
Administrators.

9. ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION
Nationwide Network
This charter school
network integrated
computer-assisted
learning to customize and
personalize instruction
and to offer additional
learning time to students.

10. ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION
Making Technology Work
• Employed a “blended” model
of classroom learning.
• Featured computer-assisted
and paraprofessional support
in a “learning lab.”
• Split up students’ learning
time between the
conventional classroom and
the learning lab.
• Developed personalized
tutoring based on student
proficiency in the learning
lab.

11. Results
ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION
• In 2013, Rocketship Education
was the highest-performing
public school for low-income
students in California.
• Rocketship Education has been
approved to open 20 new
schools in San Jose.
• Rocketship Education expanded
to Milwaukee in 2013.
• As of 2013, Washington, DC;
Indianapolis; New Orleans; and
Tennessee had each approved
eight or more Rocketship
schools.

12. SUMMIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Bay Area, California
Six charter schools first
founded in 2003 comprise
Summit Public Schools.
Through tech partnerships
formed in 2011, Summit
Public Schools redesigned its
model to offer students more
time for one-on-one
help, teacher-led
discussions, and group
projects.

13. Making Technology Work
• Partnered with Kahn Academy
to pilot a “self-directed”
learning model for students.
• Had students set their own
learning goals.
• Redesigned the school day to
integrate technology-based
individualized learning.
• Provided every teacher with a
laptop and made assignments
and handouts available to
students and parents online.
• While forging ahead with tech
integration, monitored
students and designed custom
learning plans for those
students who responded well
to using technology.
SUMMIT

14. Results
• In 2003, Summit Preparatory
Charter High School scored
within the top 10 percent on
California’s Academic
Performance Index.
• Three-quarters of its seniors
pass at least one AP exam.
• 96 percent of its graduates are
accepted to a four-year college.