-
The Instructional Technology Initiative (ITI) is a department within the Division of Instruction that supports all schools interested in future ready instructional practice. The department’s main focus is in providing professional learning opportunities founded on instructional frameworks that leverage technology in purposeful, personalized ways, such as the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards. As a result of the ITI’s task force work, the ISTE Standards for Students were formally adopted by the District in June 2016, making L.A. Unified the first school district in the nation to do so. Key efforts supported by ITI include digital citizenship, computer science, and the dissemination and integration of the ISTE Standards.
To support ITI’s key efforts, the ITI team has designed various models of professional learning opportunities that are both rigorous and robust, leveraging research-based frameworks such as the ISTE Standards and the K12 Computer Science Framework.
To meet all learners where they are in their learning, ITI developed all professional learning sessions grounded in the ADKAR Prosci Change Management Model. For example, ITI offers individual learning sessions, such as the future ready Learning Foundations, the suite of ISTE Standards for Students sessions, and our Creative and Physical Computing offerings. Other sessions provide opportunities for learning together through a cohort-based approach, such as the Leadership Exchange or our Practitioner Schools model designed to build capacity as a school community.In every model of support, participants are empowered to embrace learning through a variety of entry points, all the while unpacking the ISTE Standards in meaningful ways. Our professional learning sessions are in alignment with the District’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan to advance academic excellence by prioritizing and focusing on consistent implementation of high-quality instruction to improve student outcomes.For all of our offerings, see our ITI Professional Learning Catalog
To register for an ITI professional learning session, please visit MyPLN
Future Ready Learning Foundations
Express your Creativity with Mulitmedia
Learners will develop teaching practices that leverage multimedia tools to enhance instruction. They will explore and engage with powerful digital tools for graphic-design and audio-making to support creativity with their learners, and gain an understanding of how to meaningfully integrate multimedia to support differentiated instruction and personalized learning.
(2-hours synchronous)
(2-hours synchronous)
Future Ready Learning Foundations
This session sets the foundation for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Students professional learning sessions offered throughout the school year. This highly interactive session provides a deep dive into the foundations for future ready Instruction. This session is available for 4 salary hours.
(2-hour synchronous | 2-hour asynchronous).
(2-hour synchronous | 2-hour asynchronous).
ISTE Digital Citizen
Learners will gain an understanding that being a good digital citizen is more than knowing your way around the web. This course is about understanding how to prepare students to make purposeful, smart, and ethical decisions in our digital world. These sessions will be 2-hour synchronous. This session is available for 2 salary hours.
ISTE Creative Communicator
Learners will develop ideas to create interactive activities designed to promote, support, and model creative thinking using a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models, or simulations. This 6-hour session will be offered in 3 2-hour parts. This session is available for 6 salary hours.
ISTE Global Collaborator
Learners will experience how collaborative technologies connect us with others which helps to broaden their
perspectives and enrich learning. This 6-hour session will be offered in 3 2-hour parts. This session is available for 6 salary hours.
ISTE Knowledge Constructor
Learners will develop ideas, reflect on their instructional design practices, and dialogue about best practices through
the use of Google Forms by focusing on the concept of knowledge constructor through the exploration of a real-world issue.
This 6-hour session will be offered in 3 2-hour parts.
ISTE Empowered Leaner
This course provides learners the opportunity to explore how collaboration allows students to take an active role in
achieving and demonstrating their learning goals. This 6-hour session will be offered in 3 2-hour parts. This session is available for 6 salary hours.
ISTE Computational Thinker
Learners will engage in critical thinking and problem solving skills, including the ability of individuals
to reason, ask pointed questions, solve problems, analyze and evaluate alternative points of view and react
critically on decisions and processes. This 6-hour session will be offered in 3 2-hour parts. This session is available for 6 salary hours.
ISTE Innovative Designer
Learners will understand how to integrate a variety of technologies in the design process as they explore the development of innovative solutions to real world problems. This 6-hour session will be offered in 3 2-hour parts. This session is available for 6 salary hours.
Digital Citizenship
Introduction to CyberSecurity Education (Asynchronous Self-Paced)
This 2-hour introduction to Cybersecurity Education session offered throughout the year will equip educators with essential knowledge and tools for the classroom. They will explore key concepts, best practices, and innovative teaching strategies to empower students with digital-age self-protection skills. Build a solid foundation for integrating cybersecurity education into your curriculum effectively.
ITI Reaching Beyond the Classroom - Digital Citizen (Asynchronous Self-Paced)
This course is designed to support educators in preparing to engage with learners that need to be empowered to thrive in an increasingly evolving technological landscape. Through a variety of activities, this course will provide opportunities to learn L. A. Unified’s definition of Digital Citizenship, the District’s policies
and best practices around engaging in digital learning environments, as well as provide a wealth of teaching and learning resources that educators can put into practice immediately. This course is offered through Schoology. The course can be completed at your discretion any time during the week since there will be no live
webinar sessions conducted for this course.
OBJECTIVE(s): Students will learn that a persons digital self is their digital record and online persona that together represent personal perspective, attitudes, behaviors, beliefs, and values.
- Students will learn that digital interactors are ethical and empathetic digital communicators and collaborators.
- Students will learn to be positive digital agents, who are proactive, informed activators/architects with technology as they explore, discuss, and advance digital, social and civic actions that contribute to the public good.
Digital Presence with Purpose
In this two-hour session, learners will receive guidance on curating a digital presence with purpose that is aligned to District policy and the District’s digital citizenship definition. Participants will explore promising practices from experts
who have managed digital engagement communities for national organizations.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) 101 for Educators (#TeachAI) (Asynchronous Self-Paced)
This professional learning opportunity equips educators to embrace and implement artificial intelligence in teaching, covering demystification, responsible implementation, addressing bias, and showcasing positive impacts on student outcomes. (3-hours asynchronous)
Unleashing the Potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Future Innovation
(Asynchronous Self-Paced)
(Asynchronous Self-Paced)
This course redefines AI's role in sparking educator creativity, offering insights into generative AI and various applications for productivity, distinguishing between its use for automating tasks and tapping into its potential for inspiring creative expression. (3-hours asynchronous)
Revolutionizing Educational Leadership in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
(Asynchronous Self-Paced)
(Asynchronous Self-Paced)
This course explores how school leaders can use AI. Learn about teaching with AI, digital citizenship, and computer science basics. Understand LAUSD's guidance on using AI responsibly and ethically, including policies and support for learning and curricular implementation. (3-hours asynchronous)
AI Empowerment for Educators: Boosting Productivity
This is a two-hour session where participants can explore the transformative potential of AI in enhancing productivity in educational settings. Educators can learn how to communicate effectively with AI, harnessing its full potential into their teaching to connect students to real world experiences. Through interactive activities and real-world examples, educators can gain invaluable insights into crafting clear, concise prompts for diverse educational contexts.
Artificial Intelligence Series
This is a professional learning opportunity whereby teachers will gain an understanding of Artificial Intelligence ( AI), and learn implementation strategies for the classroom.
This will be a 3-part course, 6 hours synchronous and 6 hours asynchronous, progressing from introductory to advanced.
-
Part 1: Introducing Artificial Intelligence - Learners will gain an understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI), engage in activities to introduce AI concepts and reflect on the implications of Artificial Intelligence in regards to ethics, access and equity for all.
(2 hours synchronous | 2 hours asynchronous)
-
Part 2: Exploring Artificial Intelligence - Learners will explore and integrate artificial intelligence (AI) in K-12 education.
(2 hours synchronous | 2 hours asynchronous)
-
Part 3: Teaching Artificial Intelligence - Learners will explore dynamic media products within a simulated learning environment, deep dive into the impacts of applications, and plan for the classroom integration of AI and how resources may be curated. Based on the concepts of ethics, access, and equity learned in the first session, we will build upon these foundational practices defined by ISTE and various learning platforms.
(2 hours synchronous | 2 hours asynchronous)
-
Part 4: Experiential Learning in the Metaverse - Learners will focus on implications of emerging technologies in PK-12 classrooms such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Virtual Reality (VR), Metaverse and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).
(4 hours synchronous)
Computer Science
Computer Science and Esports for Good
Enrich your students' learning experiences through the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by establishing an after-school Computer Science and/or esports Club. This will provide your students expanded learning opportunities with gamified, hands-on, immersive, and emergent tools and technologies.
Integrating Physical Computing, An Interdisciplinary Approach
Learners will engage in a hands-on approach to learning computational thinking skills to build conceptual models across content areas. This session incorporates algorithmic thinking to develop a sequence of steps to create and test automated solutions.
(2-hours synchronous | 2-hours asynchronous)
(2-hours synchronous | 2-hours asynchronous)
Introduction to CyberSecurity Education (Asynchronous Self-Paced)
This 2-hour introduction to Cybersecurity Education session offered throughout the year will equip educators with essential knowledge and tools for the classroom. They will explore key concepts, best practices, and innovative teaching strategies to empower students with digital-age self-protection skills. Build a solid foundation for integrating cybersecurity education into your curriculum effectively.
Learn, Design, Create: Cultivating a Maker Mindset
This is a 4-part course that focuses on the Maker Mindset and its benefits in the classroom. Throughout the series, teachers will learn how the Maker Mindset can promote multi-disciplinary instruction, encourage creativity, foster problem-solving, develop a sense of agency, and promote collaboration. Participants will become "Makers" as they engage in Problem-Based Learning and apply the design thinking process and emerging technologies to prototype innovative solutions related to the United Nations Sustainable Goals. The series will also explore how the Maker Mindset can support learning in numeracy, literacy, social-emotional, and other core content areas. Additionally, participants will take a deep dive into the ISTE Innovative Designer and Computational Thinker student standard to identify the skills and dispositions students need to become "Makers." Participants will have an opportunity to design an authentic learning experience for students leveraging resources such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Design Thinking Process, and emerging technologies.
(2-hours synchronous | 1-hour Asynchronous )
(2-hours synchronous | 1-hour Asynchronous )
-
Part 1: The Maker Mindset is a powerful approach to learning that can help students develop a range of skills and competencies, including creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. By encouraging students to take risks, experiment, and learn from their mistakes, teachers can help them develop the confidence and resilience they need to succeed in school and beyond.
-
Part 2: Take a deep dive into the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Learn how the SDGs can be leveraged to engage our students in real world problem solving and global citizenship. Engage in a “Maker” challenge and apply the Design Thinking process to prototype a solution to U.N Goal #3, Health and Wellbeing.
-
Part 3: Learn how Design Thinking is a problem-solving approach that is anchored around human centered design. Learn about the connection of UDL and Design Thinking. Engage in a “Maker” challenge and apply the Design Thinking process to prototype a solution to U.N Goal #14, Life Below Seawater.
- Part 4:Unpack the ISTE Innovative Designer and Computational Thinker student standards and explore their connection to the “Maker Mindset. Engage in a “Maker” challenge and apply the Design Thinking process to prototype a solution to U.N Goal #11, Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Level Up Literacy
Elevate your teaching toolkit with an engaging session as part of the Level Up Los Angeles Series. Learners will dive into a dynamic exploration of literacy practicing writing and defending arguments reimagined through the lens of game-based learning. These skills will support participation in the Level Up Los Angeles esports Competition with Minecraft Education.
Level Up Numeracy
Elevate your teaching toolkit with an engaging session as part of the Level Up Los Angeles Series. Learners will immerse in an exciting exploration of real-world problem-solving in math tasks, all presented through the dynamic lens of game-based learning. These skills will support participation in the Level Up Los Angeles Esports Competition with Minecraft Education.
Level Up Social Emotional Learning
Elevate your teaching toolkit with an engaging session as part of the Level Up Los Angeles Series. Learners will build skills in an interactive journey into the world of social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies while participating in a unique game-based learning format. These skills will support participation in the Level Up Los Angeles Esports Competition with Minecraft Education.
Level Up Los Angeles - Getting Started
Prepare your students for an epic coding adventure with a special professional learning session tailored to the Level Up Los Angeles esports Competition with Minecraft Education. Join us to discover the strategies, tools, and insights needed to guide your students towards success in esports and game-based learning!
Mastering the Game: An Introduction to the World of Esports
This is a 2-hr session intended to build knowledge and skills to effectively incorporate the growing phenomenon of esports into their classroom environment. This session aims to familiarize educators with the emerging world of gaming and explore its educational potential as a tool for student engagement, skill development, and career exploration.
Navigating Computer Science
Educators and administrators are invited to explore the vision for computer science education. Explore possible solutions
for your school site, learn about upcoming professional learning sessions and review current standards. This session is available for 2 salary hours.
(2-hours synchronous)
(2-hours synchronous)
Foundations for Computational and Critical Thinking (Early Education)
This four-hour session will provide participants the opportunity to explore beyond the screen with augmented intelligence.
This is an adaptive and engaging experience for educators in Early Education. Participants will learn about how different
digital resources can be used to reinforce math, English, coding, and student‘s imagination.
(2-hours synchronous | 2-hours asynchronous)
(2-hours synchronous | 2-hours asynchronous)
Developing Programming Skills (K-5)
Learners will understand the foundations of computer science, specifically block coding, while engaging in physical computing activities.
(These 3 sessions will be 2-hours synchronous)
(These 3 sessions will be 2-hours synchronous)
Computational Thinking and Playful Learning (Grades 1-5)
Learners will engage in designing a content-specific experience for students, incorporating the ISTE Computational Thinking Competencies and playful learning by remixing lessons.
Beginning Creative Computing through Interdisciplinary Instruction
Learners are guided through the basics of block coding utilizing the Scratch platform. Learners will have a hands on experience in learning how to apply the creative arts and computing through an interdisciplinary approach.
(2-hours synchronous | 2-hours asynchronous)
(2-hours synchronous | 2-hours asynchronous)
Computer Science Fundamentals
Learners will explore basic computer science concepts and digital citizenship skills while creating interactive games,
digital stories and creative collaborative projects. (iPad, laptop or desktop preferred). This session is available for 2 salary hours.
(2-hours synchronous)
(2-hours synchronous)
Building Creative Confidence
Learners will explore the versatile brick set to create all sorts of life-like or
imaginary figures, objects and buildings. Learners will develop fine
motor skills while constructing, using building cards that support and inspire
their creativity.
(These 3 sessions will be 2-hours synchronous)
(These 3 sessions will be 2-hours synchronous)
An Interdisciplinary Approach to Creative Computing
Learners will engage in computational thinking by participating in a variety of physical computing challenges.
(These 3 sessions will be 2-hours synchronous)
(These 3 sessions will be 2-hours synchronous)
Launch into Beginning Computer Science Programming (Grades K-2)
Learners (Grades K-2) will learn to program and share interactive media such as stories, games, and animation and use it to collaborate with students using visual programming language and learn to think creatively, work collaboratively, and reason systematically. This session is available for 2 salary hours.
(2-hours synchronous)
(2-hours synchronous)
Launch into Beginning Computer Science Programming (Grades 3-8)
Learners (Grades 3-8) will be introduced to computer science programming by exploring computer science concepts aligned to their passions through interactive storytelling, art, and game design. This session is available for 2 salary hours.
(2-hours synchronous)
(2-hours synchronous)
Spark Your Creativity through Game-Based Learning with Minecraft Education
Learners will be introduced to Minecraft Education, a game-based learning platform that builds C+STEM skills, unleashes creativity and engages students in collaboration and problem-solving (laptop or desktop preferred). This session is available for 2 salary hours.
(2-hours synchronous)
(2-hours synchronous)
Game-Based Learning Series
Explore ways to introduce your students to game-based learning with the engaging and popular Minecraft Education. These sessions are for all certificated staff including PK-12 educators, administrators, librarians, and counselors. Please have available a fully charged laptop computer, mouse and charger to each session and know that your learning and engagement will be limited if you do not have a functional device and mouse.
This 3-Part course will provide learners opportunities to explore game-based learning as part of the curriculum and to see the possibilities of how Minecraft can help students learn valuable future ready skills skills in a whole new way. Through sets of tutorials and game features, Minecraft Education provides endless opportunities for exploration and storytelling while building critical future ready skills like collaboration, creative problem solving and digital citizenship.
This will be a 3-part course, 6 hours synchronous and 6 hours asynchronous, progressing from introductory to advanced. It is recommended that you have attended ITI Spark Your Creativity Through Game-Based Learning with Minecraft Education prior to enrolling in this course. This session is available for 12 salary hours.
-
Part 1: An Introduction to Game-Based Learning with Minecraft Education - Learners will build foundational understanding of game-based learning, develop navigation skills, and have hands-on experiences with Minecraft Education features integrating standards-based activities.
(2-hours synchronous | 2-hours asynchronous)
-
Part 2: Game-Based Learning with Minecraft Education - Customizing and Designing Lessons - Learners will customize existing content in Minecraft worlds for increased engagement, differentiation, and student autonomy within the virtual learning environment.
(2-hours synchronous | 2-hours asynchronous)
-
Part 3: Game-Based Learning with Minecraft Education - Getting Creative with Code Builder - Learners will explore code builder activities that can be leveraged to promote computational thinking and problem solving through thematic game-based activities.
(2-hours synchronous | 2-hours asynchronous)
Secondary Computer Science
Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles (APCSP) (Grades 9-12)
Computer Science Principles (APCS Principles) introduces students to the foundational concepts of computer science and challenges them to explore how computing and technology can impact the world. The AP Program designed AP Computer
Science Principles with the goal of creating leaders in computer science fields and attracting and engaging those who are traditionally underrepresented with essential computing tools and multidisciplinary opportunities.
(4 hours synchronous | 2-hours asynchronous)
(4 hours synchronous | 2-hours asynchronous)
Advanced Placement Computer Science A (APCSA) (Grades 9-12)
In Computer Science A (APCSA), students learn object-oriented programming using Java. Students take on the role of software engineers, and practice skills that are used in the field. The Code.org curriculum for CSA is designed for any high school student who wishes to continue their computer science education after completing an introductory course such as Computer Science Principles (CSP) or Computer Science Discoveries (CSD).
(4 hours synchronous | 2-hours asynchronous)
(4 hours synchronous | 2-hours asynchronous)
Exploring Computer Science (ECS) (Grades 9-12)
Exploring Computer Science (ECS) is an introductory high school course designed to engage students in computational thinking and practice.
(4 hours synchronous | 2 hours asynchronous)
(4 hours synchronous | 2 hours asynchronous)
Computer Science Discoveries (CSD) (Grades 6-10)
Computer Science Discoveries (CS Discoveries) is an introductory computer science course that empowers students to create authentic artifacts and engage with computer science as a medium for creativity, communication, problem solving, and fun.
(4 hours synchronous | 2-hours asynchronous)
(4 hours synchronous | 2-hours asynchronous)
Computer Science Cadre
Computer Science Cadre
In efforts to expand Computer Science Education (CSEd) in L.A. Unified, the Instructional Technology Initiative will be launching the ITI Computer Science (CS) Cadre for the 2022-2023 school year. If you are interested in taking your CSEd professional learning to the next level, this CS Cadre is for you! This quarterly weekend professional learning series will ground you with CS foundations around equity and access, CS instructional and assessment design, and CS leadership to bring inclusive, equitable, and rigorous CS instruction in your role and context.
Education Leader Network
Education Leader Network
ITI is encouraging interested administrators to apply and become part of the ITI Education Leaders Network (ELN). These sessions are for administrators who share a common interest in cultivating their leadership skills around future ready learning. Administrators will receive the benefit of becoming part of a community of learners with in-depth professional learning sessions provided by ITI. These sessions will be 1-hour synchronous with additional
1-hour of asynchronous work.
If interested please complete the form below:
http://bit.ly/ELNinterestform
Teacher Leader Network
Teacher Leader Network
Teacher Leaders participate in a series of learning sessions to reflect upon and refine their practices in order to accomplish their self-selected goals. Each session provides participants an opportunity to engage as learners exploring instructional practices that will empower them to provide personalized learning experiences as well as share their learnings with others. These sessions will be 2-hour synchronous. This session is available for 1-salary point.
For more information, please complete the interest form for the 2023-2024 school year.
Leadership Exchange
Leadership Exchange
In collaboration with the Instructional Technology Initiative through the Leadership Exchange, school instructional leadership teams (ILTs) will address and accelerate student learning by leveraging technology for data-based and differentiated instruction, innovative and continuous improvement cycles, and robust professional development around effective teaching and learning practices.
Schools interested please complete the Leadership Exchange Interest Form.
- Participants: Instructional Leadership Teams (ILTs), that include up to three teachers and the participation of the principal.
Google Certified Educator Program
Google Certified Educator Program - Level 1 (Asynchronous Self-Paced)
ITI’s Google Certified Educator (GCE) Program - Level 1 (L1) is a self-paced course designed for certificated educators who wish to demonstrate proficiency in using Google Workspace for Education tools into their practice to enhance teaching and learning.
- You will have one month to complete the course
- You will need an active personal/alternate Google account to access tools not accessible with your SSO
- Office hours will be available to participants
- To receive full credit and compensation for this course, participants must take the GCE L1 exam and submit evidence of passing the GCE L1 exam
- Compensation upon submission of evidence at the District sponsored training rate for three hours
- Certifications are valid for 36 months
Google Certified Educator Program - Level 2 (Asynchronous Self-Paced)
ITI’s Google Certified Educator (GCE) Program is designed for certificated educators who wish to demonstrate proficiency in using Google Workspace for Education tools.
- You will have one month to complete the course
- You will need an active personal/alternate Google account to access tools not accessible with your SSO
- Office hours will be available to participants
- To receive full credit and compensation for this course, participants must take the GCE L2 exam and submit evidence of passing the GCE L2 exam
- Compensation upon submission of evidence at the District sponsored training rate for three hours
- Certifications are valid for 36 months
Please fill out this interest form if you would like to be contacted when Professional Learning Opportunities for the ITI Google Certified Educator Program are available.
Practitioner School 7.0 - Empowered Learner
ISTE Certification for Educators Program
ISTE Certification for Educators Program
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Certification for Educators Program is a rigorous, competency-based, device-neutral certification designed for ambitious educators who want to use technology to catalyze learning. Designed to build competency with the ISTE Standards for Educators, the certification combines face-to-face and online pedagogy-focused professional development with a competency-based evaluation.
If interested please complete the form below: https://bit.ly/ITI-ISTE-Interest
If interested please complete the form below: https://bit.ly/ITI-ISTE-Interest
