Student Engagement in Forsyth County

Successful long tail companies make engagement easy. They woo users with an easy interface that remembers who they are, what they like, and connects them with others. Why has this been so hard to do with learning in schools?

Because successful long tail companies have sophisticated code and systems working behind the curtain to make connections seamless. School systems have been notoriously far from seamless and the information collected is intensely political.

As part of a Federally funded i3 grant, Forsyth County Schools in Georgia is tackling this “grand challenge” with a five-year project: Engage ME P.L.E.A.S.E. Each student in the district will have a Learner Plan determined not by age and where they should be in a standardized curriculum, but by where they actually are and how best they actually learn. A single system used by students, parents, teachers, and administrators will connect the district’s student information system with standards-based learner plans and a content management system, rich with activities and resources. Students will be engaged in learning activities best suited to their learning needs with input from their own work as well as teachers and parents.

I’m looking forward to seeing this project unfold and hopeful for success, not just in one district, but across learning systems.