The New Agenda: Achieving Personalized Learning Through Digital Convergence

K-12 education is facing its most significant tipping point in nearly a century. The accelerated emergence of technology in the classroom is threatening the traditional structures, processes, and systems that have governed our nation's school systems since the Industrial Revolution. Now, superintendents and educational leaders are seeking innovative solutions to harness the promise of educational technology and blended learning to transform their districts for the modern age. What can K-12 leaders learn from how the retail industry has embraced the digital revolution? How should superintendents and leaders approach the complex intersection between technology and education? How does integrating technology in the classroom affect other systems within an institution? Why does this change transcend the mere conversion from analog to digital and instead require the convergence of multiple components of the education system? These are just a few of the questions Dr. Shawn K. Smith answers in his book, The New Agenda. As a former Chief of Schools and educator who now consults school systems across the country, Dr. Smith shares the practical strategies and insights that have helped some of today s most innovative minds advance the work of Digital Convergence the fundamental movement to transform teaching and learning for the modern age. This book teaches educational leaders how to: - Think strategically about digital convergence and how technology has changed the classroom - Identify the processes for building your strategic personalized learning plan - Understand the interdependencies of learning management systems, digital content, and digital tools - Design and develop a digital ecosystem - Implement processes for writing a digital and/or blended curriculum - Develop short-term and long-range professional learning plans for all employees in a school district Despite its promise, technology has created significant challenges for K-12 leaders, who need new strategies to navigate its disruptive change. Whether you are struggling to evolve from the traditional classroom model or are preparing to engage in this important work, this is a must-read book that will forever change the way you think about twenty-first century education.

Dr. Shawn K. Smith is an education futurist and national leader on issues surrounding digital education and pedagogy. He is currently serving as President of Modern Teacher and he is compelled to preserve education s rich heritage and support America s teachers and leaders as they transition traditional classrooms into modern learning environments. As a rare book collector, Smith has one of the world s largest private collections of John Dewey s writings. He is the author of Teacher as Architect: Instructional Design and Delivery for the Modern Teacher and The Shape of Change: The Continued Journey of the Digital Convergence Framework (forthcoming, Magnusson-Skor Publishing). He has appeared on both the Discovery Channel and TLC as well as various radio, web, and podcast programs. Prior to founding Modern Teacher, Smith was a teacher, principal, and Chief of Schools for 15 years in school districts in Illinois and California. He holds degrees from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin (bachelor s degree, elementary education), the California State University, San Bernardino (master s degree, middle school education), and the University of Southern California (doctorate degree, urban education policy and leadership). Dr. Smith s extensive research and experience in the field continues to inform his thought leadership. Today, he collaborates with more than 100 school districts across the country to help them overcome challenges with creating and scaling modern learning environments. In his role as President of Modern Teacher, he works beside some of today s most innovative and prominent leaders to challenge the status quo and find new, better solutions. Follow Shawn on Twitter and Instagram @DrShawnkSmith