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Learning Technology Grant at East Ramapo

Building Teacher Capacity Through Technology, Design, and Career-Connected Learning

East Ramapo is participating in a New York State Learning Technology Grant designed to strengthen participating educators’ instructional practice in emerging technologies, design thinking, and career-connected learning. Through sustained professional development, coaching, and collaboration, educators are supported in bringing future-ready learning experiences into their classrooms.

Why This Matters

Through the Learning Technology Grant, Participating educators get access to professional learning that:

  • introduces new instructional models
  • builds confidence with technology tools
  • connects instruction to real-world careers
  • supports multilingual learners and students with disabilities
  • promotes collaboration, creativity, and student voice

This initiative ensures that participants receive the training, coaching, and resources needed to integrate these instructional innovations meaningfully and sustainably.

Professional Development Focus

The Learning Technology Grant supports participating educators through a structured PD model that includes:

✔ multi-day training institutes
✔ school-year mini workshops
✔ individualized instructional coaching
✔ digital curriculum and platform access
✔ educator communities of practice
✔ opportunities to document implementation artifacts

This structure ensures support before, during, and after classroom implementation.

What Participating Educators Are Learning

The professional learning is anchored in three core areas:

1. Design Thinking & Instructional Models

Participating educators explore frameworks such as:

  • human-centered design
  • project-based learning
  • iterative feedback cycles
  • blended learning routines
  • performance-based assessment

These models promote student agency and authentic problem solving.

2. Technology Integration & Emerging Tools

Training introduces technology tools used in modern work settings, including:

  • artificial intelligence
  • UX/UI and interface design
  • app prototyping tools
  • digital portfolio platforms
  • classroom technology systems

The focus remains on instructional purpose, not just tool familiarity.

3. Career-Connected Learning

Teachers learn how to:

  • incorporate career connections into lessons
  • use project work to explore workforce pathways
  • integrate industry mentorship
  • support student relevance and real-world application

This supports alignment to New York State’s Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards and expanding CTE opportunities.

Professional Learning Model

Participating educators progress through a multi-layered PD model that includes:

Summer Training Institute (3 Days)
Deep curriculum and instructional preparation.

Mini-PDs (5 Sessions across the Year)
Targeted sessions to support real-time implementation needs.

Instructional Coaching
Individualized and small-group coaching focused on planning, technology integration, and instructional moves.

Communities of Practice
Opportunities to share lesson artifacts, project work, and emerging practices.

This model supports ongoing growth and instructional adaptation, not one-time exposure.

Professional Development Materials

All presentations, agendas, handouts, and artifacts from PD sessions are stored in one shared folder:

📁 Professional Development Materials Folder

Resources will continue to be added throughout the 2025–2026 school year.

Classroom Implementation

Following professional learning, participating educators implement the work in their classrooms by:

  • integrating design thinking routines
  • incorporating technology into instruction
  • supporting multilingual learners through multimodal expression
  • facilitating collaboration and feedback
  • building digital portfolios
  • preparing students for showcases and exhibitions

Throughout implementation, teachers continue receiving coaching and peer support.

Student Experience 

Because of this teacher-centered approach, students gain opportunities to:

  • explore emerging technologies
  • design solutions to real problems
  • collaborate with classmates and mentors
  • share their work with authentic audiences
  • learn about careers in technology and design fields

Student success is driven by the instructional shifts made possible through teacher PD.

Year 1 Highlights (January – June 2025)

During the first phase of the grant:

  • recruitment for participating teachers took place
  • consortium and planning teams were established
  • teacher orientation sessions were delivered
  • coaching and curriculum plans were developed
  • evaluation tools were designed
  • implementation timelines were finalized

This phase established the foundation for full implementation in 2025–2026.

What Comes Next

Next phases of the grant include:

  • full classroom implementation
  • continued PD and coaching
  • engagement with industry mentors
  • student showcases and exhibitions
  • documentation of educator artifacts
  • multi-year planning for sustainability

Contact Information

For more information about the Learning Technology Grant, please contact:

Sonia Dominguez Saravia
Director of Instructional Technology & Innovation
East Ramapo Central School District
sdominguez@ercsd.or