Miami-Dade County Public Schools Use Wireless to Improve Elementary Reading Instruction

Wireless Generation and Miami-Dade County Public Schools today announced plans to work closely together to improve elementary reading instruction and learning across the district. Starting this fall, over 200 Miami-Dade elementary schools will use Wireless Generation's mCLASS system for formative assessment, reporting, and data analysis so that, throughout the school year, K-5 teachers can closely monitor children's reading progress, and can provide intensive, timely support to students who are at risk. In addition, Wireless Generation will provide consulting services that build teachers' capacity to provide instruction that accurately reflects and meets students' needs.The mCLASS system will enable district teachers to give the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) reading assessment efficiently and accurately with a handheld computer. District teachers already give the DIBELS three times each year, as the state requires. Most use paper and pencil, though 27 Reading First schools used mCLASS:DIBELS last year. The handheld device guides teachers through the assessment process to ensure that information collected is accurate, automates timing, and scores DIBELS instantly, for timely insight into student learning needs. When the handheld is "synced" to a Web-connected computer, the data is uploaded to a secure Website and made immediately available and useful to teachers and administrators via a series of customizable reports. The data is also transferred daily to the Florida Center for Reading Research's Progress Monitoring and Reporting Network.

In addition to making formative assessment a manageable, routine part of instruction, Miami-Dade and Wireless Generation are focusing on helping teachers and principals to use student data to inform their decisions about instruction, curriculum, and resources. Miami-Dade teachers will also use mCLASS Now What? Tools. These online tools help teachers interpret their data and group students for appropriate follow-up instruction. mCLASS Item-Level Advisor analyzes each individual student's DIBELS responses and shows his or her teacher the significant error patterns and what they mean. As a starting point for the teacher's instructional planning, mCLASS Small Group Advisor places students in groups based on what DIBELS reveals about their needs. The teacher can adjust the groups based on her additional knowledge of her students.

Each school has also been assigned a Wireless Generation consultant to work with staff on understanding their student data and using it to inform classroom instruction. Consultants are former educators with classroom and administrative experience, as well as specialized professional certifications in DIBELS and other reading and math assessments. Each school will have the same consultant throughout the year, ensuring an in-depth understanding of the students, the staff, and their needs. Consultants will make multiple on-site visits and also support school staff through email, phone, and Web conference communication. Principals will attend two workshops on Data Analysis for Instructional Leaders, which will help them to use data in making decisions about curricula and resources, and to create environments that support teachers in using data for instructional decision-making.

"We are pleased to work with Miami-Dade Public Schools, which has a vision for its schools that isn't just about assessment, data analysis, professional development, or leadership. It's about bringing all of these pieces together in a coherent, well thought out plan that effectively supports teachers, administrators, and most of all, students, in excellent teaching and successful learning," said Josh Reibel, Wireless Generation's president and CEO.

"The district is committed to providing its teachers with access to the best tools available. We welcome Wireless Generation as a partner," said Antoinette P. Dunbar, deputy superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

Wireless Generation pioneered the adaptation of mobile technologies, including handheld computers and digital pens, for use in managing and improving teaching and learning in grades pre-K-12. Currently, 100,000 teachers in 49 states and overseas use mCLASS to collect, analyze, and act on data about over 2 million students' reading and math learning. More information is available on the Web at www.wirelessgeneration.com.