State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced an enhanced web site called Digital Chalkboard that provides teachers with a virtual meeting place to collaborate, get training to improve their skills, find research, and share best practices so they are better equipped to help students.
“The Digital Chalkboard gives teachers the support they need to become better educators as we embark on exciting changes this year with the Common Core and online testing,” said Torlakson. “This is just one of our continuing efforts to help teachers so they can prepare every student for college and careers.”
Digital Chalkboard replaces the Brokers of Expertise web site. The portal now has more than 400,000 digital resources, including training modules and videos, model lesson plans, and research-based data. Teachers can also use the web site to join discussion groups where they can share success stories and help each other improve their teaching. It is faster and easier to navigate and provides more assistance to teachers who are implementing the Common Core State State Standards (CCSS), which are remodeling our education system to give students more real-world skills. It also consolidates help for teachers who are educating English learners and foster children.
In the second phase of enhancements, the State will work with public and private sector leaders to ensure the web site meets the changing needs of educators on how to improve teaching and learning.
Digital Chalkboard transformation is a result of Torlakson’s Education Technology Task Force’s report, Empowering Learning that created a blueprint for education technology to benefit students. The enhancements were made with the support of the Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation as part of its work on the CCSS communications. To access Digital Chalkboard, click here.