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In my EDL 680 course, which is Introduction to Enterprise Architecture, we are reading several pieces of information and research on enterprise architecture and frameworks. This particular week we focused our efforts and learning on data and data standards. As usual, a very timely topic to relate back to AAS.
There are numerous agencies and organizations which require data, and internal uses for this information as well. At the state and federal level, this data is sometimes used for funding decisions and norms tracking. We collect data to report on our progress with our Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs), and to share with our governing and oversight organizations, such as our Board of Directors and charter authorizing districts. AAS started collecting another set of data this year through our partnership with i-Ready. We are testing our scholars as they return/start the school year, and at two (2) additional points throughout the year. The goal is to assist with personalized instruction and support, see where our scholars are and provide additional assistance if necessary to help them be successful in our virtual program. As our vision states, we are working to "create a collaborative virtual learning community, inspiring scholars to appreciate the ways in which arts and sciences nurture a curiosity for life-long learning, and prepare scholars to take responsibility for their future success." These test scores and data pieces are a means to do just that, help prepare our scholars to be successful in whatever they choose to do once they graduate from AAS with their high school diploma.
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In my EDL 680 course, which is Introduction to Enterprise Architecture, we are reading several pieces of information and research on enterprise architecture and frameworks. This continues to be a challenging journey to understand, though pieces are starting to click as the course progresses.
I continue to learn how to use EA and try to apply it and some of the other lessons from this course at AAS. This week we took at look at the current and desired states of our organization, in a number of areas. What I continue to realize is we have a ways to go to move from a start-up charter school to a model program. That is not to say we are not doing great things at AAS, rather, there is still opportunity to grow, build and enhance our work in and for the community. One of the big areas I would love to tackle in the coming weeks is the creation of mission and vision statements for each of our divisions and departments. Our entire staff came together this past February to create a new mission, vision and core values for AAS. Now is the time to take those guiding principles and create visions for each of our departments. We have a great foundation at AAS. Now is the time to use these new tools to build on our foundation and enhance our various programs and initiatives, whether they are meant to serve our scholars, learning coaches, staff and/or community members. In my EDL 680 course, which is Introduction to Enterprise Architecture, we are reading Scott Bernard's "EA3: An Introduction to Enterprise Architecture" along with several other pieces of research on enterprise architecture and frameworks. As I stated in my last entry, this is a new topic to me, one that is both exciting and a little scary to learn (exciting to learn and implement, scary as its part of a course for credit at SDSU)!
What I know and /or assume thus far is we rely on technology, in our personal and professional lives, and even at AAS as a virtual school. AAS truly relies on the effective deployment of technology to ensure a robust educational experience is available to the scholars we serve and the staff we employ. Technology is a key asset to many organizations, including our own. We have several pieces of hardware and many software solutions that we utilize. EA and EA Frameworks help ensure technology is intertwined with the mission and vision; a true partner is the strategic plan. As previously mentioned, I am excited to continue to learn more about EA and how it can be successfully used in the educational setting. I am part of an amazing cohort of educational leaders from across the state, all at different stages of their careers and holding various roles within their schools. This is the perfect cohort to learn together and find ways for each of us to utilize EA in our classrooms, schools and districts. I am excited to use this tool as AAS works on charter renewals, WASC renewal and evaluates many of its contracts which expire at the end of the fiscal year. (Truly exciting as a majority of our long-term contracts are up for renewal; perfect time to use EA to be on the same page and ensure everything we bring to AAS makes sense.) In only a few short weeks, I have started to better understand EA and how it can work in education, much like it works in business and government. This was a major federal project in the 90s. I have also learned that I need to learn more, to better understand the best ways to use EA. So many times we learn about a new tool and want to deploy it, without truly taking the time to understand that tool. I plan on spending a great deal of time over the next several weeks to fully understand EA and its uses, and see how it can be used at AAS. |
AuthorJ.J. Lewis - a blog sharing the journey throughout SDSU's MA.EL. program. Archives
April 2019
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