Inside USBE > Departments and Programs > Teaching and Learning > Academic Areas and Supporting Programs > Digital Teaching and Learning
Utah's formal Digital Teaching and Learning (DTL) initiative began in 2012 with the collaborative efforts of local school systems, the Utah State Board of Education, the Utah Education and Telehealth Network (UETN), and the Legislature working together. This led to the creation of Utah's Master Plan: Essential Elements for Technology Powered Learning, which articulates the intent of technology-powered learning in Utah, including the critical role of educators as the architects of learning.
Each section has resources and tools to assist districts, schools, administrators and teachers as technology is leveraged to improve teaching and learning. We are committed to providing resources and support as you augment effective pedagogy practices with purposeful implementation of educational technology, always keeping in mind that learning comes first and technology is secondary to exceptional pedagogy.
Dr. Patty Norman, Co-Chair
Utah State Board of Education
Dr. Ray Timothy, Co-Chair
Utah Education and Telehealth Network
Todd Call, Coordinator
Utah State Board of Education
Tony Campbell
Washington School District
Missy Hamilton
Murray School District
Scot McCombs
Canyons District
Dawn McNiel
Ignite Entrepreneurship Academy
Duke Mossman, Executive Director
Northeast Utah Educational Services (NUES)
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) interested in receiving Digital Teaching and Learning (DTL) Grant funding need to do the following:
Fiscal Year 2022 Digital Teaching and Learning Grant Application Submission Document
Google Docs
Instructional Document
Google Docs
Projected Allocations
Google Docs
April 2, 2021
Grant Application Draft Due
May 3, 2021
Grant Application Final Due
The DTL Grant Program for LEAs was created in accordance with the following regulation:
The Digital Teaching and Learning (DTL) Program was launched in 2016, funding grants in 65 Local Education Agencies (LEAs) across the state in Cohort 1. Cohorts 2 and 3 added a total of 15 additional LEAs in subsequent years. Each participating district or charter school has created a plan for DTL, approved by the Utah State Board of Education, in order to receive DTL Grant Program funds.
To review DTL Grant Plans for cohorts already in progress, including background information, targeted outcomes, implementation progress, and evaluation reports, please visit the Digital Teaching and Learning Grant Program (Dashboard).
Utah's Master Plan Essential Elements for Technology Powered Learning
Digital Teaching and Learning Grant Program
Utah Education Network (UEN)
Digital Teaching And Learning Grant Program (Dashboard)
Learn Platform
Learn connects educators and technologies to raise the bar on learning (EdTech Management)
The Future Ready Framework
Future Ready Schools
Utah State Board of Education Checklist of Minimum Requirements for the Educational Technology Endorsement (Inservice/College Course Work/Demonstrated Competency)
Utah State Board of Education Educator Licensing
Educational Technology Endorsement Programs (ETEP)
Utah Education Network (UEN)
If you have any questions, please contact Rick Gaisford, EdTech Specialist at (801) 538-7798 or via e-mail at rick.gaisford@schools.utah.gov.
In 2012, the Utah State Legislature funded the Early Intervention Software Program (EISP) to support the growth of K-3 students’ literacy. Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in Utah can select from among four computer-based literacy programs which provide individualized instruction and are designed to supplement students’ classroom learning.
Early Interactive Reading Software Program Report
Utah State Board of Education Policy, Law and Professional Practices
Early Intervention Reading Software Program Report
Utah State Board of Education Policy, Law and Professional Practices
Early Intervention Reading Software Program Report
Utah State Board of Education Policy, Law and Professional Practices
Best Practices for Improving Early Intervention Software Programs (EISP) in Utah Schools: 2016-2017 K-3 Qualitative Study Findings
Utah State Board of Education Policy, Law and Professional Practices
Utah’s Early Intervention Reading Software Program: 2016-2017 K-3 Program Evaluation Results
Utah State Board of Education Policy, Law and Professional Practices
Title 53F-4-402: UPSTART Program to Develop School Readiness Skills of Preschool Children
Utah State Legislature
Is an in-home, technology-delivered kindergarten readiness program that is designed to give Utah four-year-old's an individualized reading, mathematics, and science curriculum with a focus on reading. Children participate in the program the year before they attend kindergarten. The UPSTART program is administered by the Waterford Institute.
Parents and caregivers in both English and Spanish, and qualifying families without them may receive a Chromebook and Internet during the time they are in the program.
During 2015-2016 the UPSTART Program will serve 6,622 children. While all Utah children are eligible to participate in UPSTART, legislation extending the UPSTART Program gave participation priority to low-income families and families that are not native English speakers.
UPSTART legislation also charged the Utah State Board of Education with working with the Waterford Institute to establish a price for the program so that families that cannot be served by state funding can pay to participate in the program. For 2015-2016, the price is $725. Families must provide their own computers and Internet access. For more information, please contact the Waterford Institute at 1 (800) 669-4533.
Please contact Jimmy Hernandez at jimmy.hernandez@schools.utah.gov if you have any questions.
The Utah English Learner Software Initiative provides English Learners throughout Utah access to literacy software, training, and support.
Please contact Melanie Durfee at melanie.durfee@schools.utah.gov for more information.
During the 2020-2021 school year, educator and students leveraged remote learning to be able to support teaching and learning. Many of the resources developed to support adjustments due to COVID-19 remain relevant as we adjust our teaching practice based on what we learned. To support educators in their continued development of knowledge and skills in using digital tools and online learning environments, The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) staff curated key resources from Utah Education Network (UEN), Utah Leading through Effective, Actionable and Dynamic (ULEAD) Education, and others to provide a set of useful resources.
Principles for Remote Learning
This professional learning course is intended to provide Utah educators with the tools and practices for instruction to meet the needs of students in remote learning circumstances. The focus areas include: designing for asynchronous and synchronous instruction, effective communication with students and families, creating and delivering active engagement in learning opportunities aligned to standards, providing equity, choice and flexibility in the learning, designing effective ways to provide and receive positive and constructive feedback with students, and connecting with the social and emotional needs for students.
Better By Design: How to Empower Students in Virtual and Distance Learning Environments
We didn’t ask for this. We didn’t anticipate this. But now many of us are teaching online and virtually. In this workshop, we explore how to boost engagement, improve collaboration, and increase student ownership in distance learning environments. We explore, step-by-step, how to improve virtual class meetings, how to use choice menus strategically, and how to get students engaged in creative projects at home. By the end, you’ll have tools, strategies, and a clear plan for the future.
Fact Versus Fiction: An Educator Guide for Surviving and Thriving During and Infodemic
In this fun interactive session, we tackle what we consider the most important work of our time: evaluating information to determine what has been designed to inform vs what has been designed to influence, fool or even harm us. The road ahead is long and difficult, and our students need guides along the way. Jennifer has built this session to be your map and compass.
Finding Your Why: Taking School Leadership to the Next Level
Get ready for a fun, interactive, and meaningful webinar that will leave you energized and ready to take your leadership to the next level! We'll find your 'why,' as we keep it real and explore practical, tangible strategies to build culture, tell your story, improve learning, and increase your leadership capacity- in just one hour!
Rethinking Learning in the Digital Classroom
As society and technology change, so does literacy (National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Digital Literacy position statement, 2019). From books to onscreen text to digital media, students have more opportunities than ever before to access, interact and build new knowledge. But are we adjusting our pedagogy to adopt and adapt instruction to meet the needs of today’s learner? Across grades and content areas, we rethink what it means to design and craft lessons that explicitly teach students to analyze a photo, closely read a video clip and read the world. Whether teaching in the school building or virtually, these strategies endure.
The Brainiacs Guide to Maximizing Instructional Time
In this interactive session, participants will learn how to maximize instructional time according to brain sciences. You don’t need to be a scientist to follow these simple, but effective instructional techniques that align with how our brains naturally prefer to learn. The session will be helpful for those teaching remotely or face-to-face.
Using Slide Decks as an Interactive Tool for Distance Learning
Learn how to use Google Slides as an interactive tool between students and teachers for instruction and communication in a distance learning setting.
External Online/Distance Learning Resources
How to Succeed in Distance Learning: 5 Tips for Families
How to Succeed in Distance Learning: 5 Tips for Students
How to Succeed in Distance Learning: 5 Tips for Teachers
Strategies for Successful Blended Learning in Elementary Schools
The resources on this page were curated to support communities and teachers. Some of the resources are links to external resources created by external organizations or individuals. The resources linked within have not been fully vetted by the USBE, and their inclusion is not meant as an endorsement from USBE, nor is it meant to replace or confuse any guidance teachers receive from their districts, administrators, or employers.
Todd Call
Coordinator
Phone (801) 538-7785 | E-mail
JC Mejia
Program Specialist
Massively Integrated Data Analytics System (MIDAS)
Phone: (801) 538-7751 | E-mail
Melanie Durfee
Digital Teaching and Learning Specialist
Phone (801) 538-7719 | E-mail
Sydney Young
Digital Teaching and Learning Specialist
Phone (801) 538-7959 | E-mail