Aug. 15, 2018-- Last year Toms River Regional Schools began piloting Learner-Activated Technology-Infused Classrooms (LATIC), an educational philosophy developed by Nancy Sulla and espoused by her Innovative Designs for Education Corporation (IDE). It was, in fact, LATIC that inspired the district to pursue and ultimately win a Steelcase Education grant to remodel a classroom at High School North into an Active Learning Center. As the district introduces its second cohort of teachers to the program, IDE’s Gina Vodola visited the offices at 1144 Hooper Avenue yesterday to train high school administrators.

Championed by 6-12 Director of Curriculum Norma DeNoia, LATIC embodies the direction of Toms River Regional Schools over the past several years, but brings it more clearly into focus and provides the necessary training and resources, allowing colleagues to turnkey methods and branch the philosophy district-wide. Its principles include empowering students to take ownership of their learning; cross-curricular units; pushing students’ thinking through collaboration and by building relationships; and encouraging instructors to cede some control of the classroom in the interest of student voice and choice. Tuesday’s training was modeled likewise, with administrators freely moving about, sharing ideas, and driving the discussion. Photos below.