What is the practice?
EnvisionIT has been defined as a curriculum focused on informational technology that integrates reading, writing, and technology content. It also includes instruction on (a) use of Internet to explore careers, complete age-appropriate transition assessments, and develop self-directed transition plans, and (b) how to complete online job and college applications” (Izzo et al., 2010, pp. 96-97).
The EnvisionIT curriculum is designed to teach fundamental 21st century skills to students with and without disabilities in four areas: transition planning/career readiness, information technology (IT) literacy, reading/writing, financial literacy. Activities leading up to the compilation of a Transition Portfolio include:
- Completing online learning and transition assessments
- Researching careers and postsecondary programs
- Developing a resume and cover letter
- Writing a personal statement and career narrative
- Completing employment and college applications
In the studies used to establish the evidence base for using EnvisionIT to teach information technology skills included using the EnvisionIT curriculum with 12 units. Implementation varied with some teachers implementing the curriculum every day for a 48-minute period in semester-long classes and others using an integrated schedule of a full week per month or a few days per week in full-year classes (Izzo et al., 2010). The EnvisionIT curriculum was delivered via an online course management system, Schoology and was designed to engage students in transition assessment and planning activities, while teaching reading and digital literacy skills to efficiently use the Internet to navigate educational, college, and career websites as students are taught to utilize specific key reading strategies (e.g., concept mapping, skimming and scanning, compare and contrast, summarizing; Lombardi et al., 2017). Information technology literacy increased for the intervention groups in both studies.
Where is the best place to find out how to do this practice?
More about the EnvisionIT - a free curriculum with teacher resources.
Where has it been implemented?
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- Special and regular education classrooms (n = 2 studies)
References used to establish this evidence base:
- Lombardi, A. R., Izzo, M. V., Rifenbark, G. G., Murray, A., Buck, A., Monahan, J., & Gelbar, N. (2017). The impact of an online transition curriculum on secondary student reading: A multilevel examination. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 40(1), 15–24. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165143416681287
- Izzo, M. V., Yurick, A., Nagaraja, H. N., & Novak, J. A. (2010). Effects of a 21st-century curriculum on students’ information technology and transition skills. Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 33(2), 95–105. https://doi.org/10.1177/0885728810369348
