The state’s only online library of digital content teaching resources aligned to Oklahoma academic standards has expanded to include new resources and tools for elementary and middle school teachers.

The Oklahoma Library of Digital Resources, which first launched in August with resources for 10 high school courses, is an innovative, collaborative and cost-saving effort to help schools leverage technology to improve student achievement. It contains free and low-cost, high-quality content digital resources and tools for teachers and families to meet students’ individual academic needs at all grade levels in English language arts, math, science and social studies.

The resources include audio and video files, apps, digital textbooks and a variety of other online tools.

“Schools have left behind the one-size-fits-all approach to education,” said Shawn Hime, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, which created and maintains the library. “As schools leverage technology to create individualized academic experiences for students, teachers need easy access to high-quality digital resources that are aligned to our state’s academic standards. The Oklahoma Library of Digital Resources helps fill that gap.”

More than 100 Oklahoma school districts already have one-to-one technology initiatives to make sure every student has a device, according to a state Education Department survey conducted last year. That number is expected to double over the next two years.

OSSBA launched the Oklahoma Library of Digital Resources in collaboration with Apple and with the support of corporate partners Express Personnel Services, American Fidelity and the Oklahoma Publishing Company/Anschutz Foundation. The library is housed in iTunes U and can also be accessed at www.okdigitalresources.com. All of the resources are accessible on any internet-connected device, including non-Apple devices.

More than 100 Oklahoma teachers have worked with OSSBA over the last year to collect the resources and match them with Oklahoma’s academic standards. The high school courses include algebra 1, algebra 2, geometry, English 1, English 2, biology, chemistry, personal finance, Oklahoma history and United States history.   Digital content resources are now available for grades prek-8 in math, English/Language Arts, science, and social studies.

OSSBA plans to expand the library again in August with resources for additional high school courses.