Creating a Technology Rich Learning Environment

1. Creating a Technology Rich Learning Environment

2. Anna NolinPrincipal Wilson Middle School Boston College Doctoral StudentHow to Central Office Leaders Gain Acceptance for Large Scale Technology Implementations? 16 years as an educator in MA 4 years leading a technology preparation/1:1 laptop implementation in Natick Administrator’s Apple Academy, Technology Trainer Not an advocate for any one teaching/technology solution….

3. MASchool Technology & Readiness (STAR)*Designed by the MA Education Technology Advisory Council

4. MA DESE Benchmarks for Technology Implementation • Commitment to a Clear Vision and Implementation Strategies • Technology Integration and Literacy • Technology Professional Development • Accessibility of Technology • E-Learning and Communications

5. Developing Sustainable District Technology Plans

6. A new achievement gap:Avoid the greatest cost…

7. The Research: Leadership is Key • Principal’s instructional leadership has .42 effect size on student learning (Robinson, Lloyd, & Rowe 2008) • Technology to support specific pedagogy has become increasingly specific and detailed making it hard for leaders to support teachers as they “explore and experiment” with their practice (Flanagan and Jacobsen 2003) • The principal’s beliefs and use of technology can set the technological tone throughout the school (Anderson & Dexter, 2003)

8. PLCs and Technology Implementation: Bang for Your Buck • PLCs can ease technology implementation issues • Districts have invested heavily in PLCs • Research indicates that PLCs positively impact student achievement, teacher efficacy (Lee, Zhang & Yin, 2011 Vescio, Ross, & Adams, 2007) • PLCs allow for distributed leadership =increased teacher voice = increased buy-in (Zhao & Frank, 2003; Dexter, 2004) • Distributed leadership reduce fears = collaborative competencies (Flanagan & Jacobsen, 2003; Gronn, 2002) • PLCs can help an organization innovate more effectively and speed change in implementation

9. Natick Public Schools • Natick is one of 10 school districts across the country selected by Project Red as a Signature District. • “Project Red conducted the first and only national study of education technology to focus on student achievement and financial implications. In our research of nearly 1,000 schools we discovered a replicable design for successfully introducing technology into the classroom – one that leads to improved student performance and cost benefits”. • www.ProjectRed.org • Implementation Tools:http://www.projectred.org/resource-materials/red-tools/Implementation-Tools/ • Research Findings: 9 Key Factors http://www.projectred.org/about/research-overview/findings.html

10. Dennis Roche CISA, CISM • Technology Director Natick Public Schools - 7 years • 20 years experience in private sector IT • International IT Certifications (ISACA.ORG) • Certified Information Systems Auditor - CISA • Certified Information Systems Security Manager – CISM • I’m not a salesman!!!

11. The Natick Story

12. Technology Director Business Manager How much you got? What do you need?

13. July 2005 • Hired to turn Technology Around in Natick • No real direction but high expectations • High dissatisfaction • People who wanted to help but didn't know how bad it was • New building project on the horizon - New High School in about 5 years

14. Where to Start? • Need to develop a plan • Need to review staffing • Need to review all technology assets • Need to review all technology processes • Need to review all technology policies • Need to talk to all stakeholders

15. Technology Audit

16. Technology Audit • Document the facts • What's in place • Where are the gaps • Identify best practices and goals to implement • The plan is then simple to develop

17. Technology Audit • Review of IT Department • Detailed Review of Infrastructure • Review feedback from stakeholders • Develop the Plan

18. Gaps Identified • IT Department • Not team oriented • Under staffed • Too much reliance on one or two people • No professional development

19. Gaps Identified • Infrastructure • Aging equipment everywhere • No replacement cycle defined • Servers, Wiring Closets, Classrooms • No real standards or strategies established

20. Gaps Identified • Classrooms Technologies • Limited resources and most dated • Limited to access to teachers and students

21. The Challenge Making Sense of this Mess!

22. The Plan

23. The Plan • Leadership & Team-Building • Back End Infrastructure • Front End Infrastructure • Professional Development • Funding Everything!

24. IT Team Building • Help Desk – First Responders • Network Admin – Infrastructure • Data Team – All Data Base & Reporting • Training –Teacher Professional Development

25. Technology Staffing

26. Back End Infrastructure (Things people don't see!) • Switches & Routers (Wiring Closets) • Cabling (Fiber, Cat 5 & 6, Patch Cables) • Firewall & Internet Circuit (Security & Bandwidth) • Web Content Filter (Local or Roaming) • Servers (Internal & External) • Storage (Personal Files & Data Bases) • Wireless (Controllers and Access Points) • Proactive Monitoring Systems

27. Trends in Technology Infrastructure Outsourcing (Cloud Computing) • Outsource Critical Systems Needing 24/7 Access: • District Web Site • Student Information System • Health System • Google Apps for Education - Email and File Services

28. Trends in Technology Infrastructure Outsourcing (Cloud Computing) • As you Outsource - Technology Budget requests will shift from large capital investments to smaller annual operating budget expenses. • Software As a Service (SAAS) – As your infrastructure and access matures more web based subscriptions will be requested. • Internet Bandwidth – Always review anytime behavior on the network significantly changes – New applications or drastic increase in devices.

29. Robust and Secure Infrastructure Internet Filtering School Wide Wireless Mobile Device Management

30. Front End Infrastructure Classroom Technologies • Computers – Desktops, laptops, tablets, netbooks etc. (Over-ride Spring 2008 for teacher laptops) • Projectors & Interactive Whiteboards • Printers, Scanners, Document Cameras • Digital Cameras

31. After Teacher Laptops • Opened up opportunities for increased professional development. • Investment in projectors and interactive whiteboards to build on teacher laptop experience and shared it with students. • Investment in wireless infrastructure to improve access to technology and set the stage for the student laptop program.

32. Professional Development • You can’t over train so do it constantly. • Established Professional Learning Communities • Annual Technology Day • Build a Model Classroom • Don’t forget to train your IT Staff too!

33. Getting Technology in the Hands of our Students

34. Musts for Starting a Student Technology Program • Do your homework and visit as many school districts as you can. • Rollout a Faculty 1 to 1 Program First – Train and collect feedback along the way. • Pilot your concept with students and tweekas you go. • Don't focus on the device - focus on student outcome.

35. School Provided Devices vsBYOD

36. School Provided Devices

37. Advantages of School Provided Devices • Can control and standardize everything provided • Can limit administrative rights • Can implement a mobile internet filter • Can streamline support using a Mobile Device Management (MDM) System

38. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD Model)

39. Advantages of BYOD Model • Can push device cost to families. • Limit the district’s responsibilities on managing devices to in school only. • Fewer barriers in the way of students to accessing resources.

40. The Device Decision • Devices change constantly so don't focus on devices until you are close to making a purchase decision. • What platform do you want to standardize on? (Windows, Mac, Web) • What type of device laptop, netbook, tablet? • What's your budget? • Who will pay for it? ( School or Families)

41. The Device Decision • Natick identified Apple as a key vendor providing the complete solution: • Hardware • Software • Professional Development • K12 Experience

42. The Device Decision • The best technology rich learning environments - teachers and students have the same device. • Minimizes surprises in the classroom • It’s builds on a successful 1 to 1 Faculty program • Focus is on learning not the Technology • The Apple Macbook was our answer.

43. Tools to Enhance the Learning Process Student Equipment MacBook Laptop 13-inch, 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - White 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 320GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm, 4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB, SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD ±RW/CD-RW) External 500 GB USB Backup Drive Protective Bag 3 Year Warranty Laptop Charger

44. Tools to Enhance the Learning Process

45. Laptop Warranty & Annual Fee • All computers are covered by Apple’s warranty against manufacturer’s defects for three years. • A $75 annual user fee is charged. Failure to pay the annual fee and the laptop is restricted to in school use only. • The Natick School District’s Laptop Computer Accidental Damage/Loss Policy is in place to cover most issues that may arise with the laptop.

46. Laptop Accidental Damage/Loss Policy Tiered approach for damage and repairs: • Tier I - $0 (Minor wear & tear covered by annual laptop fee) • Tier II - $100 (Moderate damage or part replacement, ie: broken DVD drive) • Tier III - $200 (More expensive repair due to spill damage, cracked screen, dropped laptop) • Tier IV – Full value of the device if lost or stolen. GPS tracking will be used when a police report is filed.

47. Business Managers Can Make a Difference

48. Business Managers Can Make a Difference • Make long term investments before short term spending: • Long Term:Staffing Infrastructure Professional Development Programs • Short Term: Devices (Usually last 3 – 5 years)

49. Business Managers Can Make a Difference • Staffing – Support needs to be immediate in 1 to 1 environment. Next day support will not work. • Infrastructure– Know what infrastructure is required for your learning environment. Identify what needs to be local and what can be outsourced. • Professional Development - Be creative in creating opportunities to train the faculty and technology staff. You can’t do too much!

50. Business Managers Can Make a Difference • Devices – Be consistent on what you give or recommend for your teachers and students. • Funding Source – Drives which device ownership model you select and how much management can be implemented.