Smart Schools Investment Plan – PHASE 1: Classroom Technology

Smart Schools Investment Plan

PHASE 1: Classroom Technology

PROPOSAL

This proposal includes personal computing devices and tablets for student use and interactive panels for classroom use.

The personal computing devices and tablets are projected to be Dell Chromebook model 11 3180 and the Apple iPads respectively. The district intends to use the smart bond money to purchase 1000 devices (enough for each student plus extra for additional students or replace/repair).

The interactive flat panels are projected to be SMART board model 6265. The district intends to use the smart bond money to purchase 20 interactive flat panels. These flat panels are for new classroom as well as replacement installation. The district’s electrical and HVAC infrastructure can accommodate the additional devices.

This proposal was developed by the Canajoharie District Technology Committee (DTC); a committee comprised of teachers, administrators, and students. The DTC will play an active role in the implementation of the 1:1 Chromebook devices and interactive flat panels.

The Canajoharie Board of Education approved this Phase I plan on 4/12/18. 

PROPOSED INVESTMENT

The smart schools bond act investment is based on pricing obtained in early 2018. A small add was made to accommodate for potential increases in cost from the time of submission to the time of approval and purchase. 

  • Dell Chromebook 11 3180 – 885 units – $250/unit – $221,250

  • Dell Work In Cases 325-BBPO – 800 units – $19.99/unit – $15,992

  • Devicewear 3180 Case – 85 units – $36.99 – $3,144

  • SMART Board IFP 6265 – 20 units – $3,999/unit – $79,980

  • Apple iPad Gen. 5 128 GB – 115 units – $399/unit – $45,885

  • Tripp Lite 32 Charging Station – 16 units – $1,100/unit – $17,600

  • HDE iPad Bumper Case – 115 units – $19.99/unit – $2,099

  • Pearington 30 Charging Cart iPad – 4 units – $600/unit – $2,400

  • Cost increase allotment (5%) – $19,337

  • Total proposed investment – $406,067

RATIONALE

In December 2017, the Canajoharie Board of Education adopted the following vision and mission statements to guide the district’s forward movement:

Vision: Every Learner, Together, World Ready

Mission: Every day in our school district we foster a relationship-based safe learning environment. We provide access for all students to fully participate in an education process that incorporates skill development and academic achievement with out-of-classroom interests, talents, passions and activities. We educate the whole child so they become self aware, critical thinkers, who are culturally and socially conscious adults.

The District Technology Committee (DTC) used the vision and mission statements to guide the development of vision statement for technology in the district. The vision statement is:

Empowering students to create limitless opportunities using technology

Technology use for instruction is focused on supporting student learning in the post information age. Technology is a powerful tool that, when used strategically, provides a personalized and collaborative learning environment that helps all students become productive adults.

The world of our students is a world that we cannot totally envision. Their jobs are not yet created. The pace of learning and change in their world requires their learning environment and access to materials be flexible and mobile. Every physical location in the school should have the capacity to be a connected learning environment for students to complete individual or collaborative works. 
This proposal supports the current approved instructional technology plan goals:

  • Equip classrooms and teachers with instructional technology to support student learning.

  • Create collaborative learning spaces for students to use mobile devices to work together to complete learning projects.

  • Provide professional development for staff and students on the use of interactive flat panels, 1:1 devices, and the integration of technology into the curriculum.

ENHANCEMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING THROUGH PURCHASES

The application of Chromebooks and interactive flat panel smart boards will enhance student learning in the following areas:

GENERAL BENEFITS FOR ALL STUDENTS:

  • Students will learn to type in an efficient manner.

  • Digital interaction is engaging for students.

  • Increase student/teacher communication outside of the school day.

  • Digital work submission eliminates “the dog ate my homework” and other excuses.

  • Enable cloud-based computing and increased access at home.

  • Students will take personal ownership of the work they complete as part of group projects.

  • Students will use technology tools for organization purposes.

  • Prepare students for higher education and employment opportunities in the new technology-driven economy.

  • Students will have the opportunity to learn skills such as coding, gamification, and working across different platforms.

  • Increase access to information beyond the school walls such as remotely bringing professionals into the classroom or taking virtual field trips.

ENHANCED DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION:

  • Personal computing devices will provide a stronger opportunity for personalized instruction, mobile learning, online courses, greater communication between teachers and students, group works, and online access to course materials.

  • Students have access to open source availability.

EXPAND STUDENT LEARNING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM:

  • Provide online and/or blended course options for students.

  • Students can collaborate with others outside traditional school hours; learning time is expanded.

  • In the case of an extended absence, teachers can provide learning materials rather than waiting for a student to return to school.

BENEFIT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS:

  • All school districts are required by federal law to make all materials accessible to students with disabilities. Our students with disabilities have access to all district devices. In addition, the special education department has iPads available for student use. Our HS testing center includes Kurzweil reading and dictation software. Our school libraries have audiobooks, databases, and ebooks available to all students, including students with disabilities.

  • Using UDL principles for instructional design, and technology as a learning tool, students with disabilities have the same access to technology and applications as all other students such as text-to-speech applications.

  • Students who require specialized assistive technology have that support as indicated in their IEPs.

  • Students who are English Language Learners (ELL) have the same access to technology and applications as other students.

  •  In addition, ELL students can access translation applications, translation dictionaries and texts in their native language to support content learning.

REDUCTION OF IDENTIFIED LEARNING GAPS WITHIN THE DISTRICT

The district has a learning gap in the performance of students who are economically disadvantaged. The 2016-2017 School report card data for graduation shows a four-year cohort graduation rate of 65% for students in the accountability group of economically disadvantaged compared with all student high school completers at 90%. In addition to the benefits stated in the section above, the District Technology Committee proposes these benefits to reduce this identified learning gap through this 1:1 proposal: 

  • Access to technology will no longer be a barrier and levels the playing field for students.

  • Use of hot spots for accessibility will be available to all students.

  • Students have access to a virtual library through their devices.

  • Increase opportunities to support student learning accountability. (e.g. reading log)

  • Teachers can make a “classroom” with parents or use other tools to enhance parent engagement in the learning process.

ENHANCE PARENT/STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS

The District Technology Committee identified that the implementation of 1:1 personal computing devices support enhanced communications with families in these ways:

  • Teachers can provide feedback on assignments in real time making assignments easier to complete during off-school hours.

  • Improve and modernize communication and social media methods through the use of student emails, video conference, or instant communication applications. (e.g. Google apps for education use)

  • Students can collaborate with peers during off-school hours to complete group assignments.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO SUPPORT THE CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY

Supporting teachers and students in the implementation of 1:1 personal computing devices as learning tools is a critical component. Currently, the district uses offerings from NERIC’s Model Schools, HFM BOCES, outside vendor conferences, and in-district professional development opportunities to support teacher skill development in technology integration as a learning tool. High school students who participate in the Computer Science Internship program provide targeted teacher professional development. The district is proposing a district level librarian/technology integration specialist as part of the 2018-2019 budget. The purpose is to provide ongoing, shoulder-to-shoulder training, modeling and support to teachers. This position would work collaboratively with the other two school teacher-librarians.

The District Technology Team has identified an ongoing structure to best support professional development needed for successful implementation. The structure includes:

  • Use of a professional team to establish a year-long calendar of training and support.

  • Multiple models to provide professional development including on-site and off-site conferences, online self-paced learning, opportunities for certification (e.g. Google classroom), peer-to-peer support and on-demand video tutorial library.

  • Topics to include Google apps for education, coding, robotics, collaborative online learning software (e.g. Schoology), SMART notebook software and digital citizenship curriculum implementation.

SUSTAINABILITY PLAN

The Chromebook devices purchased through the Smart Schools Bond Act have a lifespan of four to five years. This proposal makes an initial purchase for the entire student body of the district. The devices will be maintained and replaced using the following strategies:

  • An established replacement schedule, which will be reflected in a future SSIP proposal, will cycle off the most heavily used computers first.

  • Protective cases for the devices will be purchased.

  • Maintenance checks of the machines will be scheduled during the summer break.

  • Updates of the machines, such as software update pushes, will be scheduled.

  • A bank of Chromebooks & iPads will be available to replace machines that are broken or are being serviced.