scdsb information and communication technology initiatives january 2011 final

SCDSB Information and Communication Technology Initiatives

2010-11

The Simcoe Plan

The focus to align the integration of technology in classrooms and schools to the Simcoe Path, the Board Improvement Plan, and School Improvement Plans is critical.

The connection to the SCDSB ICT Strategic Plan is significant.

Elements of the SCDSB Plan

The SCDSB plan to integrate technology into teaching practice includes elements in these areas:

■ teacher access■ student access■ professional development■ digital resources■ communication■ access to resources■ collaboration

ICT initiatives

This summary provides an overview of developments in these initiatives:

►Teacher Notebook Computers (TNB) and projectors

►Guest Wireless

►Family of Schools IT (FOSIT) Teams

Teacher Notebooks rollout beginning November 2010

The provisioning of teacher notebook computers began in November 2010 in support of a key goal of the SCDSB ICT Strategic Plan, to “improve teacher access to technology by providing mobile computing devices”.

In support of this goal a plan has been developed that will equip teaching staff with a notebook computer over a 4 phases.

Five Families of Schools

In the 2010-2011 school year teacher notebook computers have been provided to five Families of Schools

√ Penetanguishene SS, √ Park Street Collegiate, √ Barrie Central, √ Bradford District, √ Collingwood Collegiate√ Teacher notebooks are also being provided for

Alternative Programs and Learning Centres

Teacher Notebooks

The teacher notebooks are fully functional devices capable of supporting peripherals such as projectors and SMART boards.

They have significant hard drives but do not have DVD drives.

In keeping with the goals of the ICT Strategic Plan’s goals of equity and accessibility the teacher notebooks are wireless.

Teacher Notebook Support

All support will be coordinated through the Helpdesk.  Support requests can be submitted on-line via the helpdesk on staff web at http://staff.scdsb.on.ca or by calling the helpdesk at the Education Center extension 11777

Acceptable Use

The Teacher Notebooks require an online training component found at ‘Teaching – I.T. Resources – Teacher Notebooks’ with an acceptable use agreement embedded with the video. Staff members are required to complete the video, print and sign the agreement before receiving the TNB.

The online training and generation of the Acceptable Use agreement is required to ensure that all staff who receive a TNB have a full understanding of the parameters for its use.

On-line Training

Located on the staff web site, is a brief introduction to the Teacher Notebook (video), and an introduction to Encryption on the TNB, as well as ‘How to Change your Home Page’, and a link to ‘Learn Ontario’ video tutorials.

Additional videos for teaching staff use will be added on a regular basis to assist staff in the use of the TNB.

Guest Wireless – Available to All Staff – 23 November 2010

The ability to bring non Board equipment in to SCDSB Schools in order to access the internet is the intention of Guest Wireless access. Guest Wireless has been piloted in six schools over the past several months at both elementary and secondary levels

Guest Wireless users must sign an online acceptable use agreement and confirm that they will use their own devices without plugging in to the Board network.

Content Filtering

The Information Communication Technology (ICT) Strategic plan states “SCDSB will create and implement standards for technology infrastructure in Schools”.   One of the deliverables associated with this statement is addressing internet filtering standards. The Board has acquired the acquisition of a new content filtering solution called Fortinet, to replace ‘Bess’

Pilots beginning Spring 2011-The filter groups will be: staff (all SCDSB staff including teachers); K-6 (Grades K-6 including JK and the new ELP); 7-8; 9-10; 11-12. All groups will be determined by password access

The Guest Wireless network will initially be filtered to the lowest level of filtering provided by the SCDSB.

Digital Citizenship

An essential area of responsibility in the use of technology by students is to ensure that classroom instruction includes how to access resources, connect with others and create e-communities (digital literacy) and learn about the ethical/legal and safety issues surrounding access and use of information technologies.

The SCDSB will introduce age-appropriate student curriculum expectations related to the use of technology and digital resources in school setting and for life.

Video Streaming – available now

Learn360 is the SCDSB educational video streaming solution. From Learn360 teachers can stream videos to project in their classroom, or download videos to project, or download videos to burn to DVD or iPod.

Teachers can also create play lists within Learn360 allowing students to easily find videos used in class. They may do this at school or at home (within Ontario).

Learn 360 is located on the staff web site and can be reached by Teaching I.T. Resources and by clicking on Learn360 in the side panel of the page.

ABEL Access – available now

ABEL is Advanced Broadband Enabled Learning. It connects researchers, educators, public and private sector organizations and other affiliated partners through the program’s Core Activities:  

Delivering professional learning   Providing access to technological tools and

services   Providing learning resources & content  Building effective partnerships   Driving innovation through research  

Access to ABEL

A board-wide ABEL account provides teachers with access to collaboration, virtual professional learning and tools/resources like ‘voice thread’ and moodle. The ABEL portal can be found at www.abelearn.ca .

Requesting Accounts: All teachers (elementary and secondary) can request ABEL accounts by completing the form available at http://tiny.cc/SCDSBabel . Account requests will be sent to ABEL a couple times per week and teachers will receive an email containing login information from ABEL when accounts have been created.

Troubleshooting:  Each secondary school has an ABEL Lead who has accessed the ABEL network previously. If you have questions about your ABEL license please contact your ICT Consultants

Jaclyn Calder at (705) 734-6363 #11840 jcalder@scdsb.on.ca  Jim Carleton at (705) 734-6363 #11121     jcarleton@scdsb.on.ca

Digital Resources – ongoing investigations (pilots)

Digital resource solutions are being explored in the SCDSB. A number of elementary schools across the SCDSB are working with Pearson Digital in the second year of a pilot of digital textbooks for Grade 7 and 8.

Secondary staff members at certain schools are piloting ‘Peer Scholar’, an internet-based software tool that manages critical thinking and writing assignments.

Family of Schools IT Teams

Family of Schools information technology (FOSIT) teams at the Teacher Notebook Families of Schools have met to begin their work developing plans for the continuity of technology within the family schools.

These FOS IT teams will extend the coaching model of teacher professional development to the integration of technology into teaching practice and promote action research in their FOS.

Family of Schools IT Teams

The FOSITs in non Teacher Notebook schools will also be meeting to begin their work on the goals below:

Incorporate technology strategies into all school improvement plans to meet student achievement objectives.

Involve school teams, and assess needs of each school to determine ICT professional development support required and equipment needed;

Prioritize needs and  align to other board and Ministry Initiatives i.e.; School Effectiveness Framework, LNS priorities, curriculum revisions, Student Success, etc. ;

Determine Family of Schools focus for ICT Integration; to review the alignment of support through contacts, and ICT Consultants;

Monitor needs and next steps based on ICT focus

For more information please contact

John Dance - Superintendent of Education jdance@scdsb.on.ca

Akram Shehata - VP at West Bayfield ES, MISA/ ICT Lead Administrator ashehata@scdsb.on.ca

Troy Comish - VP at Cameron Street PS,MISA/ ICT Lead Administrator tcomish@scdsb.on.ca

Jaclyn Calder - ICT Consultant jcalder@scdsb.on.ca  Jim Carleton   - ICT Consultant

jcarleton@scdsb.on.ca