TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
Technology Solutions provides member
districts with a comprehensive array of services that support and enhance the effective implementation of technology in teaching and learning. Technology Solutions also provides infrastructure and network support and develops customized, cloud-based software solutions for efficient data collection and analysis.
2020-2021 HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Data Systems Creation, Management & Support Teacher Education And Mentoring (TEAM) Online Platform
The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) made the decision to return all districts to the use of this EASTCONN-designed online platform. Statewide, 224 school districts currently use the TEAM program platform. The TEAM platform provides a workspace for beginning teachers to complete required training modules, and for their Mentors to collaborate with them. District officials are able to easily monitor each participant’s progress.
Habilis Learning Suite
EASTCONN has created the Habilis Learning Suite to provide learnermanaged professional development; much of the development was done to support the TEAM online program. TEAM uses these digital tools to provide updated training to TEAM Mentors. Habilis Learning will soon expand its catalog of learning resources to other professional groups, including EASTCONN-mandated trainings. Work has begun to create a paid subscription service with training modules for schools. EASTCONN Annual Board Update 2021
“The CSDE has always been committed to providing support to our early-career educators. With legislative cuts to the budget several years ago, the CSDE could no longer provide fiscal support. We’re pleased that with the partial restoration of funding to TEAM, we’re once again able to partner with the RESC Alliance and EASTCONN to restore previous services at no cost to districts.” – Claudine Primack, CSDE TEAM Program Manager
Technology Solutions 1.
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS | HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS | 2020-2021
eObserve Platform
We provided management for eObserve, a universal platform for observation-based assessments. The system is designed to be an open platform and is largely used to support the Connecticut Documentation and Observation for Teaching System (CT DOTS), by improving datacollection and reporting. New features were added in late spring of 2020 to allow parents to submit observations and evidence directly online, which proved to be beneficial for teachers and families during the pandemic.
Magnet School Lottery Management Tool
We updated our custom-designed lottery software to support online applications and seat allocations for a member district’s magnet school program. The EASTCONN process and software assured accurate data collection, and complete equity and fairness in the lottery process.
Teacher of the Year (T.O.Y.) Applications
In collaboration with the Connecticut T.O.Y. Council and the CSDE, we continued to provide a statewide, online system for submitting and scoring Connecticut’s T.O.Y. applications. For Teacher of the Year 2021, the online system handled 64 applications and 398 scoring sessions, eliminating paper and postage costs.
Kindergarten Inventory
EASTCONN continues to deliver data management and system support for the CSDE’s online Kindergarten Inventory, in use in all Connecticut school districts. The Inventory provides the CSDE with critical developmental progress data for nearly 34,000 kindergartners statewide.
Data Collection & Research Services
We provided technical and logistical support for School Climate surveys of students, parents and staff for 3 districts, including survey delivery, results analyses and
comprehensive, summative-data reports. Custom survey work, statistical analysis and reporting services are available.
Educational Technology Support
Student & Staff Support During COVID-19
At the start of the pandemic, Technology staff quickly reprogrammed and delivered 160 Chromebooks to EASTCONN students who lacked home computers for distance-learning classrooms. Since then, more than 500 additional devices have been programmed and distributed. Throughout COVID-19, our IT staff has arranged for free WiFi “hot spots” in students’ homes, and continues to offer a student Help Desk to address computer problems. IT staff also provides ongoing tech assistance for agency employees working remotely who are struggling with issues like household connectivity, remote student-classroom set-ups, VPN access, and more. Recently, IT staff replaced wireless networks in 2 agency buildings to accommodate more devices, as well as the demand for more varied learning spaces and higher bandwidth in teachers’ conference rooms.
In-District Professional Development (PD)
Before the pandemic, Technology Solutions regularly provided in-district PD on topics like Student Information Systems (SIS), the Connecticut Documentation and Observation for Teaching System (CT DOTS), STEM Robotics Instruction, Webpage Development and Google Classroom. Our Habilis Learning Suite provides online training for Mentors in the TEAM program. Staff also provided CT DOTS Online training sessions and 2 digital accessibility training sessions to state agencies, as well as consultations and PD to EASTCONN’s QMC, ACT and LEAP schools on digital accessibility and software compliance.
660 Chromebooks have been programmed & delivered to students since the start of the pandemic, ensuring equitable access to remote learning for students who lacked home computers
2. Technology Solutions
EASTCONN Annual Board Update 2021 .
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS | HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS | 2020-2021
“EASTCONN’s Technology Solutions Group is always reliable and prompt!
Staff consistently listen to district needs and support us with excellent and friendly customer service. Being in a small school, there is a wide range of needs, but EASTCONN is always up to the task. We appreciate their commitment and support to our district!” - Steven J. Jackopsic, Superintendent/Principal, Union Public School District Technology Council
Hosted and facilitated by Technology Solutions, this regional council provides a regular forum to connect with colleagues and share information on state and federal technology initiatives. Representing 9 school districts, council members discussed topics like the challenges of distance education, Google services, conferencing software, just-in-time teacher technology training, remote access to maker spaces, and the logistics of 1:1 student devices distribution, management, collection and updates.
Information Technology (IT) Support for Member Districts & Municipalities
Our staff provided a diverse range of expertise and regular, on-site technology support to 6 districts and municipalities – expertise that could not be provided in a single, full-time IT person. We delivered added value to districts that had IT staff, but occasionally required more specialized skills.
Back Office Support Services
Working with the agency’s Finance Office, we provided technology-related support, primarily centered around MUNIS, a software package supporting general ledger activity. Customers accessed our system through a secure VPN, and we provided technical support for district staff. Also provided data systems support for other common school business functions.
Website Design & Management
Continued to support and update websites for 3 districts, including weekly updates and content management. Continued working on EASTCONN’s new website to revamp its style and functionality for digital visitors and customers. Maintained persistence in maximizing ADA compliance for all EASTCONN web services and documentation. New site was launched in April 2021.
Student Information System (SIS) Support
Provided 9 districts with consultation, PD and support for Student Information Systems and related software, serving as the primary SIS support for 4 districts. Staff have the expertise to support 3 distinct SIS products. Continued to provide local and regional training through workshops and user-group meetings. In-house experts continued providing input to developers of PowerSchool and Infinite Campus.
Virtual High School (VHS)
Coordinated the delivery of online VHS courses to 3 participating districts, providing their students with access to more than 200 semester-long and full-year online courses, in addition to AP courses and labs, of distinct value during pandemic-related school closures.
Video Production
After successfully videotaping and live-streaming outdoor graduation ceremonies for EASTCONN’s ACT, QMC and LEAP high schools in June 2020, and sharing them on our school websites and YouTube channels during summer 2020, our video production group temporarily paused its work until fall 2021.
Internal Learning, Administrative & Infrastructure Support Software Compliance
Staff maintained the agency’s software compliance database to record vendors for renewals and/or new purchases of classroom apps, cloud/web-based and software products to comply with Connecticut’s PA 16-189 and PA 18-125, state laws concerning student data privacy.
“The services received from EASTCONN were instrumental in our ability to meet the needs
of distance teaching and then returning to the classroom. We had to navigate territory we never imagined, and our EASTCONN was there to guide and support us. The services that EASTCONN provides allows our teachers to use the technology we have most effectively. They are able to repair tech we have and recommend tech we need. I am extremely thankful for the availability of the EASTCONN staff. They are all responsive to my requests no matter what day/time they are made.” – Kirstina Frazier, Remedial Math Services, Andover Public Schools EASTCONN Annual Board Update 2021
Technology Solutions 3.
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS | HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS | 2020-2021
224 school districts used the EASTCONN-designed TEAM online platform as part of the CSDE’s statewide program designed to support & retain thousands of Connecticut’s beginning teachers
Employee Self-Service Portal/MUNIS Financial System
Maintained and continued improving the agency’s in-house Employee Self Service (ESS) portal, which handles employee records like time cards, vacation requests, benefits selections, and more. The MUNIS system will be upgraded to a newer version in 2021.
Network Upgrades
Spurred by remote learning needs, we continued to upgrade all wireless access systems in EASTCONN schools, offices and Hampton Conference Center, including network switches and routers. We upgraded WiFi at our Commerce Drive office, ACT Magnet High School, Transportation and Moosup Gardens Head Start locations.
PLANS & IMPLICATIONS FOR 2021-2022
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT & IMPROVEMENT
INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES
PARTNERS FOR SCHOOL READINESS PORTAL
PD CONTENT FOR HABILIS
We will continue to develop custom software for in-region and statewide use. T-Observe, our teacher portfolio and observation system, is being developed.
We will improve on-and-off-campus access to remote resources with strategic infrastructure replacement and upgrades.
We will seek partners for our School Readiness Registration Portal, to help municipalities promote kindergarten readiness by helping young families find preschool programs.
We will create new professional development content to be delivered by our new, internally developed Habilis just-in-time learning platform.
4. Technology Solutions
EASTCONN Annual Board Update 2021 .