K-12 Tech Director ISSUE #001
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VR LEARNING 4 Ways to Implement in your Classroom on page 26
SEPT 2018
A Z I N E
Tech Director Superhero: Cody Martzluf
on page 06
Back to SCHOOL TOP-10 Checklist for Tech Directors on page 11
MOBILE LEARNING PROGRAMS Finances, Deployment, and BYOD on page 28
top10 awards
on page 14
K-12 TECH DIRECTOR HUMOR STUDENT PUNISHMENT IN
2018
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TABLE OF F
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4 WAYS TO IMPLEMENT VR LEARNING IN YOUR CLASSROOM
Con tents
TECH DIRECTOR SUPERHERO
Featuring: Cody Martzluf
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BACK TO SCHOOL
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BEST OF ISTE 2018 - CHICAGO
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VR LEARNING
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MOBILE LEARNING PROGRAMS
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K-12 TECH DIRECTOR HUMOR
Top-10 Checklist for Tech Directors
Top 10 Awards
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6 HOW TO BE A TECH DIRECTOR SUPERHERO: "CODY MARTZLUF"
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4 Ways to Implement in your Classroom
How to be Successful and Sustainable
Student Punishment in 2018
Editors K-12 TECH DIRECTOR MAGAZINE INFORMATION
K-12 Tech Director Magazine brings you the latest and greatest news, articles, insights, and best practices for educational professionals that work in the ‘digital transformation’.
K-12 Kevin Parker
IS AT THE HEART OF THE TECH REVOLUTION, SHEPHERDING IN A NEW GENERATION OF DIGITAL CITIZENS THAT BECOME TOMORROW’S GLOBAL LEADERS.
Do you have a story that the K-12 Tech Director universe needs to hear? Please let us know, we would love to tell it to the world.
Ryan Moore
Senior Editor
KevinP@k12techdirector.com
Lead Research
RyanM@k12techdirector.com
To advertise with K-12 Tech Director Magazine, please request a media kit by emailing: editorial@K12TechDirector.com.
P L AC E YO U R ADVERTISEM ENT HERE
K-12 Tech Director Magazine For more inquiries : info@k12techdirector.com
How to be a
Tech Director
' ' f u l z t r a m y d o ''C
How to be a Tech Director Superhero : Cody Martzluf Public investment in K-12 schools has declined dramatically in a number of states over the last decade – and inhibited growth in many more. Worse, some of the deepestcutting states have also cut income tax rates, weakening their main revenue source for supporting schools. Most states cut school funding after the recession hit, and it took years for states to restore their funding to pre-recession levels in the 2008 timeframe. In the previous 2017-18 school year, at least 12 states cut “general” or “formula” funding — the primary form of state support for elementary and secondary schools — by 7 percent or more per student over the last decade. With budgets declining and costs increasing, most K-12 technology departments are feeling the fiscal pinch for salaries, hardware, software, and devices. This financial pain is causing some departments to run bare-bones operations. The solution? Be a Tech Director Superhero, like Cody Martzluf. Cody manages the student technologies for Illini Bluffs School District #327, where there are a number of exciting initiatives have been happening with technology infrastructure upgrades and technology integration. In the chaos that new tech initiatives can bring, Cody is a perfect example of how to make the tech director position shine against the backdrop of fiscal restraints. In addition to strict budgets, District #327 is also a Rural school district, which adds to the challenge of providing the highest quality scholastic technology.
His success is thanks to a
3 STEP PROCESS
m
that every Tech Director should consider :
1 STREAMLINE EVERYTHING. 2
HAVE A SEAT AT THE DECISION TABLE.
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K-12 Tech Director Magazine
GET THE BEST HELP YOU CAN FROM FACULTY AND STUDENTS.
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1
STREAMLINE EVERYTHING.
The only way Cody can manage the numerous moving technology parts with a high service level is to streamline all technology in the district. He spends a great deal of research and planning time looking at various software, SaaS, and hardware platforms that enable broad user and device management. Technology in education has grown and evolved to the point where it impacts nearly every facet of school district operations and is the underlying foundation for all scholastic services. In his role, Cody is responsible for managing all the tools and devices used for communication and collaboration. Also, since over half their district’s devices are take-home he has to implement and support streamlined systems so the Student devices and technologies are easier to manage and maintain. Here are some of the solutions he deploys:
GOOGLE APPS FOR EDUCATION Illini Bluffs utilizes Google Apps for Education as their main platform for student and staff collaboration tools. This platform allows them to easily manage all of their email accounts and multiple other productivity functions on 1,000 student Chromebook devices. This includes applying policies to user accounts and devices along with keeping track of inventory for all devices.
CISCO MERAKI Illini Bluffs upgraded their network infrastructure, standardizing on Cisco Meraki. Cisco Meraki’s dashboard technology allows them to easily manage and quickly make configuration changes to their wireless, network switches, and network firewall. They are able to monitor their network from any connected device, including their personal iPhones.
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MICROSOFT WINDOWS DEPLOYMENT SERVICES They utilize Microsoft Windows on their staff laptops, office computers, computer labs, and classroom presentation devices. To manage this diverse set of assets they utilize Microsoft’s Windows Deployment Services. This lets them image all of their machines and setup computers in a matter of minutes, rather than days.
GO GUARDIAN Illini Bluffs utilizes GoGuardian for student device content filtering for students and classroom management for teachers. This software has helped Cody protect the kids when they’re online with their school issued devices. They also use this software to keep track of student device repairs.
GUMDROP CASES Illini Bluffs also has over 150 iPads, and they are all protected by a Gumdrop case. Thanks to that level of device safety, they haven’t had one issue with device breakage with iPads. This rugged case, combined with Cisco Meraki’s MDM allows Cody to manage the devices effectively and efficiently.
SCHOOL INSIGHT / TEACHER EASE Cody worked with the teachers and office staff to select a new student information system (SIS) to fit the district’s needs and make managing student data easier. They selected School Insight/TeacherEase by Common Goal Systems, and Cody led the implementation process which included making sure all staff get the proper training they needed. They then implemented a new online registration process where they could then accept electronic payments. When it was done, the new SIS solution allowed Cody to export student data for other systems fast and efficiently. For the management process of this solution, Cody is able to provide a high level of support because of the fact he was heavily involved with the selection and implementation.
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HAVE A SEAT AT THE DECISION TABLE.
Cody has made a point of working with the district’s administration and board of education, as a vested part of the process. To that extent, he collaborates daily with the Superintendent and Principals to ensure the district’s technology program works to further their goals and initiatives. He also regularly presents at any relevant board meetings to champion for technology upgrades.
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GET THE BEST HELP YOU CAN FROM FACULTY AND STUDENTS. Cody worked with the district to hire a digital learning coach, Lindsey Lox, who helps district educators seamlessly integrate their technology and 21st century learning skills into their classrooms and curriculum. Together they research and discover manageable technologies that will work in the variety of classroom types. As part of that, they provide links, ideas, and videos of how to use the various solutions effectively. In addition, the district has started a student technology support internship program where selected high school students are mentored by Cody and learn real-world skills necessary to provide level 1 tech support. Not only is that program fantastic for providing real-world experience, it also gives Cody an additional layer of support, which lets him focus more on solving advanced issues and big picture items.
Some have said that the shrinking budgets are becoming the “new normal” for K-12. These cuts weaken schools’ capacity to develop the intelligence and creativity of the next generation of workers and entrepreneurs, unless of course, you use the best practices of a Tech Director Superhero.
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Back-to-School
Top-10 Checklist for Tech Directors A
s technology increasingly dominates school ecosystems, Tech Directors are expected to evaluate, implement, and train on new systems each new school year. Tech personnel are responsible for managing a variety of solutions, but in the busy tech market, it’s easy to get distracted and end up purchasing something that your school may not really need. Often you can end up with solutions that are disjointed and end up stuck in the middle of a technology mess. With all the moving parts that must be managed, it’s helpful to have a checklist of major items that need to be considered, planned for, and addressed to avoid extra unneeded cost in the end.
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K-12TechDirector Magazine
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Best of
Top 10 F Awards
or educators and businesses serving the K-12 market, ISTE is the banner event of the year. Occurring in late June, ISTE changes locations each year to enable educators from all over the US (and internationally) to attend the event. ISTE 2018 saw attendance dramatically increase to almost 19,000 attendees – a 24% increase over 2017 attendance!
Text by Kelly Nealson
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Exploring the exhibit hall at ISTE is a perfect opportunity to learn about the latest and greatest in EDU Tech advancements and new products. With 582 exhibiting companies this year, the exhibit hall was always lively and full of interesting tech. We scoured the exhibit hall floor to learn about the new products that have hit the market this year to enhance learning and simplify educators’ lives through K-12 focused technology. Check out our list of companies that deserve a Best of ISTE 2018 Award for their cutting-edge innovation and application of technology to improve classroom learning and processes.
K-12TechDirector Magazine
www.sphero.com
3D printed robots First launched at CES 2011, Sphero manufactures and programs spherical robots. The robot's outer shell is printed using 3D printing technology and can be programmed via iOS or Android app. Sphero Edu brings their programmable robot technology into the classroom to enable hands-on coding experience for students. Students can program paths for the spherical robot to travel via drawing, block-based "drag and drop" interface, or writing text programs that utilize JavaScript for more advanced learners.
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Sphero is built for all skill levels and enables learner progression. All educators need to get started with Sphero in their classrooms are the Sphero robot and the accompanying EDU app for iOS or Android. And since educators are rarely teaching only one student, Sphero offers education packs at volume pricing so educators can purchase robots by the dozen. Due to Sphero's cuttingedge technology, focus on STEAM learning activities, and ease of implementation in the classroom, we give it a Best of ISTE 2018 award.
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Putnam Charging Station™ www.lockncharge.com/products/putnam-charging-station
iPad Charging Stations
LocknCharge is known for creating device charging stations that are smartly designed for classroom environments. They provide a variety of charging stations for top devices being deployed in K-12 classroom and include extra “classroom-friendly” features such as color-coded charging baskets and full charge notifications that aid in device management. The newest charging station that LocknCharge showcased at ISTE this year is called Putnam, and is loaded with handy classroomfriendly features such as: • External Charging Status Display - With a color-coded LED charging status display for each slot, easily know if your devices are charging (red) or ready to use (green). • Compatible - Designed specifically for iPad but also works with other tablets. Plus, the slot dimensions are optimized to work with most cases and covers. • Secure - Fully welded steel construction and a built-in mechanical combination lock make this charging station ultra-secure.
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• Lightweight, Small Footprint - Featuring a thin profile, you can easily mount this unit to the floor – or to a wall with an optional wall mount kit.
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• Stackable - You can stack two Putnam Charging Stations on top of each other to save even more space. Combine the Putnam 8 with a Putnam 16 to reach 24 slots. An optional pedestal is available to provide easier access to the bottom slots and allowing you to charge all 24 or 32 units with one cord. Best of all, LocknCharge offers a Lifetime Warranty on their charging stations and guarantees their products are built to last.
K-12TechDirector Magazine
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www.signglasses.com
Augmented Reality Glasses for Deaf Students
Augmented reality is leveling the playing field for students of all abilities. One of the best examples of AR we found at ISTE 2018 is SignGlasses, a company that manufactures specializes glasses and software for ASL interpretation of lectures. The concept is impressively simple. SignGlasses provides the hardware – the glasses and a microphone for the lecturer to wear – and the interpretation software. The student then has the power to replay all of their lectures with ASL interpretation as well as bookmark the presentation and take timestamped notes. This simple, effective use of technology combined with the inspiring mission of leveling the playing field between the deaf and hard of hearing and their hearing peers makes SignGlasses a Best of ISTE 2018 winner.
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www.acellus.com/acellus-stem-lab
Coding/Programmable Robot The Acellus STEM-10 program is a 10-year program with an impressive mission. Beginning in students’ 3rd grade year and extending through high school graduation, the program prepares graduates to go out into the workforce as certified programmers. Part of this program (and what caught our attention on the ISTE show floor) is the new Acellus STEM Robotics Lab, which aims to give students a discover-and-create learning experience. Rather than only working through a simulated environment, Acellus STEM Labs provide students with an actual robot to program, called Cellus Bot.
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The Acellus STEM Lab program empowers math and science teachers to offer effective coding and robotics courses without the need for extensive additional training. For dedicated deployments, specially designed STEM Learning pods include all the tools exceptional learners need to be creative and productive – the right lighting to set that relaxed/stimulated mood, seating that is firm but not confining, a handy place to jot down notes, and touch screen monitor to interact with the program.
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K-12TechDirector Magazine
www.poweruptoys.com
Smartphone Controlled Airplanes One of the most playful exhibits we came across at ISTE 2018 were smart phone-controlled paper airplane kits from PowerUP Toys. More than just a toy, these kits facilitate students learning the rules of aerodynamics through remote-controlled paper airplane flight. The planes come as kits that allow students to build and fly their own paper airplanes. The planes are equipped with Bluetooth Smart technology, so students can control their plane with a phone or tablet (iOS and Android compatible). It has simple controls that work for all ages. PowerUP Planes are sold in classroom-friendly packs of 4, 12, or 24 paper plane kits with volume discounting, so educators can easily stock their classrooms with fun and educational aeronautical learning projects.
K-12 Tech Director Magazine
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www.polar.com/us-en/b2b_products/physical_education
Fitness tracking solutions for Physical Education We often see EDU technology focused on classroom learning or school administration, so it’s exciting to see gadgets that give Physical Education a technological upgrade as well. Polar Watches are fitness and heart rate monitors with an accompanying app that can monitor an entire classroom of students at once. Using an iPad, the Polar GoFit App, and the Polar Heart Rate Sensors (worn by each student in the class), a physical education teacher or coach can monitor the activity of their entire class in one snapshot, ensuring the safety of all the students.
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Additionally, educators can set up fitness assessments through the Polar GoFit App and set goals and progress benchmarks for students. Students’ fitness and goals can be tracked over time to encourage progress and healthy living. The app can share progress with parents as well to engage them in their child’s progress via continuous feedback. This individualized approach to physical education goal setting allows each student to be evaluated objectively and individually, helping them to be encouraged by their own progress rather than discouraged when comparing themselves to others.
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K-12TechDirector Magazine
7 www.gumdropcases.com
Protective cases for classroom mobile technology Student-proof protective cases are an essential part of a mobile device deployment. Devices are expensive and students are extremely tough on them over the course of a school year. The cases that caught our eye this year were from Gumdrop Cases. Most of their cases boast 6 feet of military grade drop protection. They even had a pachinko drop test game where an iPhone was dropped from 6 feet in one of their 360-degree protective cases, striking obstacles many times on its way down without breaking the device. Gumdrop offers cases for every device used in K-12 classrooms, from Chromebooks to MacBooks to iPads and other tablet models, and rigorously tests their cases to ensure they are “student-proof� and can withstand the demands of the K-12 classroom. With over 2,500 school mobile device deployments covered, Gumdrop has strong market expertise.
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shooterdetectionsystems.com
School security systems Though we all hope that school security systems will never be put to the ultimate test, it’s vital to be proactive in preventing potential life-threatening situations in the school setting.
A security system innovator that stood out at ISTE is the Guardian Active Shooter Detection System. It simultaneously detects gunfire and immediately relays this information via floor plan map with shot location, text, e-mail, and other notification pathways to key personnel and building occupants, with no human interpretation required. With security systems integration, the Guardian System calls up surveillance cameras in the incident area, initiates lock-down procedures, sends mass notification alerts to desktops and mobile devices, and provides immediate notification to first responders.
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Through its unique hardware design, Guardian can be installed into existing building infrastructure through flush wall/ceiling mount or surface mount for impenetrable structures. The system configuration is fully scalable to the area of coverage desired. When it comes to protecting lives, Guardian makes sure no precious time is wasted with instantaneous communication that eliminates the “human element” of interpretation.
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formlabs.com
3D Printing 3D printers are some of the most fascinating exhibits on the ISTE show floor. It’s engaging to watch a 3D model being built before your eyes in a 3D printer. FormLabs has mastered 3D printing for K-12 classrooms, offering EDU packages and supporting lesson plans for using 3D printers to teach. FormLabs 3D printers encourage creativity and expose students to professional-level technology that prepares them for the future. With corresponding lesson plans, educators can integrate 3D printing into STEAM curriculum through an acces-
K-12 Tech Director Magazine
sible, multifunctional tool with applications across science, engineering, art, and design. Students can learn prototyping/modeling, geometry, engineering, photogrammetry, and other principles through 3D modeling. The tangibility and real-world applications of 3D modelling keep students engaged and actively learning throughout the process.
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www.robolink.com/rokit-smart
Programmable robot kits Students learn best by doing, and building robots is fast becoming one of the most popular ways to teach students a variety of STEAM skills. RoboLink’s booth caught our attention at ISTE 2018 due to the versatility and EDU-friendly nature of their robot kits. Rokit Smart is a user-friendly robotics kit consisting of several components standard to the robotics industry. With it, you can learn and teach robotics building and programming using the Arduino programming language. The Rokit Smart kits include a full set of tools for building real robots, including industry standard components, motors, circuit boards, and frame sets. With the kits, students can learn to build and program 11 unique robots in fun and kidfriendly configurations like animals and vehicles. RoboLink’s website provides easy to follow tutorials for all 11 robots and even additional robots you can build using the same tools in the kit. They cover basic to advanced programming topics for all learner levels.
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Too little time? Too little space? Too little funding? LocknCharge can provide you with big and
ideas in mobile device
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// WHAT NEW ROLE COULD VR PLAY IN YOUR CLASSROOM?
4 Ways to Implement VR Learning in your classroom
V
irtual reality is one of the most buzz-worthy technology topics of the moment. From video game enthusiasts to tech lovers, the development and accessibility of VR technology has people talking. Unsurprisingly, it’s making its way into K-12 classrooms all over the world, giving educators a way to immerse their students into limitless virtual experiences, from virtual field trips to applied mathematics and STEM learning. Undeniably, the advent of Virtual Reality has created new pathways for learning.
HARDWARE OPTIONS Delivered through a headset or smartphone screen with attached viewer (a less expensive option), VR is meant to create an allimmersive experience for the user. There is an incredible range of VR accessories already on the market with a large variance in price. At the high-end, Oculus Rift (owned by Facebook) and the HTC Vive are dominating, but come with a price tag of $400-$800 per set. These VR accessory kits come with a headset complete with screen and ear pieces for a highly immersive experience. At the low end, we have Google Cardboard which uses a mobile phone installed into the viewer to provide a VR experience. It’s impressively accessible at only $10-15 a set, but, not surprisingly, it provides a less immersive VR experience.
1 VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS. Educators are using virtual reality apps such as Google Expeditions and Discovery VR to deepen students’ cultural understanding and historical knowledge through virtual field trips. With hundreds of expeditions to choose from, it’s easy to pair virtual field trips with a history or social studies curriculum.
Through VR, students can virtually take their understanding of a topic beyond the classroom. Students can visit the Egyptian pyramids and view ancient artifacts up close or tour the International Space Station while learning about aeronautics. The relatively low cost of Google Cardboard VR headsets makes Google Expeditions an appealing option for larger districts or those with very limited technology budgets as well.
Other midrange offerings include the Samsung Gear VR which uses a mobile phone as well, but provides a more immersive experience than Google Cardboard. Windows also offers Mixed Reality Headsets that pair with major Chromebook and PC manufacturers, including Samsung, ASUS, HP, Acer, and Dell. These range in price from $400-500.
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APPLICATIONS The applications of VR are virtually (no pun intended) unlimited when paired with the goal of teaching. Here are 4 innovative ways that educators are currently using VR in their classrooms to enhance learning experiences:
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A NEW WAY TO TEACH APPLIED MATHEMATICS.
VIRTUAL STEM LESSONS.
MEDIA AND CONTENT CREATION.
Math teachers know that getting all students engaged with learning math is often an impossible task. Some of the more intangible math lessons require a multi-dimensional understanding that can be hard to convey to entire classrooms of students. VR provides a way for students to deepen their mathematical understanding by drawing graphs and structures in three dimensions instead of the traditional 2D model.
Just like teachers can take their classes on virtual field trips to enhance history or social studies lessons, STEM teachers can bring their students into virtual lab environments (and even down to the cellular level!) to bring STEM learning to life. VR labs have both cost-saving and student safety benefits. They eliminate the need for schools to have as many physical science labs and can allow younger students to experience a lab environment without the potential safety risks posed to less trained students in a lab setting.
Students can now create their own virtual reality media with the help of some creative apps such as Aurasma (now HP Reveal) and CoSpaces EDU. These apps allow students to build their own virtual environments, starting with userfriendly content blocking and moving up to JavaScript, CoBlocks, and TypeScript coding. Students can create virtual environments to explore, from simple mazes to complex urban and natural environments. This type of virtual environment creation can be tied into various lesson types. Students can create virtual colonies in US History or under sea ecosystems in Biology, all while building coding skills. Integrating VR and AR creation into your lesson plan can help students think critically about both content creation and presentation strategies.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) brought Google’s Tilt Brush to a Canadian high school to show how this tool can be used in math classrooms. The Tilt Brush allows students to draw 3D structures virtually in space, helping them understand more complex mathematical functions that can be hard to grasp in 2D.
Check out the video case study here.
K-12 Tech Director Magazine
On the micro science level, apps like LifeLiQe allow students to examine plant, life, and geological models at close range. They can study each model by rotating, swiping, and zooming in and out while taking photo or video of the model. The platform is aligned to Next Generation Science Standards and includes hundreds of lesson plans, covering topics like the circulatory system and the water cycle. Chemistry VR apps, such as DAQRI, allow students to create virtual chemical compounds and see how they react with one another.
Check out the video case study here.
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M O B I L
Learning Progra F I N A N C E S ,
D E P L O Y M E N T ,
A N D
B Y O D
by Carmen Davis
There are many best practices to consider when deploying Mobile Learning Programs. These include: Financial Considerations, General Deployment Strategies, 1:1 Deployment, and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Deployment. Here are some highlights from each area, along with a case study from a known pioneer in K-12 Mobile Learning.
Part 1:
Financial Considerations for Mobile Learning >> Perhaps the greatest obstacle in expanding technology integration in education is financial limitation. Many schools and districts are unable to deploy mobile devices to students due to insufficient budgets. However, the overall impact of successfully integrated mobile technology could prove more cost-efficient for school districts and later, beneficial for students. Sustainability is an entirely different concern. While the launch of new devices provides more accessible and affordable options, there are other factors that need to be considered in the integration of mobile learning. These factors affect the overall investment of a school or district prior, during, and even after, the implementation of the technology initiative. Here are the factors to be considered:
A. TECHNICAL 1.Technology infrastructure and electrical updates to support the facility needs. 2.Type and model of the mobile device suitable for the users and the environment.
B. APPLICATION 1.Sustainable deployment strategy. 2.Professional development and support for faculty members. 3.Best practice strategies - regarding appropriate instruction for authentic learning. 4.Teaching the students and teachers the new apps and learning devices.
C. SUPPORT 1.Availability of technical support. 2.Responsible Usage Policy to address issues with student devices. 3.Solutions to maximize the life of the devices. 4.Device Repair and Insurance.
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Part 2:
Choosing the Deployment Strategy >> Often, the primary goal of an educational technology initiative is to determine if it is effective. The issue of sustainability is addressed only after the implementation is complete. This is a major pitfall when integrating mobile learning. If the long-term implications aren’t confronted, the school or district may find itself in a situation where they are unable to sustain mobile learning due to insufficient funding. Sustainability should be a top concern especially since budget constraints is an obstacle that cannot be easily surpassed. A common mistake occurs when schools or districts become fixated on which device to deploy, but fail to develop/implement a plan to assure the proper handling and maintenance of these devices. This usually results in significantly high damage rates; requiring greater repair costs or replacements that the school or district may not be equipped to deal with. A simple solution is deploying mobile devices with the right protective case to minimize these damages and help
sustain the technology initiative. Without case protection, damage to devices can occur due to: drops, compression, and other factors. While many schools combine insurance with their case installation, device breakage still requires schools to spend valuable time filing insurance or warranty claims. This also means operating with fewer devices while waiting for replacements or having more devices on standby to adapt to these occurrences. Aside from these issues, the school or district should create a feasible technology initiative for long-term success. A. 1:1 Deployment One-to-one (1:1) deployment is a technology initiative where access to the device, including computers, laptops, Chromebooks, tablets, etc., is not shared and teachers and students must access their own individual device. These devices are either taken home or restricted for use within the school premises. Research shows that students must
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Part 3:
Mooresville Graded School District a Pioneer in K-12 Mobile Learning >> Mooresville Graded School District is one of the most influential names in mobile learning. Their success has earned them the reputation as a pioneer in digitized, personalized education. Successfully implementing a one-to-one deployment for roughly 5,500 K-12 students across eight schools is not easy. The district created a long-term technology strategy that focused on improving student academic achievement and engagement with dynamic teaching and learning environment across all eight schools.
Another key point of one-to-one deployment is the uniformity of technology brought into the classroom, which allows teachers and students to have the same software in front of them. Having the same device prevents the "digital divide" thereby equalizing the learning opportunities for students of varied socioeconomic levels and creating a favorable impact on test scores and student achievement. In 2003-2004, 4% of the schools in the United States were implementing the 1:1 technology initiative, and by 2006, that number grew to nearly 25%. Research conducted by FutureSource Consulting Ltd. indicated that by 2016, roughly 54% of United States public schools have implemented one-to-one technology initiative. B. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Deployment BYOD deployment is a technology initiative where students and teachers bring their own device, including laptops, Chromebooks, tablets, etc., for mobile learning to school. Depending upon the deployment strategy, some schools or districts specify the device or provide a list of devices that the students are allowed to bring. This is a common alternative when insufficient funds prevent the school or district from deploying mobile devices. At home, students utilize their personal mobile devices to do their schoolwork, but during school hours, the work they’ve done is left at home, and students must wait until they get home to continue. With BYOD, students not only have access to the resources they were using at home, but can now continue the work while at school. The most common concern for schools and districts with a BYOD deployment is having multiple devices with different functionalities that presents a challenge in sharing information and collaboration between teachers and students. This can also lead to a learning gap for students from varying capacities of their devices. Students who can afford more advanced devices automatically have an advantage over their peers. Although the school or district does not need funding for the devices, there are still changes necessary to implement BYOD -- including network preparation and changes in policy and teaching method. Districts need to assure sustainability of the cost of network improvements, teacher training, and the management of stolen, lost, or damaged student property. It’s also ideal to have funding set aside to procure devices for students who cannot afford their own. The technology staff will also need to handle technical issues of multiple types of devices.
K-12 Tech Director Magazine
An essential step in their digital conversion was gaining the cooperation of the schools’ administrators, teachers, parents, and community members. To prepare the teachers and staff, the district provided professional development training focusing on technology and pedagogy. The ongoing training enabled the teachers and staff to maximize up-to-date digital coursework and strategies. A symposium was also held for parents to discuss how they can contribute to the success of the program. With their involvement, students were now responsible for the technology, with an emphasis on avoiding loss or damage to the devices. The district’s transformation began in the winter of 2007. A pilot program of 400 laptops in charging carts for English classes at Mooresville High School was initiated. After seeing an immediate result, including improved attendance and increased student participation, the district moved forward with a full one-to-one deployment at the High School and Mooresville Intermediate School in the fall of 2008, followed by deployments at East Mooresville Intermediate School and Mooresville Middle. In the fall of 2011, laptop carts were deployed to every 3rd grade classroom. One of the biggest hurdles for one-to-one technology initiatives is budget and Mooresville Graded School District’s Digital Conversion was no exception. To generate the required funding, the district reallocated monies from traditional expenses, such as textbooks. They also solicited local businesses for support. In one instance, they brokered a deal with local telecom providers to offer low-cost Internet access. Parents, too, made a contribution by paying $50 a year for computer repair. An Apple lease agreement provided MacBooks that were taken home by every student in the 4th through 12th grades. Each MacBook and Brenthaven Backpack given on the first day of every school year was surrendered on their last day before summer vacation. Third graders also received their own MacBooks, but they remained in charging carts in the classrooms. Mooresville Graded School District’s one-to-one program virtually eliminated the "digital divide," creating an even playing field by providing their students with equal access to technology and digital resources. The overall result of this progressive program was an environment that shifted the focus off the teacher and onto the students. The teachers took on a facilitator role and students were more active role in their own learning. This created a culture of collaboration in the classrooms. Classes that have a diverse setup allows teachers to use different digital curriculums, ranging from sessions for skill improvement to challenging projects, allowing students to accomplish tasks in participative groups. Students are encouraged to have fun while learning, promoting better student engagement.
CONCLUSION
be able to use mobile devices more than once or twice a week in school to make a substantial impact on student learning. However, integrating mobile devices can only be effective if the technology is used to enhance learning and not as a passive tool for information consumption or memorization. Therefore, professional development is a key component of implementation in the K-12 setting. Every day, educators and technology leaders must develop their pedagogy and determine effective methods to maximize these mobile devices.
Mobile Learning is rapidly becoming an integral part of education. Students must develop the skills required to effectively utilize technology every day. Despite financial challenges, schools and districts are finding different ways to implement their own technology program. The key to a successful mobile learning program is careful planning. Unless the school or district is equipped with unlimited funds, a full digital conversion program cannot happen overnight. It’s essential to identify the available resources -- not only financially, but including the existing technical resources and support. It‘s also imperative to have funds
allocated to support the digital conversion, as well as incorporating training for the teachers and staff facilitating the digital coursework. Sustainability of the program is also a major concern. It’s not enough to implement a successful mobile learning program. The technology initiative must be viable long-term and adaptable to the rapidly changing trends in technology. Policies and procedures should be in place to maintain the devices. An effective Acceptable Usage Policy assures that students are responsible when handling their devices and deploying quality protective cases to minimize the device damage rate.
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ISSUE #001 SEPT 2018
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