The question that many people in education are asking is what will we be doing in our classrooms after the major curriculum change. Your technology department is in the same mindset trying to make sure that we will be able to deliver the services that will move forward this change agenda.
For the last two years we have been researching, reading and participating in collaboration with our other Alberta divisions to create a model. Even though it is impossible to predict exactly what the future is going to look like we have come to some underpinning understandings that are themes for our work.
1. Personalization in learning will become the norm.
2. Internet is pervasive
3. Inquiry learning will need to be planned for
4. Instruction will be informed with greater access to relevant data about students
What is next: Technology as a Service
In order to meet all of the above statements , technology has to move to a model seen as a consumable service . This means we have to change from our present model to one that can support students and staff bringing their own devices and using them in anyplace they want to learn. Staff will need to be able to access their data anyplace anywhere and be able to easily share collaborate with students and other professional regardless of location.
Watch this short 5 min video.
This is the small list of reason to move to GAFE, ordered by importance.
For the students
Efficiency, Collaboration and Engagement.
Fast, easy collaboration in real time across large distances.
Better prepared for real world.
Study from anywhere with any device.
First step that will have advantages for entire district.
Increased security and privacy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7oe6pdQvyAc
Stay connected from anywhere.
Streamlining of academic tasks.
Benefits - https://www.google.com/enterprise/apps/education/benefits.html#together
Common Questions - https://support.google.com/a/answer/139019?hl=en
How google saved a school: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/learning/schools/how-google-saved-a-school.html?play
In the Cloud - Anytime Anywhere Access
Access, Access, Access. Anytime and from anywhere you have internet. This is huge.
Device agnostic - Same experience on any device, android, apple, mobile. All devices are supported. Windows, Mac, IPad, Android, blackberry. Any device with a modern browser can run Google Apps.
First step in the GAFE suite.
Gmail is the first and primary product in the the GAFE suite. It is the first step in moving to a platform that facilitates and supports collaboration, engagement and efficiency.
Increased Storage at no cost
Better performance and security
Invisible IT
Technology just provides a service, we get out of the way and allow planned and purposeful use of technology in the classroom.
BTPS will spend less time managing IT infrastructure.
Auto Updating, newest features and security updates.
Saving time and money.
No hardware or software required.
Backups are done, no extra backup costs.