Vision21 - Digital Learning Initiative Updates

Chromebooks Updates

GRB

• Chromebooks for the high school are tentatively scheduled to arrive the first week of October. Once on-site they will be setup for distribution and should be in-place shortly thereafter.

Grades 3-8

• All Chromebooks have been distributed to 3-8.

Grades 3-8 - New Students

• If new students arrive, please notify the librarian and a temporary device will be provided. Librarians will notify Helpdesk which will issue a permanent device to the new student or associated classroom.

Grades 3-8 - Broken or Missing Chromebooks

• Broken or missing Chromebooks - Please report to librarians. A temporary device will be provided by the librarian.

Projectors, Interactive Whiteboards and Digital Displays

• Interactive whiteboards and projectors that are in disrepair (aside from bulb replacement) will be scheduled for replacement with a digital display. This will be accompanied by a touchscreen Windows laptop / tablet. This process will occur as quickly as possible.

Instructional devices

• New teacher laptops will be available shortly to replace aging devices or those that are in disrepair. The new touch screen Windows devices do not require docking stations and are best suited for casting to the anticipated digital displays.
• Document cameras - Our new iPevo portable document cameras will replace current models as they become obsolete. The new iPevo can also serve as a high resolution webcam.

K-2 Classroom Technologies

• The new K-2 touch screen Chrome desktops will be available for install the second week of October. The touch screens are 22 in. and will require sufficient desk space in each classroom. The plan is to provide 4-5 stations in each K-2 classroom.

Instructional Software Review

• All district software and service applications are being reviewed throughout the 2018-2019 school year. A new instructional service/software review form will be available shortly. In order to maintain support, all software will be acquired and implemented through the Technology Department.

Professional Development and Training

• Please schedule both professional development and training through Dan Sherman. In addition to instructional needs, Dan can assist with transitioning away from faxing or other technology-based efficiency related needs.
• Review of the summer professional development plans will occur over the next several weeks. Plans will be posted online for all to share.

Instead of paperless classroom, let’s call it what it is… an efficient classroom or any of it’s synonyms: organized, methodical, systematic, logical, orderly, businesslike, streamlined, productive, effective, cost-effective, labor-saving.

None of these terms send the wrong message to a teacher who is new at integrating technology in the classroom that we somehow need to eliminate the existence of paper in our schools. Paper will always have a place in education. It’s great for everything from drawing out ideas, making diagrams, taking notes, doing math, doodling, sketchnoting, making reminders, and most of all… increasing retention and comprehension, I.e. learning.

Please stop sending teachers the wrong message with Tweets, presentations and top 10 lists of apps about having a paperless classroom. At no point in time was “paperless business” or “paperless hospital” a thing. Nor should it be one in education. It is 2016 and all of the so called benefits of a paperless classroom are nothing new in other industries, nor were they ever celebrated. It has nothing to do with removing paper, and everything to do with efficiency, cost savings and saving our planet.