Early Adopter Update

As September comes to a close and I reflect on what has taken place over the past month, it reminds me of what an exciting time we are experiencing.  Our Early Adopter phase is in full swing and we are beginning to get feedback from their experiences.

Our iPad Building Support People have been identified for each building and we recently had our first meeting.  Through our Building iPad Support People, buildings now have access to the user information they need to add apps to their student iPads.  We will be moving forward with iPad Cart Sync Training over the next two weeks so each team of Building iPad Support People will be equipped with an understanding of the sync process and how to update multiple iPads at a time.

Our Schoology implementation is underway as well, and this is providing an effective digital learning environment for students to learn from their peers, staff to learn from their peers, and students and staff learning from one another.  Courses within Schoology are being developed and utilized to take advantage of the ability to eliminate time and space in learning.  With this in mind, we are seeing a great deal of traffic over weekends and evenings which moves us closer to realizing the vision of 24/7, customized learning.

The next phase of our iPad implementation will provide for our first 1:1 implementation at Farmington High School.  Prior to this, we will be holding family information meetings which will cover the highlights of the iPad Loan Agreement among other key pieces of information.

I am excited to see what the future holds and I look forward to writing another update soon.

iOS 6 Update for Staff iPads

Earlier today, Apple released the latest update for iOS devices, iOS 6.  iOS 6 brings a variety of features.  Since downloading and exploring iOS 6, we have determined that nothing should change regarding your connection to the 192iPad network as long as you were connected previously.  Also, there should be no change to your Self-Service access and your apps should reappear on your device.  We do recommend that you back up your iPad prior to installing the update.  In order to do this please see the steps below.

1. Open your "Settings" app on your iPad.
2. Select "iCloud." 
3. Select "Storage & Backup."
4. Select "Backup Now."

The update process requires each staff device to be manually updated, therefore we are asking you to follow these simple steps. Please keep in mind that you will need to know your Apple ID and password to complete this upgrade. You will also want to have your device plugged in to a power source in order to complete the installation.  This process can take up to 45 minutes to complete and will most likely go faster if you complete this at home or after school hours.  Please see the steps below to upgrade.

1. Connect your iPad to a power source.
2. Open your "Settings" app on your iPad.
3. Select "General." 
4. Select "Software Update" on the top, right portion of your screen.
5. Select "Download and Install."
6. Follow the steps indicated on your screen.

At this point, this process is only for staff devices.  We will be updating student devices at a later date.

If you have any questions please direct them to Brianna Buck, Dan Pickens, or Charles Duarte.

Pad Loan Agreement

Here you will find the latest draft of our District iPad Loan Agreement.  This is will serve as our guiding document regarding iPad procedures and protocol as we move into our 1:1 phase.  Please keep in mind that this is still in DRAFT form and is subject to change.  Click on the link below to access the document.

iPad Loan Agreement

Schoology Data

All Early Adopter iPads are now in buildings and teachers have begun integrating them into their classrooms. Along with iPads landing in buildings, we have noticed staff, across the district, diving into Schoology with their classes. Please see the data below.

First Week of School: Schoology Data

Total site visits among students and staff for the first week of school: 5,546
Total number of actions on the site: 59,003
Total number of comments posted: 728
Total number of submitted assignments: 619
Total number of uploaded files: 1,164

Over 50 questions were asked by students in the Student Schoology Help Forum Group and most of these were answered by other students they have never even met. Staff have also been working in a similar group where they are networking with one another to answer each other's questions and share their experiences.

Schoology vs. rSchools

Schoology vs. rSchools

Schoology is…	Schoology is not…	rSchools is…	rSchools is not…
- A good site to post assignments   - A place to organize courses and groups for teachers and students   - A possible solution for future online or blended classes   - An easy place to post or access resources for courses (videos, pictures, worksheets, etc.)	- A good homepage for static information -Replacing rSchools	- A good homepage for teachers to post static information   -Remaining as our district webpage	- An easy site to post assignments to   - A good place to collaborate   - A possible solution for future blended or online classes   - An easy place to post or access resources for courses (videos, pictures, worksheets, etc.)

Why Schoology

The main feature that Schoology brings to the table that rSchools doesn’t do for us is collaboration. Schoology provides teacher to teacher, student to teacher, and even student to student collaboration.  As we prepare to go 1:1 in Farmington, we need a system that supports collaboration and also allows for students to access each other and their teachers from their mobile devices.  Similarly, teachers need a better system to share resources with each other and their students.  It is not only collaboration that Schoology provides, it also has many other features that rSchools might offer, but in a more user-friendly manner.

 When Schoology

Throughout the 2012-2013 teachers will be transferring what they put on their rSchools site to a Schoology course or their Schoology resources.  This year is also a great year for teachers to start exploring the use of Schoology for their courses by adding content, adding students, encouraging collaboration, or learning the possibilities of the system.  For the 2013-2014 school year, all teachers can use their rSchools site for their static information: name, room number, biography, classroom information, etc. if they choose to.  Schoology will be the place for all students and parents to access assignments, newsletters, have discussions, access learning resources, and organize their courses and school groups in an easy to use calendar. 

 

            With all of that being said, we are not going to give up rSchools completely. The teachers’ rSchool pages connect directly with the district homepage, which is something we will be continuing. 
                         ·         That page is a great place for static information…          
                            a.       Teacher picture and biography
                                      b.      Phone number, room number, school they teach at, link to Schoology

iPads Have Arrived

As of late this morning, all Early Adopter iPads have been delivered to their respective buildings.  Over the course of this week and last, staff at each building have been working to complete the case installation and have begun using their iPads with students in classrooms.  This marks a milestone in our Customized Learning journey and excitement continues to build as we move forward in reshaping the learning experiences of our students. 

In addition to iPads being delivered, many classrooms across the district began their Schoology implementations.  Using Schoology will enrich the digital learning process by creating a web-based classroom environment that students will use to receive and submit assignments, organize their coursework, and communicate with their teachers and fellow students.  

A great deal of effort and planning have taken place to guide us in moving forward with our Customized Learning initiative.  The Technology Department has done an outstanding job in preparing and syncing iPads for Early Adopters in addition to strengthening our wireless network infrastructure.  Teachers and Principals have been highly engaged in preparing and planning for our Early Adopter rollout as well as our Schoology launch.  In addition, a great deal of work has been done on the redesign of our strategic plan.  

As all of the pieces fall into place, I look forward to an exciting, meaningful school year filled with innovative practice, authentic learning experiences, high levels of engagement, and outstanding student performance.  

...more to come.

Boeckman Teachers Installing iPads in Their Griffin Survivor Cases

Some of the Packaging