Teaching and Leading in a Globally Connected Learning Environment

New Orleans, Louisiana • March 25, 2013

Backchannel Mobile Learning

The Backchannel URL for today is:

http://todaysmeet.com/LACUE-SITE-2013

We invite you to post any questions or remarks to the site throughout the day.

Mobile Learning Environments Dr. Sheryl Abshire - Asst Professor –

Lamar, CTO - Calcasieu Parish Schools, University, LACUE Vice-President of Programs & Advocacy

Jake Ragusa – CTO – Ascension Parish Public Schools

Dr. Lonnie Luce – Superintendent – St. James Parish Public Schools

Dr. Michael Searson -President SITE, School for Global Educations & Innovation, Kean University

Overview: Mobile Learning Environments

www.cosn.org

LML has released a new resource to help school leaders

navigate the mobile learning landscape. The guide, which was developed based on the shared

experiences of pioneering school and district leaders, industry experts and leading scholars, provides key information and tips to educate and support administrators interested in implementing mobile learning.

The guide addresses common questions from administrators about mobile technology implementation, including:

Overview: Mobile Learning Environments

http://www.cosn.org/Initiatives/LeadershipforMobileLearning/tabid/8108/Default.aspx

Mobile Learning Environments How do we create a program with a sustainable impact on teaching

and learning? What are the steps involved in implementing a mobile learning

program? How do we optimize the investment of our technology dollars? How do we choose devices, networks and software for our

implementation? What are the security considerations in implementing a mobile

learning program? What are the policy considerations for a mobile learning program? What are the professional development considerations? What are the teaching models associated with mobile learning? What are the options for funding a mobile learning program?

Overview: Mobile Learning Environments

www.cosn.org

Jake Ragusa - Jake.Ragusa@apsb.org - Director of Information Services and Technology Ascension Parish School Board 28 schools 21,000+ students Adding an average of 500 students per year Over 16,000 Computing Devices Fiber WAN with 20 MB to 1 GB connections Data Center with 10 GB infrastructure Building 10 GB capability to each school and 10 GB LAN at

each school Dedicated taxation for School Technology

Mobile Learning Environments

Bring Your Own Device Technology Increased network demands

DHCP limits Accidental bandwidth drains

Increased Security Needs Separate, unsecure network

Increased HELPDESK calls “INADVERTENT”

connections Repeating connection

attempts

BYOD: YIKES! Watch out what you wish for!

Hide the school’s main wireless network(s) and use policies to allow connections Assign quality of service priority for the

main network Plan for at least two devices per person

on the BYOD wireless network Authenticate on the BYOD

network with username and password (SSO if you can)

BYOD Suggestions

Login screen with Policy reference and highlights

Create guest usernames with a password that is changed on a regular schedule

Do not allow connections between the BYOD network and any applications that are not secured for web access

Plan for the impacts of bad connections to BYOD (separate radios, Access Points, etc.)

BYOD Suggestions

Security on the main network uses 802.1X, a security certificate, and policies based on user location and identity

Security on the BYOD network uses user authentication to Microsoft Active Directory

We use wireless heat mapping to deliver more effective wireless

We use AP’s with a 5 GHz and a 2.4 GHz radio. 5 GHz supports the APSB devices 2.4 GHz supports BYOD

BYOD in Ascension Parish Schools

APSB uses 10% spares of its devices at each site and cloud-based (and LMS-based) documents and apps to allow a student to just take the loaner device and move forward with virtually no downtime.

Student workers from High School, local community colleges, and local technical schools are repairing the devices.

We charge parents $20 for damage repair.

1-to-1: Ten years of Jake Learning and I am still learning every day

Ten years ago my previous employer gave 200 computers to at-risk students

99% eligible for Free or Reduced lunch Grew to 500 devices at 3 schools Actually had some academic disruption in year

one Student scores would rebound Few devices lost or damaged Survey and attitudinal evidence of positive

impact on student self-worth and perception of the value of education

1-to-1: Ten years of Jake Learning and I am still learning every day

APSB started its 1-to-1 initiative with 160 devices in 2007 with MacBooks at 1 school

The goal throughout has been to test technologies and support strategies to identify the best options as we expand the project.

Schools have been allowed to select the technology they will use (that will probably change very soon)

The project has grown to over 3800 devices at 10 schools that go home with students.

1-to-1: Ten years of Jake Learning and I am still learning every day

APSB currently has students using: Dell Notebook Computers MacBook Notebook Computers iPads MacBook AIR Notebook Computers iPods BYOD – A WIDE variety of devices.

We also have some labs for testing that are using Samsung Galaxy Tablets and Windows 8 tablets from Dell.

1-to-1: Ten years of Jake Learning and I am still learning every day

APSB has a robust and dependable network with knowledgeable staff. This includes wireless “n” support in all buildings and classrooms.

Application distribution and management along with security on the notebook and desktop computers has been easily accomplished.

There have been two great challenges in the 1-to-1 implementation in APSB schools Teacher/instructional training and

support iPad/tablet management

limitations

1-to-1: Ten years of Jake Learning and I am still learning every day

1-to-1: Ten years of Jake Learning and I am still learning every day

Professional Development, Training, and Instructional Support for Technology has

Tried Several Models: 1. District staff with other instructional duties

doing training 2. Hiring outside professional development

consultants 3. Vendor and manufacturer trainers 4. Asking administrators and leaders to model

technology use 5. Doing occasional technology training for

teacher coaches 6. Hiring Media Specialists instead of librarians 7. Purchasing online training courses

APSB is currently working to improve the effective use of technology to support student growth with teacher professional

development that uses all of the above with some important adjustments:

# 1 and # 7 are replaced by – A District focus on online and blended learning experiences to meet teacher needs. These resources are created specifically for APSB teachers by the cooperative efforts of the APSB School Improvement and Technology Departments. # 4 and # 5 are replaced by – A District emphasis that our teacher coaches work to support student growth with the effective use of available technology resources by all. When vendor, manufacturer, or outside trainers are hired, School Improvement Dept., Technology Dept., and the school staff coordinate the form and the content to align it to APSB goals and needs.

1-to-1: Ten years of Jake Learning and I am still learning every day

iPad/Tablet Management Limitations Some minor modifications by Apple would make

the iPad much easier to manage. We have figured out hacks, tweaks, and tools to do almost everything that we wanted.

Some things are just a little different. The iPad is not really designed to download large apps wirelessly. For 2013, we will plan accordingly.

Our Windows 8 tablets do some things better and some things worse.

We are currently working with Apple and Microsoft on these issues, but these technologies are not yet matured.

1-to-1: Ten years of Jake Learning and I am still learning every day

Teacher, Assistant Principal (1992-1998)- Istrouma High School, Baton Rouge, LA

Assistant Director of Independent Studies (1998-1999) – L.S.U, Baton Rouge, LA Moved high school and university level correspondence courses

to the Web Director of Technology (1999-2001) – Livingston Parish Schools,

Livingston, LA Managed technology in a district with over 20,000 students

Chief Information Officer (2001-2003) – New Orleans Public Schools, New Orleans, LA Managed technology in a district with 128 sites and over 70,000

students Deputy Superintendent (2003-2007)– Greenville County Schools,

Greenville, SC Started out managing technology in a district with about 70,000

students and then was promoted to Deputy Superintendent Superintendent (2007-Present)– St. James Parish Schools,

Lutcher, LA

Lonnie Luce, Ph.D. - Superintendent

St. James Parish Public Schools

Lonnie Luce, Ph.D. - Superintendent lluce@stjames.k12.la.us 10 schools 3,900 students Started a 1 to 1 Program 5 years ago with 7th graders using windows We will have a 1 to 1 program next year in grades 3-12 using Macs (only 7-12 will take them home) We have a 10GB fiber WAN to most schools and wireless GB to the others

ONLY implement a 1 to 1 program if you are prepared to spend money on:

Infrastructure Technical support Instructional support

1-1 Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned - Infrastructure

Make sure your WAN and LAN can support the additional bandwidth

Make sure your wireless implementation is solid

Make sure you have enough Internet bandwidth ( we have a redundant GB link to the Internet)

Make sure you have a good filtering system that can handle take home computers

Lessons Learned – Tech Support

Ensure that you have good on-site technical support. Teachers will not use technology in their lesson plans unless it always works.

Ensure that you have good technical tools to deploy applications. Imaging computers and deploying applications may become the biggest tech support issue.

Have policies to deal with: broken screens, dead batteries, and broken chargers. Do you have a budget, or do the students/parents pay?

Lessons Learned – Instructional Support

Ensure that you have good on-site instructional support. Teachers will not use technology if they do not know how.

Ensure that you have a good professional development plan. We require, by contract, that all teachers go through several days of technology training within their first three years with us.

Use media specialists and instructional coaches to supplement your on-site instructional technology support.

Train parents on Internet safety and user policies.

Dr. Michael Searson -President SITE, School for

Global Educations & Innovation, Kean University

http://prezi.com/hgqjn6mi_-sb/lacue-site/

Mobile Learning Environments

Is mobile learning the “next big thing”? Does mobile learning extend the learning day

and focus student effort to gain better rigor? How has professional development changed

to meet the needs associated with mobile learning?

Can mobile learning be a strategy for districts tackling common core and new assessments?

What further advice do you have for others interested in developing a mobile learning strategy?

Mobile Learning Environments Guiding Questions for Discussion

Contact Information

• Dr. Sheryl Abshire, Asst Professor – Lamar University, CTO - Calcasieu Parish Schools, Current Vice-President of Advocacy LACUE – abshires@aol.com

• Jake Ragusa – CTO – Ascension Parish Public Schools - Jake.Ragusa@apsb.org

• Dr. Lonnie Luce – Superintendent – St. James Parish Public Schools - lluce@stjames.k12.la.us

• Dr. Michael Searson -President SITE, School for Global Educations & Innovation, Kean University Michael Searson - msearson@kean.edu