It’s time again for image feedback for the WWP image. Please add your suggestions below for software or functionality and we will add in anything we can. FOSS (free open source software) will be a continued focus.
Past year’s comments and suggestions at – http://www.prn.bc.ca/ts/?p=53
This year’s parent presentation for the Wireless Writing Program is pretty much the same as previous years with only minor edits. Download the PPT from the link below.
Friday I received our regular Apple education pricelist. Nothing unusual about that however it was announced that the white macbook which we are currently using has been discontinued. Parts will likely be available without issue for the rest of our cycle (we’re at 1.5 of 4 years) however for our expected refresh we will need to make decisions about hardware. Here are some of my musings.
PC or Mac
Mac. I have no interest in going to PC. We have looked extensively at this in the past and for a variety of reasons from hardware, software, security, educational support, institutional support, warranty certification, etc., Apple is the way to go in my opinion.
The Hardware choice
Looking at Apple’s selection of hardware and considering costs. Two model options are worth considering, the iPad and the Air. The macbook pro is on the outside for costs unfortunately.
The Air has two models for education that are similar costs as the unibody white macbooks for us. The 11″ and 13″. Here are some thoughts on the Air
The Ipad represents a significant change. They would have a significantly lower cost than the Air provided they have the same lifespan. iPads and their operating system are meant to be used as individual devices, accounts will take some detailed thinking. We’ve had sessions with apple at an educational and technological level to discuss this. Here are some thoughts on how things will end up changing if iPads were the route
Both of these devices have little in terms of serviceable parts for our technicians. This is something we saw on the horizon and have discussed in the past. I have no worry about that as staff will still have plenty of work with our myriad of servers, desktops, networking etc. Some time will be freed up and be replaced with more knowledge work. I expect this would be helping people use devices rather than fixing them.
BYOD
Looking back at our start and history with WWP we’ve done some amazing things. We’re one of the longest running 1:1 programs in North America. When we started the question was frequently asked “Why are you giving a $2000 laptop to a 12 year old!?!” Now the question is frequently asked, “can’t I just bring my own device to school?”. Not everyone for certain asking that question, but we need to strongly consider encouraging BYOD, using genres of software rather than only “Fandangle V3.25.67345.345″, and continuing to provide for everyone who may not have or may not want to bring their own device.
What’s Next?
The challenges are opportunities for us to look at and consider how we do things in the program. While technology should not be the driving force in education, it can be the impetuous to change from what we have always been doing because we’ve always done it that way to something new. We’ve gotten quite comfortable using similar software tools that we have used for the last 9 years in WWP. Now we’re faced with a new type of screw that we don’t have a screwdriver for.
Since we are in year 1.5 of 4 you’d think we’d have some time to think about this? The reality is we expect a bulge to move into grade 6/7 next year that will require some more devices to be purchased. So which to go with?
Given that the Air represents something similar and many questions can be answered on paper, we’ll be looking to pilot at one to two classrooms with iPads this fall. Along with the pilot I’ll be using the SECTIONS model from Bates & Poole to help make the decision http://www.elearning.ubc.ca/toolkit/sections-model/ for the long term regarding hardware.
If you are a teacher in grade 6 or grade 7 and would be interested in being one of the pilot classrooms, please speak with your administrator. I’ve asked the administrators to express interest based on conversations with their teachers.
As always, public comments are welcome and will help us guide our practice. Private comments via email are welcome too!
Here is the Acceptable Use Agreement that all students should be provided. The first three pages are for all students. The fourth page is for students that will be renting or borrowing any kind of district technology. This fourth page applies to the WWP optional rental charge.
Schools should keep signed copies of the AUA or borrow/rental agreement on file through the year.
Due to teacher job action, rollout will be a bit different this year.
Main differences will be
We will begin pulling classroom lists from BCeSIS on September 19th this year. This starts the formal rollout process. School AOs will be informed when the lists are pulled. Any changes to composition after that will require work orders as they would for a new student in the year to receive a laptop.
We usually aim for week 3 to start the process of pulling data and building contracts as per previous years. We will get those contracts out to schools to be distributed to students. There will be changes this year due to job action and the process will be published hopefully by the end of today.
Here is our graphed WWP cold write data for the 2009-2011 cohort. Another report will follow in the following weeks with some more explanations about collection techniques, but we would like to provide this out to you first.
In the interest of transparency and web accessible documents I’m adding this overview of the WWP so we can easily refer to it.
In September, MacBooks will be distributed to all grades 6 and 7 classes.
The primary focus of MacBook use is for written expression. Within a few months, students should be using the MacBooks for all (or almost all) writing activities.
September-October Cold Write (pretest; baseline)
· Impromptu writing selection collected from each student, assessed by classroom teacher using BC Performance Standards, and submitted to district office by mid October.
May
Repeat of Cold Write (post test)
· Impromptu writing selection collected from each student, assessed by classroom teacher using BC Performance Standards, and submitted to district office by mid May.
End of October
· Students are actively using MacBooks at least 30 minutes per day
End of November
· Students are actively using MacBooks at least 1 hour each day, including most writing activities in all subject areas.
End of January
· Students use their MacBooks for all writing activities, as well as some research and note taking, typically for more than 1.5 hour a day
By June
· Students use their MacBooks for all writing and an increasing range of other activities, which could be in various subject areas, typically for more than 2 hour each day.
Topics to be addressed
· How to get started. “In the Beginning” and setting up your classroom
· Where and how to get help.
· Introduction to MacBooks, including applications in dock, Macintosh HD, printing, etc.
· Public Sharing and Memory Stick
· Strategies for teaching keyboarding: All the Write Type
· Word basics (enough to start journal writing in Word – put something in a word document, create a header, save into folders, and print)
· Word editing tools including text to speech spell check: Readability Statistics
· Using the performance standards templates and looking at exemplars for Grade 7
· Using Moodle Site for communication
· Set up Google Mail accounts and introduce Google calendars
Expectations for classroom use by end of October
· Students acquire the basics of using their MacBooks
· Students practice keyboarding
· Students use their MacBooks for journal writing or other informal writing
· They learn to create, save, and print a Word document
· Students complete a piece of coldwrite impromptu writing following standard procedures
· Students are actively using MacBooks at least 30 minutes per day
Required data collection
· Impromptu writing selection collected from each student, assessed by classroom teacher using BC Performance Standards, and submitted to district office by mid October. Note: Grade 6 students should have the choice of using MacBooks or writing longhand—whichever is most comfortable for them.
Expectations for project communication
Use of Moodle site to share ideas and concerns
Other
· A visit with Toni Thompson who will model lesson of teacher’s choice
Topics to be addressed for New Teachers in morning
· Trouble-shooting
· Using Word for more purposes (e.g., hidden comments, track changes etc.)
· Using Inspiration and PowerPoint
· How to set up folders and save to the vault
· Remote desktop (how to monitor use)
· Presenting information in a variety of ways (Improving information writing; writing opinions)
Topics to be addressed for New Teachers and Veteran Teachers in pm
· Using Moodle Site for communication
· Using Inspiration and PowerPoint
· Improving research writing
· Using internet for research
· Exporting from Inspiration into PowerPoint
· Working with media: graphics, pictures and audio
Expectations for classroom use by end of November
· Students learn to set up folders and save to the vault
· Students begin using Inspiration for brainstorming, planning, making notes
· Students use their MacBooks for a variety of genre of writing (personal, informative, narrative, or poetry)
· Students use the performance standards templates for assessing their own writing
· Students practice using editing tools, and determining what changes will improve a piece of writing
· Students practice using editing and commenting features of Word
· Students learn to conduct and evaluate Internet searches
· Students use their MacBooks for making notes (they can use Inspiration and/or Word)
· Students complete at least a short informational writing project using some web resources (e.g., report.)
· Students are actively using MacBooks at least 1 hour each day, including most writing activities in all subject areas.
Expectations for project communication
· Communicate with Moodle at least four times by January
Other
· A visit with Toni Thompson who will model lesson of teacher’s choice
Topics to be addressed for New Teachers am
· Trouble-shooting
· Using the MacBook as an organizational tool (e.g., for preparing, distributing and collecting worksheets with links)
· Writing stories, moving through the writing process
· Revisit using Inspirations, and PowerPoint and introduction to Comic Life
Topics to be addressed for New Teachers and Veteran Teachers in pm
· Using Moodle Site for communication
· Using Inspiration and Comic Life to create a story
· Improving narrative writing including plot development and character development
Expectations for classroom use by end of January
· Students use their MacBooks to work on stories or simple picture books, (Teachers may vary the order of the genres according to their preferences)
· Students learn to create a simple story using Inspiration and Comic Life
· Students continue to practice using editing tools, and determining what changes will improve a piece of writing through self evaluation using the performance standards
· Students use their MacBooks for all writing activities, as well as some research and note taking, typically for more than 1.5 hour a day
Expectations for project communication
· Communicate with Moodle at least four times by March
Other
· A visit with Toni Thompson who will model lesson of teacher’s choice
Topics to be addressed for New Teachers am
· Trouble-shooting
· Using Media in a variety of applications
· Writing scripts for Personal Memoirs
· Introduction to iPhoto, iMovie and Garageband (Podcasting)
Topics to be addressed for New Teachers and Veteran Teachers in pm
· Using Moodle Site for communication
· Using iPhoto, iMovie and Garageband (Podcasting)
· Using media from a variety of sources
Expectations for classroom use by June
· Students learn to create and present a simple iMovie
· Students continue to practice using editing tools, and determining what changes will improve a piece of writing
· Students use their MacBooks for all writing and an increasing range of other activities, which could be in various subject areas, typically for more than 2 hour each day.
· Students continue to practice using editing tools, and determining what changes will improve a piece of writing
· Students complete a piece of coldwrite impromptu writing following standard procedures.
Required data collection
· Impromptu writing selection collected from each student, assessed by classroom teacher using BC Performance Standards, and submitted to district office by Mid May.
Expectations for project communication
· Communicate with Moodle at least four times by June
Other
· A visit with Toni Thompson who will model lesson of teacher’s choice
Please print off page 1 of the attached sheet below, fill out and attach to your laptop when you hand it into your AO on or before the morning of June 30th.
Great when you find these things out there!
Peace River North School District Announces Results of Wireless Computer Writing Program Research Study
http://www.apple.com/ca/press/2004/01/peace_river.html
For more current results from the WWP have a look at our WWP page http://www.prn.bc.ca/?page_id=59
This was sent by email to WWP, BB, DK, Admin, and Secretaries on May 14th.
-teachers must return laptops to admin on the morning of or before June 30th
-teachers without an assignment/contract will not receive a laptop for summer use
-teachers in grade 8 (and 9 at middle schools) who currently have a ~1+ year old laptop will have their machines reimaged, scheduled in July for pickup
-teachers returning to grade 6/7 will get a brand new laptop, scheduled in July for pickup
-teachers in grade 8 or at the middle schools in 8/9 will receive a ~1+ yr old laptop wherever possible, scheduled in July for pickup
-teachers on special circumstances can apply in writing to Jarrod Bell for summer use by June 14th (email is fine). Confirmation to be returned by June 21st from myself. Must be on contract, and must arrange dates for swap. Teachers with a ~1+ yr old laptop for special circumstances may be required to swap before the end of June for a 4yr old laptop loaned for the summer only
-In the case where TS will be providing you another laptop we will transfer data in your User folder only to your new machine.
-It is your responsibility to backup your files to the network or external device.
-We will not be held liable for any loss of files or personally purchased music or movies on your District owned computer.
6/3/2010 Central (early due to Quebec Trip)
6/7/2010 Baldonnel
6/8/2010 Upper Halfway Wonowon
6/9/2010 Prespatou Taylor
6/10/2010 TRACK and FIELD
6/11/2010 Alwin Holland Robert Ogilvie
6/14/2010 CM Finch Upper Pine
6/15/2010 Hudson’s Hope Duncan Cran
6/16/2010 Clearview Charlie Lake
6/17/2010 Bert Ambrose Bert Bowes
6/18/2010 Buick Dr Kearney
All teachers will be required to return their laptops this year. We need to consider how this is going to be done and I’ll provide some options, but would like you to comment on the post (remember it is public) if you have a preference or other suggestion…
Option 1
All Teachers will be required to hand in their WWP laptops at the end of June to their administrators. If a special circumstance exists please email jbell@prn.bc.ca (need it for a wedding slideshow etc) but arrangements must be made to hand it in during the summer. We will then transfer data, reimage and provide a new (possibly new to you) laptop to you at a later date arranged with the staff and yourself.
Option 2
All Teachers will be required to hand in their WWP laptops by appointment during the summer before August 15th at the facilities shop. We will then transfer data, reimage and provide a new (possibly new to you) laptop to you at a later date arranged with the staff and yourself.
Option 3
No I want to keep my old 4 year old laptop and I don’t want a brand new or one year old laptop! – No, not really an option, we want them all back
Option 4: Mix of Option 1 and 2
Leave your laptop with your AO June 30 or arrange with TS to drop it off on a certain day.
Option X?
Something else? Please give your thoughts in the comments to share.
Back up your Data
We also advise teachers to back up their data to the network or external drive. Personally purchased movies, pictures, music should be backed up by the teacher externally (ie. External Hard drive). NB: We won’t be held responsible for any purchases on your laptop or data that you haven’t backed up!
Who does this apply to?
Anyone with a WWP owned computer – that means AO’s, grade 6/7/8 teachers, teachers assigned a spare computer, 8-10 Teachers at Bert Bowes and Dr. Kearney as well are included in this.
Will I get a laptop back?
Grade 6/7 teachers will be provided with a new laptop
Grade 8 teachers will be provided with the one to two year old laptops if at all possible, (grade 9 teachers at BB and DK as well)
Grade 10 teachers moving to NPSS will not receive a laptop.
Grade 7 classes at the middle schools will be part of the 1:1 Wireless Writing Program. The core grade 7 teacher will be expected to be using the laptops as per the usual WWP expectations. Professional development will be provided in a similar fashion for new and veteran teachers to the WWP.
Possible Changes to note:
* Roll out may happen a little later than normal (mid-October) to accommodate the transition in the first year.
* It will also be decided at a later time whether students will be able to take the laptops home or at what time in the year they will be able to take the laptops home.
With WWP Roll-out nearing an end I would ask for your constructive feedback on the process. It is apparent to me that while we do better at some things, other things require attention that may not have in previous years. There were a number of laptops that were not correctly repaired through the summer months this year. I instructed staff part way through roll out to go back and check and pull laptops. This has resulted in incomplete carts and I regret any inconvenience but it was unfortunately necessary this year. We have implemented an internal quality control process (QC) to hopefully avoid as many of these as possible.
Two other changes this year involved the contracts (which were in the laptops, and a PDF copy sent to schools), and how the adapters were sent on request after payments were received. I have received some feedback on these but would love to hear some more of your constructive feedback.
TS staff will be looking at this in a November staff meeting and will further refine our process.
Your constructive feedback is appreciated, please use the comments feature to add it!
I just want to give you an update on the WWP 09-10 roll-out and what Technology Services will be doing and what is expected of the schools. We’ve made some changes to how we are doing the roll out which will hopefully have a cleaner roll-out than we did last year. I fully expect that there will be challenges with batteries but we’ve discussed how to get any problems dealt with at the sites during the roll-out day there.
If you have questions please let me know.
You can join the Wireless Writing Project moodle community by following the link below and using your DWL login. The enrolment key is wwm2003
http://www.district.prn.bc.ca:16080/course/view.php?id=30
The Calendar of WWP events including Sept/Oct school presentations is always public and available at
Inventory procedures have been updated at http://www.prn.bc.ca/ts/?page_id=224
Initial drawback dates are as follows
G4′s will be inventoried starting May 25th, 2009
Macbooks will be inventoried starting June 1st, 2009
Please walk your students through the following document reinforcing the care of the MagSafe adapters for the macbooks.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1630
Tight bends at either end of the adapter may cause damage.
Thanks!
Scratch is an object oriented programming language that is built specifically for students to learn how to do some programming. It can be used to create screen by screen stories and you can choose to incorporate simple programming for students that want to extend their learning into the computer science realm.
A masters project exists at http://www.elementary.prn.bc.ca:16080/course/view.php?id=64 which is an introduction to scratch for students and teachers.
We’ve received feedback on the WWP carts and the roll out. We will look at our process and seek some areas of improvement. Some things that are clear that need some thought about
As a staff we need to look at the process of the roll out. Should it be one person or should we assign several carts to each one of us (including myself?)? Should we label our carts with a sign that says the following things have been complete (checklist)? Should we add some care instructions to the carts for teachers? What about a checklist for new teachers (would a new teacher like to create one???)
Your constructive feedback is appreciated!
We were provided with a CD of templates with 390 different MS templates… I can zip these and post them here for people to download. They are freely available through MS.
The powerpoint presentation will be available at http://nbteacher.wikispaces.com
These are amazing! I’ve seen some of the templates on the wwp image. I wonder if these are the same or we can include these on there.
We’ll have to add it on images or central server locations and create some how-to’s for teachers… Great stuff!
This is free in our district since we have volume licenses in our district.
www.microsoft.com/learningessentials (versions in multiple languages! ~French, English, Spanish, German etc could be very helpful in our district)
There are toolbars that can be initiated in MS office 2007 for Learning Essentials… Side by side project assistants. Two programs, Learning Essentials for Educators, Learning Essentials for Students.
SCORM compliant… Can this work with Moodle for creating quizzes? Quiz and Test tool in the learning essentials for educators.
Looks like the learning essentials programs only support MS Office on the PC at the moment… The templates will work on either though.
I’ve added the files at NPSS at O:\MS_Templates (\\ookapik\o.drive\MS_Templates)
It’s time again for image feedback for the WWP. Please add your suggestions below for software or functionality and we will add in anything we can. A major area of focus this year will be on FOSS (Free Open Source Software) such as Open Office, the Tux suite of learning programs, and updates to programs (Notebook 10.7) etc.
