don’t throw out the good principles when we set out to map the areas we wanted covered by...

DON’T THROW OUT THE GOOD PRINCIPLES

• When we set out to map the areas we wanted covered by wireless, the first areas that we covered were the areas utilised during break

• We soon realized that that is the last place we should consider

• We still want the kids to talk, laugh, play, climb, kick, chase

KEEP IT REAL

• www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndbcmbD7iZY• www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgZQhSESM-

g• Keep focussed on the goal to make

education better. Don’t get caught in the hype.

• Technology alone won’t make education better.

MAJOR POINTS TO CONSIDER

• People• Devices• Different Approaches for Different Phases• E-learning infrastructure• Network Infrastructure – Wireless and Cabled• Support• Sharing Devices• Collaboration

PEOPLE

• Select keen energetic staff to become champions. Staff who will embrace change.

• Give the champions the tools to get involved• Send the champions to the various conferences

around the country eg Apple Educational Conference and Parklands College.

• The staff must be able to provide a lesson plan that explains how this will work.

DEVICES

• Apple Devices – iOS – IPod, iPad, iPad Mini, iPhone

• Windows Devices – Windows 8• Android Devices – Various Flavours• Not just cost – security, available Apps

Gr R, JP, SP, Middle School, Secondary, Remedial

• Each phase will need to be looked at differently• R and JP – Group work to reinforce topics• SP – Research and Presentation – on a project

basis• Secondary – Research, Presentation,

Communicate on a day to day basis• Remedial – there is a wealth of suitable remedial

material

E – LEARNING INFRASTRUCTURE

• Mobile – work from anywhere• Personal Cloud to save pupil personal docs• Dropbox, Skydrive or iCloud• Moodle, Blackboard• Be careful of manging 5 databases – SMS,

Email, Report System, D6, Pastel• MySchoolAdmin – single database• Explain Everything, PDF annotation

NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE

• Network Cabling and Switches• Network Management• Wireless – cover just the areas that you

need• Wireless controller – determine what

devices are allowed on campus• How will this affect your internet usage?

SUPPORT

• You will need a partner who understands technology in education to take you through the curve

• Parklands College have three IT support staff in the College and another three in the Prep.

• The more you rely on technology to teach, the more immediate your support needs to be at lesson time

• Checking in a batch of ipads can take 20mins

SHARING DEVICES

• iPads can be shared• Personal data can be loaded on the ipad.• Casper software or Configurator software

can be used to check iPads in or out with personalised setting like Dropbox

COLLABORATION

• My greatest fear is that we spend a million Rand on infrastructure to use 5% of its features, only to be replaced by better, faster cheaper technology in 2 years

• Schools need to talk, share experiences

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References

• www.MySchoolAdmin.co.za• www.apple.com/education• www.network.co.za• www.MySchoolAdmin.co.za• www.parklandscollege.co.za• State of Victoria iPad Rollout, Australia• Cedar School of Excellence, Scotland  (Frasier Spiers Blog)• iPads in Education - USA• iPad User Group - USA• Apple in Education• iTunes- U• Technology made easy