Education | education | technology | ai & NOT A.I. | design

What a Sign-out policy for teachers looks like

Below is a policy I developed for Concordian International School that was to be used by the tech department in addition to each piece of electronic or technical equipment that would be signed out by a member of staff. It was adapted largely from Bangkok Pattana’s policy found here.

1. Introduction

Teachers will receive one (1) new computer upon commencement of their initial contract. Computers will be exchanged or upgraded at the end of five (5) consecutive years of service to Concordian International School. Other members of staff may be issued a portable computing device depending upon circumstances. This may be a laptop or other technical apparatus and is to be used to support school work. This is school property loaned to the staff. All teachers and staff members have the right to decline.

2. Ownership

2.1 The School shall retain ownership of the computer or technical apparatus throughout the contract tenure of the staff member.
2.2 The School shall be responsible for purchasing, taxation, and installation of licensed software.

2.3 The staff member agrees to return the laptop computer or technical apparatus to the school upon cessation of contractual employment.

2.4 The school may choose to sell returned computers to teachers and staff. Prices will be fixed accordingly to market value at the time. Computer sales will be announced through appropriate means.

3. Conditions of Issue and Use

3.1 The member of staff agrees to be bound by the school’s “Acceptable use Policy” for using ICT systems and equipment.
3.2 The member of staff issued with a portable computer or technical apparatus shall be expected to use the capabilities of this item as a working tool for their assigned duties, including enhancement of lesson preparation and presentation.
3.3 The staff member shall be expected to display competency in the use of the laptop computer or technical device as a model in learning technology and classroom practice.

3.4 The administration reserves the right to withdraw the privilege of the laptop computer or technical apparatus if it is so determined that the computer or technical apparatus has not been effectively used for its specific school purpose or instances when competency cannot be demonstrated.

3.5 The staff member shall show due responsibility in the care of the computer or technical apparatus. The computer or technical apparatus is not covered by the school’s insurance policy in the case of “wilful act or wilful negligence…”

3.6 Wilful acts will be charged completely to the user.

3.7 Accidents will be covered 50% by the school. The remaining 50% shall be covered by the user.

3.8 In the instance of loss or theft of the laptop computer or technical apparatus, it is the responsibility of the staff member to report such incidence to the police and advise the school.

3.9 School insurance covers theft only on school property if the computer was locked in a secure cabinet or closet. School insurance will need proof of physical evidence of removal which will be apparent through forced entry OR verification through video surveillance. The user is 100% responsible for coverage off school premises, through his or her own insurance or otherwise.

3.10 The school will provide basic repair and maintenance for the laptop computer or technical apparatus but shall determine the level of repair that is warranted.

3.11 Loss, theft or damage shall be the responsibility of the staff member. In such instances unrecoverable replacement costs will be charged to the staff member.

3.12 The academic staff member shall only install licensed software on the computer or technical apparatus approved by the IT department. In the instance of a staff member installing non-licensed software, the administration reserves the right to remove the privilege of use of the laptop computer or technical apparatus and the staff member will be fully liable for the consequences of their actions.

3.13 The staff member may return possession of the laptop or technical apparatus in working condition to the school at any time, without further obligation to the school. Computers will be checked for normal “wear and tear” which will not be charged to the staff member. For other conditions, refer to CONDITIONS OF ISSUE AND USE 3.5 and 3.6 accordingly.

3.14 The school is not responsible for data loss or unrecoverable data on any computer or technical apparatus.

4. Networking and Internet

4.1 The school will provide a network card and internet login for each laptop or technical apparatus.
4.2 Off campus internet access is the sole responsibility of the academic staff member.

5. Basic Competency

5.1 The school will provide an initial training session on the basics of the use, care and security of the computer or technical apparatus. Additional and ongoing support is available as required.

Leave a comment

Posted by Dr. Thomas Johnson | ict-design.org on March 4, 2011 in Technology

Tags: Education, Policies

iPad2: teaching possibilites

03 Mar

“I want that and it’s affordable!”

Beyond this thought, I was also thinking along the lines of, “How can I use that in the classroom? How can others use that in the classroom? How can it be used beyond the classroom?”

These are some of my thoughts:

Use it like the ipad video displays with someone in front of the classroom with the iPad hooked up to a TV. It is basically like a computer hooked up to an overhead projector.
Use it as an electronic textbook. Forget the Kindle, which seems to be only that. The iPad can do this and so much more. Why not have everyone download the next book in the series the teacher is guiding the class to read? Saves paper. Better yet, many books online these days are more interactive than just reading. Students also have the ability to rate and comment on books, which gives other readers a possibly more informed opinion about such text
As an administrator or tech coordinator, forget going out and buying all new portable labs for the students. These are the new portable computer labs. Make sure there is enough wifi available in the school and allow for more electrical outlets in the classrooms, libraries, study areas and lounges. (Don’t forget the teacher’s lounge as well)
Science teacher? Art teacher? History teacher? These new devices with their camera capabilities are now mobile data collection devices. Not only are they great for taking pictures of needing sources, but they quickly have applications like Word, Excel and too many others to mention at the tip of your fingers to add, configure and consolidate said data.
Going on a field trip? Don’t forget your iPads. These little creatures will add a whole abundance of knowledge to wherever you plan to explore. Have students search for information on the fly as they encounter everything from new flora and fauna, to extra specs about the T-Rex they are viewing, to what is really happening on the assembly line in the Toyota plant, since you can’t hear the guide.
What about content creation itself? With the advent of multi-touch, product developers who create Photoshop, Garageband, iWorks and so many more have to rethinking how people are interacting with the programs in order to make work-flow more intuitive. The mouse changed things years ago, but the surfaces and abilities to use them in different ways will probably allow for undreamed of possibilities in the creation arena.

A recent Reed College report:

After extensive student interviews throughout the Fall 2010 semester, “The bottom line feeling was that the Amazon Kindle DX was not adequate for use in a higher education curricular setting,” Chief Technology Officer Martin Ringle tells Fast Company. “The bottom line for the iPad was exactly the opposite.”

The most impressive iPad feature was also the simplest: a smooth scrolling touchscreen. “The quick response time of the touch screen was highly praised and seemed to be extremely beneficial in class discussions because it allowed students to navigate rapidly between texts to reach specific passages,” notes the report.

Some questions that were recently brought up at an ISTEC meeting are worth considering:

Is your school allowing students to use tablets or slates? Will you be?
Do you have policies regarding the tablets ans slates?
Do you think it will be a replacement for laptops?
How do you support slate technology?
Are schools allowed to scan in textbooks that they have already paid for?
Is there site licensing for apps? – ANSWER: No, in Asia and anywhere not North America schools seem to be buying one app and sharing it. However, this seems to be highly illegal.
Buy and app and you can use 5 machines – 21st Century Learning conference mentioned this

Some notes from the same meeting were:

Tablets do not seem to be using major bandwidth versus laptops (in Cambodia)
Laptops seem to be used more for creating, versus iPhones, iPads, iPodsthat are used for consuming
Apple iPad seems to have the advantage over the other tablets due to educational software that is available. However, from an administrative point of view, the apps are lacking in support and management. Apple users can install parallels in order to be able to use PC softwares.

Paul White recommended a great area for sharing called http://www.Appolicious.com

With that said, I see no reason to not try out the iPad2 for myself and for education. Woot!

Leave a comment

Posted by Dr. Thomas Johnson | ict-design.org on March 3, 2011 in Education, Technology

Tags: Education, iPad, Teaching

About 1:1 laptop programs

02 Mar

Many schools are 1:1 or are on their way. A pioneer in Thailand with this type of program was the New International School of Thailand (NIST) with its tablet program. However, is 1:1 enough?

Maybe 3:1 is the way we should be thinking!!

What is a 3:1 program? It would look, as Paul White puts it, with “students having multiple devices (iphone, ipad, and netbook, depending on the task)”

Frasier Speir states the following:

I can tell you some long-term big trends that I’ll bet on right now:

Pupils and teachers will never wish they had fewer computers.

Pupils and teachers will never wish their devices had shorter battery life than the iPad.

Pupils and teachers will never wish that they had to queue up to get access to computers.

Pupils and teachers will never wish that their internet access was slower.

Pupils and teachers will never want a device that’s harder to use than the iPad.

Teachers will never want to have to go to a special classroom to use The Computers.

Nobody will want a device that’s more expensive and less capable than the iPad.

Nobody will want to carry around a device that’s significantly heavier than the iPad all day.

Pupils will not want to use a special “education device” when the market is going elsewhere.

Schools will not want to deploy a device that requires more tech support than an iPad.

Everyone is mentioning the iPad as the possible way to go or the industry standard with regards to initiating a 1:1 or 3:1 program these days, but what other options are presently available out there:

Is your school up to speed? Will your students be able to compete with so many others?

The Kno Tablet

The Galaxy Tab

Acer Tablets

Asus Eee Pad

Educators in this video are saying,

“1:1 is no longer an option. It is a necessity.”

In order to do it, “Go all at once. Communicate about what is happening with teachers, parents and students.”

Why not, “enable learning to happen anywhere at any time”?

As educators, “it will force you to rethink the learning space and the learning time”

“Skills-based learning, for example Microsoft Word, without real-world application is frustrating” A 1:1 program means that students are using the tools as they need them.

“1:1 allows students to use technology in all areas of the curriculum.”

“New conversations are developed that are not focused on technology,because technology is the source and the resource used for active planning.”

In order for a 1:1 program to take place, the school needs to consider the infrastructure it has in place. It needs, “good wifi, good technical support” and also proper power sources for students to replenish and power-up their devices.

It doesn’t take much. It could start with the school asking for students to have a computer or pad with certain requirements. From there the school can grow and modify as it sees fit. One of the last speakers in the video also mentioned that it is, “important for staff to have continuous professional development” with regards to technology.

I couldn’t agree more.