This was the district’s second formal presentation for school board members on how 1:1 could change and transform teaching and learning in Livingston classrooms. It is the result of research over the past 20 months to create a vision and mission for technology, presented by co-chairs of the technology committee, Monica Cohen, educational technologist, and Jeffrey Wieboldt, a high school math teacher.

 

In addition, the committee recommended 1:1 computing at Heritage Middle School with Lenovo laptops already owned by the district, moving to the Microsoft Surface when the existing Lenova’s reach their replacement cycle. The district would also refresh existing computers and lease additional devices for Mt. Pleasant Middle School and all the elementary schools to achieve a 2:1 student to device ratio, according to Thomas Douglas, manager of technology.

 

The district would finance the technology through a capital lease spread over three years, according to the tech committee’s recommendation. The funds would come from the reallocation of existing budget lines. School administrators said no additional taxes would be raised for the investment in 1:1.

 

The tech-ed blueprint has cautiously advanced since school leaders endorsed in early October the educational benefits of a 1:1 initiative to teach 21st century skills in the 21st century context.

 

School districts across the country that consider their 1:1 initiatives successful report increased student achievement, more engaged learners, enhanced technology skills, better understanding of digital citizenship, and an overall boost to college and career readiness. They also point to more innovative student work with the wide-ranging apps and programs available with devices.

 

 

The Windows platform with Office apps, especially OneNote combined with digital inking, was ultimately seen as the best technology platform to support student learning and creativity in Livingston. Math Supervisor Antonio Matheus introduced “Fluid Math” for the audience, which is primarily for pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, pre-Calculus, Calculus, and Physics teachers and students.  It is a pen-centric user interface that allows automatic graphing and much more.

 

If the plan move forwards, Livingston would become a “showcase school” for Microsoft. “They are investing in us on an extremely high level,” Mrs. Cohen said.

 

If ultimately approved by the Board of Education, every student at LHS would receive the Microsoft Surface to start the next school year. The tablet runs full Windows desktop productivity applications, and features a touchscreen and a digital pen interface that lets users draw or write directly on the screen. 

 

The district would redistribute existing Lenovo laptops to students at Heritage Middle School for 1:1. The Lenova laptops are known for their durability and have a compatible Windows platform. New Microsoft Surface devices would be distributed to Heritage students when the existing Lenova’s reach their replacement cycle.

 

In addition, laptop carts will be added at Mt. Pleasant Middle School. At all he elementary schools, adding Chromebook carts would achieve a 2:1 student to device ratio. Teacher devices would also be updated with the Microsoft Surface under the tech recommendation.

 

The district is including costs associated with deployment, including network infrastructure modifications, inventory control and security, in its cost analyst. Recurring costs, including licensing fees and device security, are also being projected. Specific numbers would be included as part of the school budget process that will begin in early 2016, according to Steven Robinson, business administrator.

 

Additional work also needs to be done. For example: Approval of policies and procedures for the one-to-one program and professional development for teachers on the devices.
 A test with Microsoft Surface devices is already in motion to gain opportunities to use the device before a possible purchase to use the full functionality of the device in the classroom.

 

Teachers at Livingston High School and Heritage Middle School overwhelming indicated they would incorporate more tech ed into their lessons if they had the technology, according to a district survey. Livingston teachers are already engaged in training on learning and teaching in the digital age. The goal is to learn how best to use technology for collaborative work, for data collection and analysis, for sharing resources and files, organizing, and sharing ideas and information. Two tech coaches are working this year with teachers to connect curriculum with technology.

 

As part of the decision-making process on where the district should go from here, teachers and supervisors said it was important for students to have equal access to both laptops and educational applications, Wieboldt said in reporting results of a separate needs assessment survey of teachers and supervisors in the upper grades.

 

Professional development is crucial. “Without a doubt that is essential for the initiative to go forward,” Wieboldt said.