Staff Laptops: An update
June 3, 2014
Tags: Staff, Staff Laptop, Staff MacBook
UPDATED (26 June 2014)-While additional details about the specific device and timeframe and steps that staff members need to take in order to prepare will still be forthcoming, the move to new devices for staff members will begin following the start of the school year–around October 1st.
Currently, nearly all certified School District 21 staff members are assigned a unibody white Apple MacBook as their primary School District 21 device. These devices were purchased during the 2009-2010 school year, and they were expected to last for four years. At this point, they have successfully completed their four-year lifecycle, and a process has been taking place since January to identify, purchase, and plan for the deployment of the next staff computing device.
Parameters
The major parameters that have defined this process have included:
- Budget-We have planned to stay within, and not exceed, the same financial limitations of the past four years.
- PowerTeacher Gradebook-The PowerTeacher Gradebook requires the Java Runtime Environment to operate, and this is only available and supported on Mac OS X and Windows. As a result, the only options to consider for staff members have included Mac OS X and Windows devices.
- Like with all technology device-related purchases for CCSD21 (and other large organizations), additional considerations have been given to: usability, durability, technical support and maintenance, and manufacturer warranty programs and costs.
Like with all technology device-related purchases for CCSD21 (and other large organizations), additional considerations have been given to: usability, durability, technical support and maintenance, and manufacturer warranty programs and costs.
Selection Process
The process that we have undertaken to arrive at a decision for the next staff laptop has been:
- The Information Services team worked with vendors to identify an initial pool of nearly 20 potential staff laptops. From there, based on the above factors, that group was narrowed down to 8 devices.
- Information Services team members, including both instructional and technical staff members, were able to utilize most of these devices with demonstration units over a period of days with each device. Based on these experiences, Information Services team members individually evaluated each of the devices based on all of the above factors. After examining those individual evaluations as a group, the team narrowed the options to 4 devices.
- As a next step, the Information Services team worked with vendors to gain access to demonstration units for each of these four devices. (This was challenging as one had just been released, and another demo unit was one of only three devices that even existed in North America!) Additionally, the Information Services team worked closely with vendors to arrive at final, best pricing quotes, including warranty packages.
- A staff committee was convened that represented a cross-section of District staff members–from Early Childhood through Middle School and across all areas of instruction. These committee members were presented with detailed information about each of the 4 device options as well as hands-on time to work with the demonstration units.
Where we’re at today
The Staff Laptop Committee has selected both a first and second option for our next device for certified staff members. At this time, final pricing, financing, and repair costs are being explored on each device, and a decision will be announced shortly.
A few other details
- Laptop Swap Timeframe–Two timeframes are still being considered for changing out staff laptops: Summer and Fall. In the summer scenario, many dates would be available for staff members to register and attend to swap out their laptop. Summer dates would continue through the opening week of the school year. The Fall timeframe would not begin until around October 1st, after the Information Services team has been able to meet beginning-of-the-year student needs. More information on which timeframe will be announced shortly.
- Current MacBooks–Staff members who are continuing to work in School District for the 2014-2015 school year are keeping their current laptop until it is swapped out for the new laptop. (It is possible that, in the Fall timeframe, staff members will be asked to be without a device for one day to allow the technical team time to transition the user account.)
- Chrome and Google Apps–The best way to be prepared for the transition to the new staff laptop will be to “live in Chrome” and be sure that you are fully utilizing Google Apps and Google Drive.
Topic: Tech Tips
Each District 21 school is named after an American author, and learning and literacy is at the center of our Professional Learning Community. The Modern Pen provides a collaborative location in which District 21 teachers can come together to learn the skills that will enable their students to learn new skills and to understand concepts at an even different level than before.
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