3. Technology Solution Plan a. Rationale:
The combined teaching department of Art and Technology realize that being able to grant students the accesses to a safe reliable storage area where they are able to accumulate a portfolio of work that progresses from 9th through 12th grade. The most effective device for this will be a NAS (Network Attached Storage). This will grant students the skill building tools to advance their level of work in a multitude of subject areas as it relates to Art and Technology. Students will also be able to gain real life experience with the modern computing world using remote storage. Students will also be able to create projects in one part of the building and then be able to access them in another, for example a student can create a 3demntional model in the graphic design lab and then move to the materials lab and access the files on one of many CNC machines and create the physical item.
b. Specific description of technology:
The NAS (Network Attached Server) will be attached to the existing school network, the device will be added on to the existing storage system students and staff are currently using. It is a simple storage device that requires no software and does not require a standalone computer to monitor it. It could almost be compared to a flash drive that is plugged in to a PC. The flash drive adds storage space and can just be simply plugged in and run. The NAS design lends itself to the project solution very accurately due to the fact that students will be able to create their own folders and save and delete their generated products. The difference in this type of storage system compared to the existing one offered will be, it grants classroom teachers the ability to oversee and control the access and security of the system. The NAS will be located at a remote location at the Avon Grove Intermediate School that is currently were the district wide servers are hosted. It could be hosted local at the high school building but for security purposes it would be most beneficial to be located of site.
c. Expected outcomes:
The addition of a NAS will directly impact students learning by granting them the real life experience of a produced work portfolio that can follow them through the education process. Also students will have access online to documentation and tutorials created by the teacher. This will cut down on the amount of paper work and aid organization of required assignments.
The seven teachers that make up the combined Art Tech Ed department will be in daily use this technology integrating it into every class that requires students to create computer generated work. Also teachers will benefit by being able to locally store documents that students will need to complete assignment. This will technology will make them available in an organized online area for downloading or reviewing.
d. Policies and guidelines for selecting technology:
Selection- The technology committee with the support of the district technology staff will select the specific technology solution. The decision will be by consensus and all involved parties will be able to give their suggestions. However with a large group not every person will be able to satisfied, but all views and inputs are valuable.
Pricing- Determining a reliable and supportive supplier is important. We also must keep in mind that not all hardware suppliers are willing to work with schools, due to the fact that payment methods can be slow and cumbersome. So we must choose a supplier that is willing to work with us and guide us to the best solution.
User friendly- We must select a hardware option that is familiar for staff and students to use. By keeping the technology user friendly we will be able to more easily integrate it into the classrooms and the smaller the learning curve the more likely staff will use it. With this in mind we also must select equipment that the district computer support staff is also able to work with and setup.
e. Current technologies:
Currently teachers and students are given access to the school wide storage system when they are logged onto a school computer. However only the user who is logged in can access their folder, this makes it difficult for students to save work from class because the instructor cannot review or monitor the student’s progress. Also this space if very limited and many different types of files are not allowed, like .mp3 or .wav. This makes it very hard for creating content like videos with sound and PowerPoint slides.
f. Analyzing costs and establishing a budget:
Category/Budget
Expense
Planning
Technology committee and Technology support staff will work together and communicate in person and electronically
Design and Specifications
Hardware- Dell PowerVault NX3100 300GB memory upgradable to 24TB. To be installed in the updated system of site.
Software- It will be integrated into the current Windows based network, with limited Linux use.
Purchase/Acquisition
Networking equipment- Purchasing will be done directly through Dell Education and payment will be district purchase order
Staffing
Hiring costs- There is no additional staff needed for installation or setup.
Training and Certification
Initial training- District technology staff will complete the initial training of the technology planning committee.
Ongoing training- professional development training will be conducted at required department meetings and run by department members
Support
Help desk- Will be available for assistance although a online resource of commonly asked questions will be available on the planning committee Wiki
On-site technical assistance- A full time technology support person is available in the building. Also other department staff will be available.
Equipment maintenance- Keeping the drive organized will be the responsibility of the committee leader Matt Ricketts. Organizing and cleaning of the digital space will be done on a semester basis.
Warranty- A one year warranty is supplied by the manufacturer.
Replacement and Upgrades
Repairs- These will be conducted by qualified district technology staff.
Life Span- The Dell PowerVault proposed will serve the departments needs for at least the next five years. After five years plans for expanding the memory space will be explored.
NAS Budget for Avon Grove High School Art/Tech Ed Department The projected three year budget of $6,035 supplied by a shared expense from the Avon Grove School District Technology Fund and Art/Tech Ed yearly budget.
g. Basic design parameters:
Teachers and students will have access to a secure and reliable storage space where large amounts of visual rich information and files can be stored and accessed from anywhere in the district. Security parameters will be set by Matt Ricketts(technology committee leader) allowing for teachers to setup folders for individual classes and then granting individual students the ability create sub folders for their own use.
h. Benefits:
Integrating the use of a NAS server will give students the ability to build a portfolio of work that shows their progression and improvement of art and technology. This fits in with the Avon Grove High School Mission Statement that “An Avon Grove High School student will graduate with the intellectual and social skills necessary to lead a productive and successful life in the 21st century”. By using technology that is implemented in the professional world students will be able to gain real life experience while logging their own growth.
i. Communication plan with Professional Technology Committee:
The technology committee has been in communication from the problem identification stages and constant communication will continue. As additional parties become involved they will also be encouraged to join the Wiki that has been setup. The Wiki will also become evidence that suggestions from many different sources has been considered and documented.
A meeting with Clint Jones, Matt Ricketts and Linda Simasek convened June 7 2010 at 3:00pm to discuss the budget for purchasing the hardware. A agreement was reached that the district technology fund would absorb 50% of the cost up to $4,000. The rest of the financial responsibility will on the department Members Present Matt Ricketts Clint Jones Linda Simasek
a. Rationale:
The combined teaching department of Art and Technology realize that being able to grant students the accesses to a safe reliable storage area where they are able to accumulate a portfolio of work that progresses from 9th through 12th grade. The most effective device for this will be a NAS (Network Attached Storage). This will grant students the skill building tools to advance their level of work in a multitude of subject areas as it relates to Art and Technology. Students will also be able to gain real life experience with the modern computing world using remote storage. Students will also be able to create projects in one part of the building and then be able to access them in another, for example a student can create a 3demntional model in the graphic design lab and then move to the materials lab and access the files on one of many CNC machines and create the physical item.
b. Specific description of technology:
The NAS (Network Attached Server) will be attached to the existing school network, the device will be added on to the existing storage system students and staff are currently using. It is a simple storage device that requires no software and does not require a standalone computer to monitor it. It could almost be compared to a flash drive that is plugged in to a PC. The flash drive adds storage space and can just be simply plugged in and run. The NAS design lends itself to the project solution very accurately due to the fact that students will be able to create their own folders and save and delete their generated products. The difference in this type of storage system compared to the existing one offered will be, it grants classroom teachers the ability to oversee and control the access and security of the system. The NAS will be located at a remote location at the Avon Grove Intermediate School that is currently were the district wide servers are hosted. It could be hosted local at the high school building but for security purposes it would be most beneficial to be located of site.
c. Expected outcomes:
The addition of a NAS will directly impact students learning by granting them the real life experience of a produced work portfolio that can follow them through the education process. Also students will have access online to documentation and tutorials created by the teacher. This will cut down on the amount of paper work and aid organization of required assignments.
The seven teachers that make up the combined Art Tech Ed department will be in daily use this technology integrating it into every class that requires students to create computer generated work. Also teachers will benefit by being able to locally store documents that students will need to complete assignment. This will technology will make them available in an organized online area for downloading or reviewing.
d. Policies and guidelines for selecting technology:
Selection- The technology committee with the support of the district technology staff will select the specific technology solution. The decision will be by consensus and all involved parties will be able to give their suggestions. However with a large group not every person will be able to satisfied, but all views and inputs are valuable.
Pricing- Determining a reliable and supportive supplier is important. We also must keep in mind that not all hardware suppliers are willing to work with schools, due to the fact that payment methods can be slow and cumbersome. So we must choose a supplier that is willing to work with us and guide us to the best solution.
User friendly- We must select a hardware option that is familiar for staff and students to use. By keeping the technology user friendly we will be able to more easily integrate it into the classrooms and the smaller the learning curve the more likely staff will use it. With this in mind we also must select equipment that the district computer support staff is also able to work with and setup.
e. Current technologies:
Currently teachers and students are given access to the school wide storage system when they are logged onto a school computer. However only the user who is logged in can access their folder, this makes it difficult for students to save work from class because the instructor cannot review or monitor the student’s progress. Also this space if very limited and many different types of files are not allowed, like .mp3 or .wav. This makes it very hard for creating content like videos with sound and PowerPoint slides.
f. Analyzing costs and establishing a budget:
Software- It will be integrated into the current Windows based network, with limited Linux use.
Ongoing training- professional development training will be conducted at required department meetings and run by department members
On-site technical assistance- A full time technology support person is available in the building. Also other department staff will be available.
Equipment maintenance- Keeping the drive organized will be the responsibility of the committee leader Matt Ricketts. Organizing and cleaning of the digital space will be done on a semester basis.
Warranty- A one year warranty is supplied by the manufacturer.
Life Span- The Dell PowerVault proposed will serve the departments needs for at least the next five years. After five years plans for expanding the memory space will be explored.
NAS Budget for Avon Grove High School Art/Tech Ed Department
The projected three year budget of $6,035 supplied by a shared expense from the Avon Grove School District Technology Fund and Art/Tech Ed yearly budget.
g. Basic design parameters:
Teachers and students will have access to a secure and reliable storage space where large amounts of visual rich information and files can be stored and accessed from anywhere in the district. Security parameters will be set by Matt Ricketts(technology committee leader) allowing for teachers to setup folders for individual classes and then granting individual students the ability create sub folders for their own use.
h. Benefits:
Integrating the use of a NAS server will give students the ability to build a portfolio of work that shows their progression and improvement of art and technology. This fits in with the Avon Grove High School Mission Statement that “An Avon Grove High School student will graduate with the intellectual and social skills necessary to lead a productive and successful life in the 21st century”. By using technology that is implemented in the professional world students will be able to gain real life experience while logging their own growth.
i. Communication plan with Professional Technology Committee:
The technology committee has been in communication from the problem identification stages and constant communication will continue. As additional parties become involved they will also be encouraged to join the Wiki that has been setup. The Wiki will also become evidence that suggestions from many different sources has been considered and documented.
A meeting with Clint Jones, Matt Ricketts and Linda Simasek convened June 7 2010 at 3:00pm to discuss the budget for purchasing the hardware. A agreement was reached that the district technology fund would absorb 50% of the cost up to $4,000. The rest of the financial responsibility will on the department
Members Present
Matt Ricketts
Clint Jones
Linda Simasek