Friday, June 29, 2012

Update 6.29.12

We've made some significant progress this week in our implementation planning! Our iPads arrived on Monday, which is awesome since we could get to work right away on developing our "intake" strategy. Special thanks to Northfield High School Media Specialist Rebecca Glassing and Technology Specialist Cindy Samuelson for their work on creating the inventory strategy we'll be using. Their careful planning is already paying off!

I have contacted our Transformational Technology Task Force members and am beginning to set up meetings for early August. In addition, this week we have had more than 70 teachers and other staff register for Tech Boot Camp and almost everyone of those for the iPad I and/or II training.

Keep those Tech Boot Camp registrations coming in!

Friday, June 22, 2012

Update 6.22.12

We received confirmation yesterday that our iPads have shipped and will hopefully arrive sometime next week. Once they arrive, staff will be tagging the devices and entering them into our inventory system. Thanks to our Rebecca Glassing, our awesome Northfield High School Media Specialist, the iPads will be entered into our Destiny management system so we can check them out to staff just like a book!

We also have scheduled our Tech Boot Camp sessions - this was sent to District staff today. The iPad sessions offered initially will be focused on the general use and operation of the iPad. We'll continue throughout the year with additional professional development - focusing more on teaching with the iPad rather than operating the iPad itself.

We've had 22 staff sign up for our task forces and will begin to set those meeting schedules next week.

One of the projects taking place this summer to support the transformational technology initiative is the improvement of our wireless networks. This week, we have some data cabling being installed to prepare for the addition of several higher density wireless devices at the Middle School and High School. This is an important component of this project that we hope to have completed in early August.

As always, let me know if you have any questions about the project. You can contact me by phone at (507) 645-3458 or by email at matt.hillmann@nfld.k12.mn.us.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Recent media coverage

Over the past week, there have been two newspaper articles and a radio interview that have covered our transformational technology project. I've shared them below:

Board approves Phase I

The School Board approved Phase I of our transformational technology project last evening. We now begin the process of ordering the equipment for staff and preparing training sessions for them. We'll also be setting up six task forces to get into even more detailed planning for our potential Phase II student implementation.

You can watch the Board meeting, shown below. The transformational technology discussion begins at 8:05.




There have been many people involved in getting this project going -- literally hundreds! This project started with 35 teachers and then involved more than three dozen community members. It included presentations and feedback at each school and several Board presentations. Thanks to all who have assisted in formulating our approach to this project.

We will use this blog to continue to provide updates throughout the summer, approximately once per week.

As always, please feel free to contact me by phone at (507) 645-3458 or by email at matt.hillmann@nfld.k12.mn.us.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Public Information Meeting Review

We had between 15 and 20 people attend this evening's public information meeting at Northfield High School this evening. The highlight of the evening for most attendees were the excellent questions and comments offered by a rising Freshmen.

The presentation we used this evening is embedded below.




Thanks to the folks who attended!