2007-2008 Academic Year Implementation

The 2007-2008 academic year implementation will be a modified 1:1 computing environment. Instead of a full-scale implementation, Trinity's sixth grade teachers (lead and specials) will teach one curricular unit that utilizes the tablet PC's capabilities, including any applications, programs, or Internet tools necessary for meaningful learning. Students will also use their school-issued tablet as their primary assignment book throughout the academic year.

The goals for the 2007-2008 academic year implementation are as follows:

1. Teachers will place their students at the center of the learning process through the use of technology. 2. Teachers will connect traditional classroom instruction to real world learning. 3. Teachers and students will understand the basic underpinnings of digital learning and electronic collaboration. 4. Students will learn, understand, and demonstrate the 21st century skill of critical thinking and problem solving through the use of technology. 5. Students will learn, understand, and demonstrate the 21st century skill of collaborating through the use of technology.

The following sections provide an overview of the 2007-2008 academic year implementation.

Tablet Equipment Distribution Information

Trinity School will provide each sixth grade student with a tablet PC and accompanying equipment for the entire academic year. Trinity will own the tablet and will not allow students to purchase the tablet at the end of the year. Sixth grade students will be responsible for the care and maintenance of their issued equipment throughout the year.

The technology department, select administrators, and sixth grade teachers will hold a “Student Tablet Seminar” prior to the start of the 2007-2008 academic year (August 20th from 2:45-4:15). Sixth grade students and their parents will be expected to attend the “Student Tablet Seminar.” The purpose of the “Student Tablet Seminar” will be to distribute tablet PC's, share proper maintenance techniques, review components of the computer, discuss the way in which the tablet PC will be used during 2007-2008, and review/sign an acceptable use policy. Parents and students will also receive a tablet handbook that outlines appropriate terms, conditions, and procedures.

Sixth grade students will be given a protective backpack for transporting their tablet between home and school. Although students will return their tablet and equipment at the end of the year, they will keep the backpack at the end of the year. It is recommended that sixth grade families have the option of purchasing a backpack with wheels at a reduced cost (rolling backpack cost minus the cost of the traditional backpack) if desired (pending decision).

Tablet Infrastructure

Trinity will provide all sixth grade students with charging stations, replacement equipment, online file storage (accessible from home and school), virus and spam protection, and wireless Internet access while at school. It is recommended that sixth grade families consider high speed Internet access at home (wired or wireless).

Tablet Protection and Support

Trinity will purchase a three year protection policy and warranty plan to cover accidental damage due to normal use. The protection policy offsets the cost of major hardware malfunctions or accidents at the rate of one incident each year. The warranty plan covers all other product defects apart from stylus pens and batteries. Pen or battery replacement costs will be assumed by either sixth grade families or Trinity School (pending decision). In addition, it is recommended that Trinity School purchase LoJack protection (similar to LoJack protection for cars) in the event that a tablet is stolen.

All replacement parts and their associated costs will be made by the Trinity School technology department and coordinated by the assistant network administrator and sixth grade technology assistant.

It is recommended that Trinity School adopt a policy that outlines consequences for misuse or negligent actions that result in tablet damage (pending decision). This policy includes a fee of $30 for the first incident of misuse or negligence (regardless of cost) and $100 for subsequent incidents. Negligence or misuse will be determined by teachers, administrators, and technology staff members. It is recommended that Trinity School hire one additional technology assistant teacher for the sixth grade teachers (pending decision). The technology assistant teacher will be responsible for supporting lead and special teachers during tablet- infused units, maintaining a tracking system for repairs and forgotten equipment, and performing any additional technological tasks that relate to the tablet program (posting assignments online, assisting in student training, etc…).

The Instructional Technology Specialist will serve two roles during the 2007-2008 implementation apart from general professional development duties. First, he/she will support each teacher's tablet-specific curricular unit. This includes introducing any new applications, programs, or Internet tools as well as co-teaching initial lessons as needed. Second, the Instructional Technology Specialist will maintain and monitor new applications.

The Curriculum Coordinator will support each teacher’s unit during the 2007-2008 implementation. This includes assisting in the development of unit plans as well as co-teaching or assisting lead teachers during unit lessons.

Student Tablet Use

Students will be expected to take their tablet PC and equipment home each day and return with all needed equipment the following day.

Students will be responsible for the care and maintenance of their tablet PC. The details include the following:

1. Maintaining the tablet’s working and aesthetic condition. Each Tablet PC should be returned in the same condition as when it was issued. 2. Refraining from downloading and installing software unless under the approval, supervision, and guidance of Trin- ity School. This includes, but is not limited to, games, audio recording/playback devices, productivity tools, file- sharing applications, and chat/instant messaging programs. 3. Refraining from downloading music files to the Tablet PC unless under the approval, supervision, and guidance of Trinity School. This includes music files purchased legally. 4. Refraining from loaning or borrowing a tablet PC or any peripheral equipment from another individual. 5. Adhering to Trinity School’s acceptable use policy and the tablet handbook.

Students will be allowed to personalize their tablet to the extent that it does not violate the aforementioned provisions, acceptable use policy, or handbook. Students will be able to change the desktop wallpaper, desktop icons, and screensaver as long as any changes don’t involve additional software or downloads.

Students will be allowed to borrow necessary equipment if components are forgotten at home. The technology assistant teacher will manage all forgotten equipment checkout procedures with oversight from the lead sixth grade teachers (pending decision). Consequences for forgetting necessary tablet equipment will be determined by either the lead or special sixth grade teachers and will be similar to INP’s or equivalent repercussions.

Students will be required to save all of their work to Trinity network folders, regardless of whether they are at school or home, during tablet-focused units as well as when directed by lead or special teachers. Students will use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to save files to the Trinity network folders when at home. Students will also be expected to submit all homework/assignments electronically when engaged in a tablet-focused unit.

Students will be given individual email accounts. The email accounts will provide students with intra-school communication (Trinity students and teachers) and, in select instances approved by teachers and administration, access to recipients outside of Trinity School. Students will be expected to check their email on a daily basis when school is in session. However, students should not expect a teacher to respond to a message on the same day if it is sent after regular operating hours. All email communication will be monitored by the Instructional Technology Specialist.

Tablet Implementation

The 2007-2008 academic year implementation will be a modified 1:1 computing environment. Instead of a full-scale implementation, Trinity's sixth grade teachers (lead, mathematics, science, Spanish, and study skills) will teach one self- chosen unit that utilizes the tablet PC's capabilities, including any applications, programs, or Internet tools necessary for meaningful learning. Characteristics of this unit include the following baseline expectations: 1. The tablet-focused unit will occur over a finite length of time that corresponds to the curriculum. 2. Each teacher’s chosen unit will feature the tablet PC and electronic communication/learning to the extent that it is possible given available resources. For example, a math teacher might not be able to electronically recreate a worksheet due to copyright restrictions, but his/her students can use the tablet to solve problems. 3. Teachers and students will use electronic files, electronic submission/distribution procedures, electronic communication (with students and parents), and electronic reminders for students and parents during the entire unit. While there might be instances when a traditional, non-electronic resource/reminder/assignment is appropriate, every effort should be made to make sure that it is electronic. Furthermore, parents and students should not expect teachers to produce non-electronic duplications during the tablet unit. 4. Each tablet-focused unit will occur at a time when another sixth grade teacher is not implementing his/her tablet unit to the extent that this is possible.

While the characteristics listed above are the baseline expectations, teachers are highly encouraged to design a unit that creatively uses tablets and any available programs or tools in ways that align with the curriculum. This means that teachers should strive to “incorporate new ways of assessing/demonstrating old ways of understanding” with their students. This includes incorporating as many goals (see 2007-2008 implementation goals) as is feasibly possible and appropriate within the unit.

Sixth grade teachers (lead and specials) will have an opportunity to plan and create their tablet-focused unit during the Spring 2007 pilot program, a “Teacher Tablet Workshop” at the end of the 2007 summer session, and throughout the 2007- 2008 academic year. Unit-related planning during the spring 2007 pilot program will focus on unit selection and program formulation. The “Teacher Tablet Workshop” will occur during the first week in August (pending decision) and focus on resource development, procedural understanding, and unit refinement. Unit planning during the 2007-2008 academic year will support teachers’ needs.

The Instructional Technology Specialist and Curriculum Coordinator will be present at necessary times throughout each sixth grade teacher’s tablet-focused unit. The Instructional Technology Specialist will introduce applications or procedures as needed and will co-teach as directed. The Curriculum Coordinator will support teachers’ technology integration into the existing curriculum.

Apart from the tablet-focused unit, students will use their tablet as their primary assignment notebook throughout the entire year. The tablet will not replace the traditional binder but redefine its use.

Tablet Professional Development

Sixth grade teachers will be expected to attend three after-school professional development sessions each semester during the 2007-2008 academic year implementation. The purpose of these sessions will be to share progress on tablet-focused units, provide feedback on implementation issues, and learn about new technology tools.

Teachers will be encouraged to visit tablet schools.

Parent Forums

It is recommended that Trinity School hold four evening forums for sixth grade parents throughout the 2007-2008 academic year. The forums, led by the Instructional Technology Specialist and any appropriate faculty or staff, will serve to educate parents on two discrete categories of knowledge related to tablet PC’s: technical and ethical/familial. Technical topics will include setting up a wireless network, tablet PC basics related to parents and their child’s education, and monitoring student’s Internet and computer use. Ethical/familial topics will include ethical use of technology and Internet safety. Each parent forum will include one topic from each category.