Ed Tech Plan for 2013-2016 - Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District

the district’s network with their own mobile devices such as smartphones – we have not yet
achieved that. Such a system requires a robust managed, wireless network. We project that will be
available to students in the 2013-14 year.
There are several advantages of wireless computers and other mobile devices:
• Electrical: there is less need for multiple outlets in a classroom. Computers do not need to be
tethered to the wall for electrical; they use batteries, which can be charged. Modern laptops use
less energy than their wired predecessors with bulky, energy hungry CRT monitors.
• Network and learning resources: wireless computers do not need to be tethered to the wall for
network and Internet connectivity.
• Mobile devices such as smart phones: these devices are becoming increasingly prevalent. Since a
student already owns the device, then anytime, anywhere access is no longer a problem.
• Facilities: Dedicated furniture is no longer necessary with mobile laptops. Any desk will serve as a
learning station.
• Classroom management: Student can now work collaboratively in groups, if desired, since
computers are no longer set up in wall or lab configurations.
• Economy of resource sharing: laptops and tablet computers are mobile. They may be shared
among classroom. An investment in one mobile labs can pay off dividends in multiple classrooms.
• BYOD: as students bring their own devices, then it expands the access they have to learning
resources. Since students own these devices, then the obviously also have 24X7 access at home.
The issue becomes: What about those students who cannot afford their own smart phones?
All classrooms have network and Internet services. All groups of students, such as Special Ed, English
Language Learners and GATE have access to the technology. However, due to differential funding, various
levels of teachers' interest and/or skill-levels, as well as differences in the amount of technology from
school to school, there are variances in the equitability and distribution of technology access and use.
Most of the classrooms in the district still have a television and DVD player, as well as cable television
(CATV) programming access. Increasingly, classrooms are incorporating the use of LCD projectors in
instruction, and they are abandoning standard televisions. These projection devices are connected to the
teacher’s computer and, consequently, to the internal DVD player of the computer. Used in conjunction
with simple speakers of sound-field systems, they allow students to see, read, hear and share electronic
learning resources that otherwise would be inaccessible. Students are able to see and read text content
displayed through LCD projectors, something that is difficult with standard televisions.
At our new Public Safety Academy (opened in 2012-13), teachers have both Windows laptops as well as
Apple iPads. In conjunction with Apple TV units and large flat screen televisions, they have abandoned the
LCD projector as a method to communicate with a whole class. This may well become the future of the
Internet enabled classroom.
At the time of the writing of this Plan, we have over 800 SMART Boards installed and more are being
ordered for the coming year. SMART Boards are interactive white boards that allow teacher and student to
dynamically interact with learning content, to archive teacher notes and student input, and to share and
post that information to either the network server or the web.
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