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SEDC Chromebooks Conference Notes & Resources
December 10, 2013 at the Iron County District Offices

 

Introductions and Welcome – Randy Johnson & Cory Stokes

Randy and Cory welcomed the group. Attendees were from Carbon, Millard, Iron, Beaver, Cache, Granite, Garfield and WCSD Districts as well as SESC, SEDC, Superintendent Carlson and State School Board Member Barbara Corry

 

Overview/Discussion of Iron District’s Implementation – Randy Yardley and Iron Team

  • Get a Google Domain

  • Buy Chromebooks (with Google Education Management License) and enroll them in your domain

  • Import a class of students in a sub organization

  • Manage user settings in a sub organization

  • Randy demonstrated ICSD management

  • Get a school expert and give them admin rights

  • Be strict about naming standards (need 8 character password)

  • Students use same username and password for Active Directory, Powerschool and Gmail

  • Device Management-User settings(set home page, tabs, URL Blocking,)

  • Restrict Sign in, can set so only school domains can log in

  • Discussed export from SIS

  • Best to have classroom sets, not sharing

  • Review Video (http://youtu.be/Fmgn5JSTAaI)

  • Printing, just use lab

  • Access to web store, templates, extensions

  • Link to presentation

 

Overview/Discussion of Washington’s District’s Implementation – Charlie Roberts

and the Washington Team

  • Charlie reviewed the implementation process WCSD has used

  • Growth was great when put into classrooms (as opposed to sharing)

  • Keeping Wireless up is a challenge (especially when students use personal devices)

  • Has several schools one to one using Rickus

  • Tech problems are minimal, broken screens are most common, repairs are minimal

  • Charlie showed video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBjmTsFisT8)

  • Less software, flipped class, student access, collaboration and content crossover were discussed in video. Using Google account allows access from any device

  • Challenges discussed in videos-students forgetting to log out, allows others access and getting funding

  • Charlie discussed his funding approach and his E Tech program, how important Professional Development is

  • Jim Black shared that WCSD has 2,156 Chromebooks

  • Domain management tool is tied to domain, cannot be transferred without the help of Google

  • 30,000 users all in one domain (teachers and users) Can go up to 100,000?

  • Students can only be in one organization,

  • Use groups to assign students to teacher groups for email and document sharing purposes

  • Admin roles, create roles as needed at organizational level

  • Updates to devices, using setting in management to spread out updates over 7 days as opposed to all at once to preserve bandwidth

  • Principal Testimonial on Chromebook Implementation (YouTube) – Brad Christensen, Hurricane Intermediate School

  • WCSD not using cases, Charlie encourages the purchase of charging carts ($800) as opposed to carts ($1600-1700) Click here to see options http://goo.gl/Nf4Fpf

 

Discussion of the Millard’s network upgrade to support their ChromeBook implementation – Kevin Chapman  

  • Kevin discussed the evolution of the wiring in buildings, often wiring out of necessity, not planned for long term. Closets were taken off, buildings were not constructed with the physical needs.

  • Wireless had to change as more portable devices were brought in.

  • Adding phone systems, bells, surveillance

  • Student devices are added

  • Now Bandwidth was an issue

  • Predict, plan and measure as opposed to being reactive

  • Discussed Wireless Evaluation Project implemented by SEDC

  • Project allowed schools to determine where needs were and how to implement coverage

  • Assessing the current technology was essential in creating a plan

  • Jack commented that some of the infrastructure was bypassed for expediting (different networks)

  • Wiring can be an issue in older buildings due to lack of access

  • Cody commented how important was to determine the capability of a site before purchasing devices

  • Kevin agreed that sites need to work with Tech depts to purchase the right model/software

  • Link to presentation

 

Discussion of the Garfield wireless network upgrade to support their ChromeBook implementation – Gerald Talbot

  • Gerald discussed their move to Ruckus Wireless from Cisco (Cost for expansion)

  • Discussed the Wireless Evaluation and how helpful it was to create a plan for 1:1

  • Gerald shared technical details-see powerpoint

  • See recommendations in slideshow

  • Jack explained 3×3 device and the capacity of access points

  • Many devices will use 2 spatial streams

  • Jack shared that SEDC has purchased some of the tools needed to do some evaluations and can make suggestions based on accurate data, not guessing.

  • Link to presentation

 

Discussion of educational resources and tools for ChromeBook implementation – Clint Stephens and the SEDC Team

  • All apps follow students, not devices

  • Discussed limitations/benefits

  • Comment was made that it’s hard to convince some to change

  • Revision History, Research Tool, Document Translation, sharing and publishing

  • Reviewed paperless classroom workflow

  • Clint shared using forms for students to turn work in

  • Chromebook apps, many educational ones are free, students can add

  • Jim brought up logging into Chrome can be problematic because it can sync to other devices

  • Clint shares excellent help resources

  • Link to presentation