Hi Katie,
You've posed some very good questions, but the answers are complicated. We encourage you to think about the technology in context of your district goals. What technologies can you implement that will help you achieve the goals you've identified?
Guiding questions to help identify those goals include:
PLC Focus
1) What do we want each student to learn?
2) How will we know when each student has learned it?
3) How will we respond when a student experiences difficulty in learning?
4) How will we respond when a student already knows it?
Learning Outcomes
1) Application of critical thinking, creativity and innovation in problem solving
2) Ability to collaborate, communicate, work productively and resolve conflicts with others
3) Mastery and application of reading, mathematics, science, social studies, writing, and world languages all tied to the Common Core State Standards
4) Ability to effectively and responsibly utilize technology and other information resources to empower learning
5) Strong character development and ethical reasoning skills
6) Global perspective and intercultural knowledge
7) Civic engagement and responsible citizenship
8) Economic and financial literacy
Check out the archived webinar from February (found under the RED Events tab on this website) which covered the topic of device selection. There is great information to be gleaned from the presenters. In addition, you may find it useful to download the Project RED Design Model Project Plan to guide you through all of the stages associated with an implementation. It's comprehensive in nature, but don't let that overwhelm you.
And finally, here are some responses to your specific questions:
- What minimum standards (beyond PARCC) would you recommend for classroom replacement and mobile cart to sustain a 5 year lifecycle? Reply: Data suggests that iPads and most other tablets will not make it through a 5-year life cycle. The life cycle is important to consider when you are looking at the total cost of ownership. A tablet may look inexpensive at the initial purchase, the total cost of ownership may be the same or more than a robust laptop when you consider all of the factors involved.
- Is it essential to have a docking station in the classroom? We currently have wall mounted LCDs for projection purposes.
Reply: Not necessarily. There are other ways to connect, including wireless connection.
- How low can you bring the price point in meeting these standards? Reply: There are so many variables that we can’t define total cost of ownership without extensive analysis of the variables. However, you may find it helpful to look at the Cost Comparison Tool (under the RED Design tab of the website) to get an idea of costs.
We hope this information is useful as you begin your implementation. Best of luck to you, Katie.
