This page was created by Lorena Rojas.
Infrastructure
Creating Access
Need 1: Ensure students and educators have broadband access to the internet and adequate wireless connectivity at school. Ensuring schools have connectivity means learners have access to a global knowledge base, such as streaming videos for instructional purposes, participating in synchronous or asynchronous digital groups, and using cloud-based tools. Without reliable connectivity, however, learners will be unable to leverage digital tools and resources that enhance instruction. Moreover, the U.S. Department of Education has declared access to the internet as a civil right due to its critical role in today’s society.President Obama had set an internet access minimum of 100 megabits per second per 1,000 students with a target speed of 1 gigabit per second by 2018 (NETP, 2015). This translates to a per-student target of at least 1 Mbps to meet the the 2018 goal. L.A. Unified currently meets and exceeds this goal. The District has the following connectivity standards:
- Every learner needs access to at least one device that connects to the internet.All schools have scaleable fiber capacity to reach 2 gigabit per second.
- Usage is monitored on a daily basis. Any school that reaches 70% of its current bandwidth is incrementally increased to the next highest level.
- Wireless access is provided throughout all LAUSD K-12 campuses with a 6 Mbps per student allocation. This value assumes a minimum target per user bandwidth for all students using a device at the same time.
The District’s current student to device ratio is now under 2:1. L.A. Unified currently has the following device access across the District:
- There are 101 Board-approved 1:1 school sites, which combined have a total of 82,430 devices that are internet-capable.
- 895 school sites within the District have access to a shared-use cart of devices, which totals 77,525 internet-capable devices.
- District-wide, there have been a total of 209,800 internet-capable devices purchased by schools.
- Sprint: Everyone On Program: Schools can purchase a modem for $100.00 and families are available to receive free internet service for 4 years. In order to apply for this program, a school must provide a copy of their instructional technology plan.
- AT&T: Through this option, families who qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can apply for internet service that cost between $5 to $10 per month. Families would need to verify that they receive government assistance with their application.
- Charter: This low cost option is available for families whose students participate in the free and reduced lunch meal program. This option provides unlimited data access for $14.99 per month.
- Frontier: This option costs $14.99 per month, and families who sign up for internet service who will be experiencing internet access at home for the first time will receive a free Chromebook.
Need 3: Ensure interoperability between a District-wide Learning Management System (LMS) and the District systems. To support the instructional recommendation in adopting a learning management system, it is imperative that the District ensure it works seamlessly with current District systems, such as MiSiS. Interoperability is critical so as to not disrupt instructional practices and other processes needed to support student success. L.A. Unified is currently conducting a pilot program to determine the interoperability between Schoology and the District’s student information system (MiSiS). Thus far, a pilot has been completed that demonstrates successful integration of Schoology and MiSiS.
In using an LMS, the need for acquiring and implementing digital content will be critical. L.A. Unified is pursuing the use of digital content in blended and virtual learning opportunities. By using online content, LAUSD will be able to increase the number of A-G credit bearing courses across secondary schools in the District. Such access to digital content allows for:
- Additional options for students requiring credit recovery opportunities to improve graduation rates.
- Increased access to courses and content that otherwise may not have been available.
- Educational Value: Vendors must demonstrate that their digital content products meet educational standards, provide opportunities for differentiation, provide parental resource support, and include professional development supports.
- Single Sign-On (SSO) and Security Assertion Mark-Up Language (SAML): The District requires vendors support the use of LAUSD-provided Single Sign-On credentials for students and teachers to access instructional materials, preferably via Security Assertion Mark-up Language (SAML) 2.0. SAML is an XML- based, open-standard data format for exchanging authentication and authorization data between parties.
- Student Data Privacy: The District requires that vendors provide a detailed explanation of how student data is kept private and secured.
- Data Security: The District requires all proposers to also align their product(s) to all federal, state and District rules and policies regarding security of data transferred for the purposes of authorization.
- Learning Management System Compatibility: The District requires vendors to enable the integration of curricula and data using the District LMS by providing content that adheres to standards published by the Instructional Management System (IMS) Global Learning Consortium. In addition to adhering to interoperability standards, publishers must provide all course content, including but not limited to textbook materials, assessments, activities, lesson plans, etc., in a manner that will allow the allow the District, or a District-contracted provider, to upload materials directly into the LMS.
Providing Support
Two levels of support are needed to carry out each instructional recommendation: resource support and personnel support.Resource Support
Need 4: Ensure District leaders understand and adopt a change management approach to leveraging digital tools and resources for instruction. Utilizing the full potential of digital tools and resources requires an instructional paradigm shift that is gradual in its implementation and supported by an infrastructure that is prepared to address it. In order for all levels of the District to embrace this shift, a change management model is needed to guide its implementation across the District. The ADKAR Model addresses the following goals for change:
- Awareness of the need to change.
- Desire to participate and support the change.
- Knowledge of how to change.
- Ability to implement the change.
- Reinforcement to keep the change in place.
Need 5: Repurpose staffing according to the instructional goals and vision to achieve personalized learning. Using digital tools and resources for instruction is no longer an option. With the plethora of hardware and software to monitor, it is important that each school identify a staff member to fulfill two critical roles: 1) an Instructional Device Manager and 2) a Mobile Device Manager.
An Instructional Device Manager (IDM) is responsible for managing learning device inventory for a school site. Thus, devices under the purview of the IDM are limited only to devices used for instructional purposes.
The safety and security of the District’s network and, more importantly, its users is a priority. In order to achieve this goal, a Mobile Device Management (MDM) system is required to provide positive identification of all devices on the District’s network to monitor applications, software, and system updates across all devices. L.A. Unified has taken the following steps to provide support:
- ITD currently administers the District’s MDM system.
- The District is currently licensed for the use of MDM on 181,000 devices.
- A Request for Proposal for a District-wide MDM system to manage District and personal devices is in development.
Develop Processes & Procedures
Need 6: Implement a process for annual review and update of related policies that support the instructional vision of personalized learning. In order to support a learning environment that takes full advantage of digital tools and resources, the District needs policies that are up-to-date reflecting the dynamic nature of using technology for instruction. The following policies have been identified as critical and in need of consistent review:
- Responsible Use Policy
- Social Media Policy for Employees
- Social Media Policy for Students
- Data privacy and security policies
- Purchasing policies
Parent Community Service Branch
Information Technology Division
Facilities Services Division
L.A. School Police