Q&A Session with Partnership and Intel Scheduled: Here's how to Participate...
Submitted by Leslie Golden on Fri, 08/25/2006 - 10:10am.
From today through end of day Wednesday, August 30th, you all may log any questions you have regarding the Pilot and the Grant Application process on this blog.
You will need to take one minute to register, and then you may enter as many questions as you like. Steve, Intel, and I will be monitoring all questions and preparing a Q&A that will be immediately posted on this blog. Next Thursday, August 31, we will review all the questions, and be sure they have all been answered to the best of our abilities. You should stay tuned to this site, and review the Q&A to be sure you have been answered satisfactorily.
If you haven't quite gotten the help you need from the posted Q&A, we will have a call-in available from 10am to 12 noon, on Friday, September 1, (I will post bridge information as soon as I have it). The call in will be structured as an "open-house." So you may phone in at any point in that time frame to ask for follow up. Intel will be hosting the bridge, and will be on the line with us to answer/clarify questions you raise.
Please note that we intend to keep some structure to the call-in by using the questions submitted in the blog as the guide for issues to address. We hope to have time to review and consider the most helpful and accurate responses by the time of the call in, so PLEASE do everything you can to get your questions listed by end of day Wednesday (August 30).
Follow up here throughout the coming days to see questions as they come in.
Good luck, everyone!
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Please post bridge information for call-in
I'm looking for information for the Friday, Sept. 1 call-in.
Oops... found it:
Dial (503) 696-2663, Bridge: 3, Passcode: 6788945
It will be open from 10am until noon tomorrow, Friday, September 1. You may call in at anytime in that period to ask questions.
;-) Paul
Questions:
Does the calculation of substitute time, or other types of business, count as part of the “cash resource” or does cash = cash?
Are internal assessments, student attitudinal surveys, done by the outside agent or the ESD/school?
Does the student’s home have to be wireless?
Who is the control group?
What is a “class” of computers? If a school has 100 6th graders, they are considered the class. So can we assume all 100 will receive a laptop?
Who owns the computer at the end of the project?
Does the ESD provide all the PD or will Intel (and others) be providing some and what might that be?
Question from Judy May at Lake ESD:
"To what extent will low performing be a criteria for selection, especially when demographics, race, and socioeconomic background percentages are high?"
Bridge Information for the Q&A is here:
The bridge information is as follows:
Dial (503) 696-2663, Bridge: 3, Passcode: 6788945
It will be open from 10am until noon tomorrow, Friday, September 1. You may call in at anytime in that period to ask questions.
Questions re: 1:1
1. Who pays the cost of going to Hayward?
2. What is configuration of the software? Can it be altered?
3. Can schools qualify if they are scheduled to be wireless no later than Oct. 1st?
4. Does Intel/ODE provide any direct staff development?
(free registration to ITSC?)
5. Why this particular model of computer? What is its reliability, especially with 6th grade kids?
6. Have this model been used in other 1:1 programs?
7. What is meant by training for community?
8. Is there a minimum number of students?
9. What is a/the control group?
10. Is the program for only middle schools or can it be for elementary schools? (grant form is unclear)
11. Waht is the meaning of "expanding assets for 07-08 6th grade"?
12. Where is data on 1:1 that the project is based on? (i.e., those state projects specifically referenced in the grant info.)
13. How will data be collected?
14. What data will be collected?
15. Is there data that a 1:1 project improves content area scores?
Answers from Q&A Session on 9/1/06:
These answers have been reviewed and approved by ODE.
1. Who pays the cost of going to Hayward?
A: This is moot. The extension of time to respond will make the Hayward trip impossible.
2. What is configuration of the software? Can it be altered?
A: Check back on this answer later today.
3. Can schools qualify if they are scheduled to be wireless no later than Oct. 1st?
A: Absolutely!
4. Does Intel/ODE provide any direct staff development?
A: Yes, Intel, ODE, and the Partnership will be working with the selected sites to create and implement a comprehensive professional development plan.
5. Why this particular model of computer? What is its reliability, especially with 6th grade kids?
A: The simple answer is, "because Intel donated them." They are top of the line machines.
6. Have this model been used in other 1:1 programs?
A: Yes.
7. What is meant by training for community?
A: This will be a longer discussion with the selected sites, but communication and public relations with your board, parents, and broad education community is a significant part of this program. Intel, ODE and the Partnership will provide information, structure, and strategy regarding working with this constituency.
8. Is there a minimum number of students?
A: Nope.
9. What is a/the control group?
A: A sixth grade within the district in a different building. Or, a sixth grade in a nearby district that is similarly situated (this conversation will be examined and explored with our consultant from CDE.)
10. Is the program for only middle schools or can it be for elementary schools? (grant form is unclear)
A: It is for 6th grade.
11. Waht is the meaning of "expanding assets for 07-08 6th grade"?
A: This refers to the forward-planning necessary in considering applying for this pilot. Your 06-07 6th grade will move into 7th grade in 07-08 (with their laptops in tow, presumably), which means you need to think about training your 7th grade teachers for next fall (07). Similarly, your incoming 6th graders next fall (07) should be the second class to use the 1:1 model. Therefore, you need to think about expanding this year's assets to accommodate the shift.
12. Where is data on 1:1 that the project is based on? (i.e., those state projects specifically referenced in the grant info.)
A: Please see links provided in an earlier entry at this site. There are numerous articles and links to the States who have done this, and to their data.
13. How will data be collected?
A: We will provide structure and strategy once the sites are selected.
14. What data will be collected?
A: We will provide structure and strategy once the sites are selected.
15. Is there data that a 1:1 project improves content area scores?
A: Please see links provided in an earlier entry at this site. There are numerous articles and links to the States who have done this, and to their data.
Process if more than one school is interested in project
If more than one school would work...
This answer has been reviewed and approved by ODE
Great question. There are a couple of answers to this question.
1. Because we are determined to have this opportunity roll out to three sites across the state, we cannot support more than one site per ESD.
2. It is entirely up to each ESD to decide how to choose the site. If you have more than one that is ready to do this, you may consider having a modified, open process to let sites prove their readiness. The Grant Application does not require disclosure of the site.
3. If you have more than one terrific candidate site, and you have the local resources/personnel/dollars to support a second, simultaneous roll-out, of course we believe it would be wonderful to bring this integration model to as many teachers and students as possible. The template for the roll-out should be easily applicable/extensible to another site, though again, you would have to assume all responsibility for the resources for that additional site.
Please let me know if this makes sense. We are thrilled to hear that there are numerous sites that are ready for this. That bodes well for the direction in which we hope to get everyone moving!
Question from Blair Loudat, No. Clackamas:
Here are a number of questions that came in via email. responses to follow shortly:
"It is interesting to me that there are a number of Apple 1:1 laptop sites as well as many Apple users in the state. Are Apples an option? Districts have various hardware standards and Gateway isn't a standard of many districts that I know of. Was Apple included in the initial discussions?
Secondly, does the RFP assume that the 6th grades identified have to be a part of a middle school? None of our middle schools include 6th grade students. There is reference to continuing on to 7th grade which would be difficult given our configuration.
Do the requirements mean that the school of 6th grades have to have a full-time technical support person?
I understand from the information that there is going to be some kind of information session next week. Do you have more specific information? Will districts be able to participate or is this just for ESDs."
Response to emailed questions re: Mac's, et al
These answers has been reviewed and approved by ODE.
Q: "Are Apples an option?"
A: Yes, Mac's are an option. Intel is willing to work with us and the selected sites to support various platforms. Intel has expressed willingness to work with ODE and Apple to provide approximately 30 Mac's to a selected site if that is what is already in use and supported there.
Q: "[D]oes the RFP assume that the 6th grades identified have to be a part of a middle school?"
A: No, the RFP doesn't assume this, but please keep in mind that this pilot is not meant to be a one-year project with an end. It is meant to be the first step of a long-term vision of creating a 1:1 student to computer ratio throughout every school and district in Oregon. As such, you should consider how you would roll your 6th graders into 7th grade (in the '07-'08 school year) with their laptops and experience in tow. For example, your 7th grade classes/building/teachers and administrators will need to be ready, come '07-'08, to meet the requirements of a computer-literate, laptop-wielding, incoming 7th grade class. If you can envision a sound plan for making the transition happen, then the logisitics of this pilot shouldn't preclude you from applying.
Q: "Do the requirements mean that the school of 6th grades have to have a full-time technical support person?"
A: No, you are not required to have a fulltime support person for any aspect of the Pilot. But you must have capacity at the ESD and district/site to plan for and to support the technical needs this pilot will demand. It is essential that this capacity exist before the Pilot rolls out in October.
Question from Glen Larson, So. Coast:
Here's another matching funds question. The answer is posted separately.
"Do you know if a partner school can count in-kind match toward the 20% requirement and do you know if they could count the cost of 15 laptops purchased for use by the 6th grade students for the coming year? Also, they have already contracted with a consultant to come in and work with their 6th grade teachers on implementing an elearning writing curriculum? Any chance that could be counted?"
Matching funds requirement
Can the matching ESD funds be in the form of in-kind contributions, such as staff time, internet acces to families, training, etc?
Thank you,
Rod
Rod Aust
Chief Information Officer
Willamette Education Service District
(503) 385-4795
Restrictions on Matching Funds:
The following answer has been approved by ODE:
Answer:
With the strictly defined exceptions noted below, matching funds must be in the form of cash. It is doubtful the Intel Laptops and the ODE Grant funds will provide enough hardware to implement a successful and sustainable project. Pilots will need to have spare equipment on site to keep the educators and students on line. Most 1:1 schools keep 2% of their resources in reserve as spares. Therefore, it is critical that responding ESD’s have the ability to match with cash first and foremost.
The cash match can be used to procure additional laptops, software, Professional Development. The cash can come from the ESD, the School District, or the middle school. Staff time is assumed as a local project cost.
The only exceptions to the cash match are:
1. Laptops: If a school or ESD has purchased new laptops for the fall and want to direct them to this effort, that can be counted as cash match. The ESD must include the invoice in its grant application and clearly state the number and purchased value of the redirected laptops.
2. Professional Development: If a school or ESD has a new Professional Development resource that has been purchased for this fall and can be dedicated to Professional Development for Educators on successful 1:1 implementation that can be substituted for Cash. Again, the ESD application must clearly identify how this resource can and will be redirected to the 1:1 initiative. The Resource may not be the funding of a staff position.
3. New class room software that can be redirected to the 1:1 Project. This can not be the recurring cost of already purchased software.