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- 1. In 2008, San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) received funds from a bond measure to increase technology resources throughout the district. The following year, the i21 Classroom Initiative was established and the district embarked on a five-year plan, to distribute the technology strategically among grades levels and fundamentally change learning programs throughout the district. In 2014, San Diego selected Windows 8.1 two-in-one touch tablet devices as the technology to give students for anytime, anywhere learning. Jeremy Recktenwald, Director of IT Service Support for the District, explains the device choice: The device gives us the best of both worlds between a tablet and a laptop. It provides mobility, but with a connected keyboard, the requirements for Common Core testing, and a 10-inch screen. Windows has proven a powerful operating system as well. We see a clear benefit to Windows as far as ease of use and installation and because of all the management features we get with it, Jeremy shares. Educator Whitney Harvey echoes that: With the Windows 8 software, in general, its been really fun getting to use it this year in terms of just the toggling back and forth between their desktop and then the apps. The students have gotten very efficient; it runs really smoothly and its been really fun to use. But the devices are just the beginning. A partnership between San Diego Unified, Microsoft, and Lightspeed Systems helps ensure the devices are safe, easily managed, and used as a platform for enhanced learning, with just a few key solutions. Device Management One of the top challenges a district faces in a 1:1 is management of the many devices coming into the district. With Lightspeed Systems Mobile Manager, that management is simplified. Mobile Manager was developed just for schools, with a unique school-based hierarchy, joint administration between teachers and IT, and a host of features designed with education in mind. In addition to the easy-to-use interface, Mobile Manager now boasts robust new features to support Windows 8.1. Features include Student Information System (SIS) integration; support for Microsofts App Deployment Program (ADP); time-based policies to allow different in-school and after-school use; device restrictions, including Windows Error reporting, data roaming, OneDrive control, Smart Screen enable, and more; Bluetooth control critical for online testing; device status updates; Wi-Fi and VPN provisioning; parental controls; and much more. San Diego Unified Partners with Lightspeed Systems and Microsoft for Mobile Learning Case Study District: San Diego Unified State: California District Size: 131,000 students About Lightspeed Systems Lightspeed Systems makes learning safe, mobile, and collaborative for millions of students around the world. Learn more at www.lightspeedsystems.com Main: 877.447.6244 Support: 800.444.9267 Sales: sales@lightspeedsystems.com ...features are seamless for the users. They enter their login information once, their devices are filtered, theyre authenticated to their share drives and the store and everything else, so it all happens seamlessly. -Jeremy Recktenwald Director of IT Service Support
- 2. So all those new Windows 8.1 devices? Easily managed across San Diego Unified! As Jeremy shares, Now we couple those devices with Mobile Manager, and we really have multiple ways now that we can deliver software, change settings, and configure these devices without ever having to touch them or even know that theyre on our network. Were pulling apps from the ever-growing Windows app store with Mobile Manager, or using Active Directory for sharing of student files and data and storageand all of those features are seamless for the users. They enter their login information once, their devices are filtered, theyre authenticated to their share drives and the store and everything else, so it all happens seamlessly. From the reporting to the policies and device management, Mobile Manager provides the features IT needs. But what about the teachers, who have the students and devices in their classrooms? Teacher Management As San Diego quickly discovered, one of the greatest things about Mobile Manager is the ability to easily share management between IT and educators. Mobile Manager gives the teachers the ability to install apps on student devices, manage policies, and more (even from right within their classroom LMS, My Big Campus), which has been critical to helping San Diego fulfill their vision as Jeremy states it: We really take that teacher-centric type of notion in the classroom and give teachers the ability to make those changes. Lightspeed Systems understands that as well as we do, and have specifically designed this product to give us that ability. Its all about empowering the teacher and giving them the flexibility to make changes that meet their specific instructional needs and style in the classroom. We train teachers on Mobile Manager from day one and allow them access to the product. We let them download and install apps. They are the instructors. They are the ones trained to teach students. So they should have the ability to choose what tools they use as far as applications and settings on their devices to meet their needs to teach their students, Jeremy shares. IT can still maintain centralized security as it empowers teachers: We try not to take too much of a top-down approach. There are some things we do still lock down for security purposes. But we still try to give teachers that ability to be as flexible as possible in their classroom with their technology. So theyre really driving that instruction. Educator Antonette Harris uses Mobile Manager to deploy apps, control passcodes, and manage policies. But one of the greatest benefits to her is when it comes to testing: With the new SBAC, the Smarter Balance Test, Im using Mobile Manager to shutdown all the Apps aside from just that SBAC one. That is a great tool. Instead of going to each device and putting in a passcode, we are able to shutdown all the Apps and only the testing App was up. To any other teachers thinking about or preparing to use Mobile Manager to manage classroom devices, Antonette offers this advice: Itll make your life easier. Its like an easy button to control your devices. A partnership for learning San Diego Unified now has tens of thousands of devices in the hands of students. With the management of those devices under control, the district is able to focus on transforming the classroom through mobile learning programs. Having already seen improvements in language arts scores and an annual increase in attendance, administrators and staff across the District are excited to see continued success with the i21 Classroom Initiative. Lightspeed Systems has been a really great partner for us, Jeremy shares. I think theyve really listened to us from that teaching perspective we have. So we really think the Mobile Manager product is one of the big reasons why our technology rollout has been so successful and has been nationally recognized as well as locally. Mobile devices are changing education. Lightspeed Systems is changing the way these devices are managed. And San Diego Unified is using these devices to change the way teachers teach and students learn. Case Study Find out more at: lightspeedsystems.com/Microsoft