Prologue
It is a year of transition but technology and its use in the classroom does not wait. Various infrastructures and systems are reaching end-of-life and obsolescence, extending from the classroom to backstage. YIS is in need of an infusion to keep its current level of technology integration. We are looking at widespread changes and infrastructural refits, but these must be considerate of the future. With the increased overall demand of wireless and plans for a school-wide one-to-one laptop program, any changes cannot be piecemeal or partial.
School Wide Improvements
NETWORK: Preparing for eventual one-to-one laptop program
Our wireless network has hit it's capacity. I think it's safe to say, everyone has noticed at one point or another a slow down or a complete brown out of "Narita". The school urgently needs a school wide network upgrade. The priority on the plan this year will be upgrading the network.
SOFTWARE
Adobe Creative Suite 5 Master Collection: CS3 is not supported on Snow Leopard, software such as Illustrator, Bridge and InDesign perform badly.
COMPUTERS
We're retiring all iBooks. Our iBooks are too old some are 9 years. These computers have problems with short battery life, older software and not working wireless N standard.
Teacher MacBook Pro 13" replacing teacher laptops which are three years and older
CLASSROOM PROJECTORS
Continue with the AV upgrade plan and install projectors with associated accessories in the rest of the school.
| Location | Qty | Change |
| Grade K Classrooms | 1 | Projectors, Speakers, DVD+VCR |
| Grade 1 Classroom | 1 | Projectors, Speakers, DVD+VCR |
| Grade 3 Classrooms | 2 | Projector, Speakers, DVD+VCR |
| Grade 4 Classrooms | 2 | Projector, Speakers, DVD+VCR |
| Grade 2 Classroom | 1 | Projector, Speakers, DVD+VCR |
| EAL Classroom K1 | 1 | Projector, Speakers, DVD+VCR |
| ELC Classroom | 1 | Projector, Speakers, DVD+VCR |
| IT Computer Nook |
1 | Projector, Speakers |
| IT Office (Middle Building) |
1 | Projector, Speakers |
| Library (Middle Building) | 2 |
Projector, Speakers, Document Camera |
| Grade 5 classroom 1 Main Building | 3 | Move Projectors, Speakers, DVD+VCR |
| Social Studies classrooms Main Building | 3 | Projectors, Speakers, DVD+VCR, Document Camera |
| Office Conference Room | 1 | Projector |
| Band Room | 1 | Projectors, DVD+VCR |
| Choral Room | 1 | Projectors, DVD+VCR |
| Music Tech (Studio) | 1 | Projectors, Speakers, DVD+VCR |
| Total | 24 |
Elementary
- Elementary Art Room, Place Desktop, Scanner, Printer
- Replace iBooks with MacBooks
- 20 MacBooks K-1 (replacement)
- 20 iPads using 2 pelican cases to carry 10 each
- 30 Macbooks Grade 2 (replacement)
- 20 Laptops in Kirin floor 1 cart (replacement)
- 30 Laptops in Kirin floor 2 cart (replacement)
- replacing the remaining 15 classroom eMacs with existing iMac in inventory
- 5K eMac
- 2R no eMac, 2B eMac, 2D eMac • Teacher request please keep the eMac keyboards and Mice •
- 3N eMac, 3Weeks eMac, 3Wilds no eMac
- 4G eMac, 4H iMac G5, 4C eMac
- KC eMac, KG eMac, KF iMac
- 1H eMac, 1L eMac, 1D eMac
Middle/High School
- 6 MacBooks for Drama (additional)
- 10 MacBooks Music Tech (additional)
- 30 iPads MS/HS (replacement)
- Art Room: move Library scanner to Art room, replace 6 year old tower
- Social Studies: Replacement 6 year old MacMini in M203, rotating a laptop into this spot
- IT Department
- M009, M203, M208, M305 & Computer Nook Continue with the supervision model and add Teacher oversight to Recess and Lunch, duties where there are computers
- Replacement for 5 year old tower.
- Mobile Network Battle Kit
- 5x eMobile PocketWiFis for Portable Computing Use (checkout available to all teachers)
- 1x eMobile PocketWiFis for each IT staff for maintenance and remote use.
Faculty Laptop buyback program
As of the 2009-2010 Academic Year, the YIS IT Department offers the opportunity to buy the computer that you are using at YIS as a faculty member. This document outlines the official Faculty Laptop Buyout program and its pricing.
Pricing Structure
For computers issued during and after the Academic Year 2009-2010...
Year |
Percent of Original Price |
| 1~3 |
100% |
| 4 |
75% |
| 5 |
50% |
| 6~10 |
40%~0% (-10% per year) |
For all computers issued before Academic Year 2009-2010...
| MacBook White |
40,000 JPY |
| MacBook Pro |
50,000 JPY |
Notes
- All computers must be declared for purchase by May 1st of each academic year.
- Amount owed can be deducted from last paycheck if Chiyoka-san is notified by May 1st of each academic year.
- After May 1st, all payments must be made in cash.
Operational
Computers for Registrar/DB Activities
There is a fundamental problem with having Windows and Mac mixed for the Database. Due to rendering differences in the operating systems, printing/writing and layouts are completely banjaxed. Text will frequently fit on one OS and the other will fail. To remedy this, Brian and I recommend moving Susan and Mina to new iMacs, as they are both the people on the database on a frequent basis and need to print transcripts, reports, among others.
Proposals
iPhones for Staff
Rather than furnishing each elementary classroom with video cameras (Flip & Sanyo Xacti), still camera, voice recorder, et cetera which are needed in elementary classrooms/teachers, perhaps the school can move in the direction of purchasing iPhones for staff. That way video cameras, still cameras, phones, voice recorder, and many Applications, such as FirstClass can be accessed by the iPhone. Though, first, the FirstClass Server must be upgraded at school to be able to access school email on the iPhone. Also, staff development must be considered for this type of 1:1 environment with iPhones and the already existing Faculty Laptop Program.
Extending Laptop Program
Include Part-time teachers & Assistant teachers, assigned them laptop (ie. Chinese, German, and Assistant teachers)
Department Feedback Requests
HOD's
A checkout system from the Library for items like video or still camera
A questions was raises how many high school student's bring in their own laptops?
Modern Language (request from ZenDesk support ticket #98)
Hello, thank you for the larger cart which holds the 30 iBooks we had last year.This will be much better. I remember we would get 10 more macbooks. Has that been changed? Just wondering because we can have up to 130 students at any given time spread over 10 classes.