This document provides an overview of mobile learning environments. It discusses Jake Ragusa's experience implementing a 1-to-1 program in Ascension Parish Schools over 10 years that has grown to include over 3,800 devices. It also discusses Lonnie Luce's experience as Superintendent of St. James Parish Schools and their implementation of a 1-to-1 program 5 years ago. Key considerations for mobile learning programs discussed include device selection, network infrastructure, security, policies, professional development, and funding.

1. Teaching and Leading in a
Globally Connected Learning
Environment
New Orleans, Louisiana • March 25, 2013

2. Backchannel
Mobile Learning
The Backchannel URL for today is:
http://todaysmeet.com/LACUE-SITE-2013
We invite you to post any questions or remarks to
the site throughout the day.

3. Mobile Learning Environments
 Dr. Sheryl Abshire - Asst Professor –
Lamar, CTO - Calcasieu Parish Schools,
University, LACUE Vice-President of
Programs & Advocacy
 Jake Ragusa – CTO – Ascension Parish
Public Schools
 Dr. Lonnie Luce – Superintendent – St.
James Parish Public Schools
 Dr. Michael Searson -President SITE,
School for Global Educations & Innovation,
Kean University

4. Overview:
Mobile Learning Environments

5. Overview:
Mobile Learning Environments
www.cosn.org
http://www.cosn.org/Initiatives/LeadershipforMobileLearning/tabid/8108/Default.aspx
 LML has released a new resource to help school leaders
navigate the mobile learning landscape.
 The guide, which was developed based on the shared
experiences of pioneering school and district leaders, industry
experts and leading scholars, provides key information and
tips to educate and support administrators interested in
implementing mobile learning.
 The guide addresses common questions from administrators
about mobile technology implementation, including:

6. Overview:
Mobile Learning Environments
Mobile Learning Environments
www.cosn.org
 How do we create a program with a sustainable impact on teaching
and learning?
 What are the steps involved in implementing a mobile learning
program?
 How do we optimize the investment of our technology dollars?
 How do we choose devices, networks and software for our
implementation?
 What are the security considerations in implementing a mobile
learning program?
 What are the policy considerations for a mobile learning program?
 What are the professional development considerations?
 What are the teaching models associated with mobile learning?
 What are the options for funding a mobile learning program?

7. Mobile Learning Environments
Jake Ragusa - Jake.Ragusa@apsb.org - Director of
Information Services and Technology
Ascension Parish School Board
 28 schools
 21,000+ students
 Adding an average of 500 students per year
 Over 16,000 Computing Devices
 Fiber WAN with 20 MB to 1 GB connections
 Data Center with 10 GB infrastructure
 Building 10 GB capability to each school and 10 GB LAN at
each school
 Dedicated taxation for School Technology

8. BYOD: YIKES!
Watch out what you wish for!
Bring Your Own Device Technology
 Increased network demands
 DHCP limits
 Accidental bandwidth drains
 Increased Security Needs
 Separate, unsecure network
 Increased HELPDESK calls
 “INADVERTENT”
connections
 Repeating connection
attempts

9. BYOD Suggestions
 Hide the school’s main wireless
network(s) and use policies to allow
connections
 Assign quality of service priority for the
main network
 Plan for at least two devices per person
on the BYOD wireless network
 Authenticate on the BYOD
network with username and
password (SSO if you can)

10. BYOD Suggestions
 Login screen with Policy reference and
highlights
 Create guest usernames with a
password that is changed on a regular
schedule
 Do not allow connections between the
BYOD network and any applications
that are not secured for web access
 Plan for the impacts of bad connections
to BYOD (separate radios, Access
Points, etc.)

11. BYOD in Ascension Parish Schools
 Security on the main network uses 802.1X, a
security certificate, and policies based on
user location and identity
 Security on the BYOD network uses user
authentication to Microsoft Active Directory
 We use wireless heat mapping to deliver
more effective wireless
 We use AP’s with a 5 GHz and a 2.4 GHz
radio.
 5 GHz supports the APSB devices
 2.4 GHz supports BYOD

12. 1-to-1: Ten years of Jake Learning
and I am still learning every day
 APSB uses 10% spares of its devices at each
site and cloud-based (and LMS-based)
documents and apps to allow a student to just
take the loaner device and move forward with
virtually no downtime.
 Student workers from High School, local
community colleges, and local technical schools
are repairing the devices.
 We charge parents $20
for damage repair.

13. 1-to-1: Ten years of Jake Learning
and I am still learning every day
Ten years ago my previous employer gave
200 computers to at-risk students
 99% eligible for Free or Reduced lunch
 Grew to 500 devices at 3 schools
 Actually had some academic disruption in year
one
 Student scores would rebound
 Few devices lost or damaged
 Survey and attitudinal evidence of positive
impact on student self-worth and perception of
the value of education

14. 1-to-1: Ten years of Jake Learning
and I am still learning every day
 APSB started its 1-to-1 initiative with 160
devices in 2007 with MacBooks at 1 school
 The goal throughout has been to test
technologies and support strategies to identify
the best options as we expand the project.
 Schools have been allowed to select the
technology they will use (that will probably
change very soon)
 The project has grown
to over 3800 devices at
10 schools that go
home with students.

15. 1-to-1: Ten years of Jake Learning
and I am still learning every day
 APSB currently has students using:
 Dell Notebook Computers
 MacBook Notebook Computers
 iPads
 MacBook AIR Notebook Computers
 iPods
 BYOD – A WIDE variety of devices.
 We also have some labs for testing that are
using Samsung Galaxy Tablets and Windows 8
tablets from Dell.

16. 1-to-1: Ten years of Jake Learning
and I am still learning every day
 APSB has a robust and dependable
network with knowledgeable staff.
This includes wireless “n” support in
all buildings and classrooms.
 Application distribution and
management along with security on
the notebook and desktop computers
has been easily accomplished.
 There have been two great
challenges in the 1-to-1
implementation in APSB schools
 Teacher/instructional training and
support
 iPad/tablet management
limitations

17. 1-to-1: Ten years of Jake Learning
and I am still learning every day
Professional Development, Training, and
Instructional Support for Technology has
Tried Several Models:
1. District staff with other instructional duties
doing training
2. Hiring outside professional development
consultants
3. Vendor and manufacturer trainers
4. Asking administrators and leaders to model
technology use
5. Doing occasional technology training for
teacher coaches
6. Hiring Media Specialists instead of librarians
7. Purchasing online training courses

18. 1-to-1: Ten years of Jake Learning
and I am still learning every day
APSB is currently working to improve the effective use of
technology to support student growth with teacher professional
development that uses all of the above with some important
adjustments:
# 1 and # 7 are replaced by – A District focus on online and blended
learning experiences to meet teacher needs. These resources are
created specifically for APSB teachers by the cooperative efforts of
the APSB School Improvement and Technology Departments.
# 4 and # 5 are replaced by – A District emphasis that our teacher
coaches work to support student growth with the effective use of
available technology resources by all.
When vendor, manufacturer, or outside trainers are hired, School
Improvement Dept., Technology Dept., and the school staff
coordinate the form and the content to align it to APSB goals and
needs.

19. 1-to-1: Ten years of Jake Learning
and I am still learning every day
iPad/Tablet Management Limitations
 Some minor modifications by Apple would make
the iPad much easier to manage. We have
figured out hacks, tweaks, and tools to do almost
everything that we wanted.
 Some things are just a little different. The iPad is
not really designed to download large apps
wirelessly. For 2013, we will plan accordingly.
 Our Windows 8 tablets do some things better
and some things worse.
 We are currently working with Apple and
Microsoft on these issues, but these
technologies are not yet matured.

20. Lonnie Luce, Ph.D. - Superintendent
 Teacher, Assistant Principal (1992-1998)- Istrouma High School,
Baton Rouge, LA
 Assistant Director of Independent Studies (1998-1999) – L.S.U,
Baton Rouge, LA
 Moved high school and university level correspondence courses
to the Web
 Director of Technology (1999-2001) – Livingston Parish Schools,
Livingston, LA
 Managed technology in a district with over 20,000 students
 Chief Information Officer (2001-2003) – New Orleans Public
Schools, New Orleans, LA
 Managed technology in a district with 128 sites and over 70,000
students
 Deputy Superintendent (2003-2007)– Greenville County Schools,
Greenville, SC
 Started out managing technology in a district with about 70,000
students and then was promoted to Deputy Superintendent
 Superintendent (2007-Present)– St. James Parish Schools,
Lutcher, LA

21. St. James Parish Public Schools
Lonnie Luce, Ph.D. - Superintendent
lluce@stjames.k12.la.us
10 schools
3,900 students
Started a 1 to 1 Program 5 years ago
with 7th graders using windows
We will have a 1 to 1 program next year in grades
3-12 using Macs (only 7-12 will take them home)
We have a 10GB fiber WAN to most schools and
wireless GB to the others

22. 1-1 Lessons Learned
ONLY implement a 1 to 1 program
if you are prepared to spend
money on:
 Infrastructure
 Technical support
 Instructional support

23. Lessons Learned - Infrastructure
 Make sure your WAN and LAN can support
the additional bandwidth
 Make sure your wireless
implementation is solid
 Make sure you have enough
Internet bandwidth ( we have a
redundant GB link to the Internet)
 Make sure you have a good filtering system
that can handle take home computers

24. Lessons Learned – Tech Support
 Ensure that you have good on-site technical
support. Teachers will not use technology in
their lesson plans unless it always works.
 Ensure that you have good technical tools to
deploy applications. Imaging computers and
deploying applications may become the
biggest tech support issue.
 Have policies to deal with: broken screens,
dead batteries, and broken chargers. Do you
have a budget, or do the students/parents
pay?

25. Lessons Learned – Instructional Support
 Ensure that you have good on-site
instructional support. Teachers will not use
technology if they do not know how.
 Ensure that you have a good professional
development plan. We require, by contract,
that all teachers go through several days of
technology training within their first three
years with us.
 Use media specialists and instructional
coaches to supplement your on-site
instructional technology support.
 Train parents on Internet safety and user
policies.

26. Mobile Learning Environments
Dr. Michael Searson -President SITE, School for
Global Educations & Innovation, Kean University
http://prezi.com/hgqjn6mi_-sb/lacue-site/

27. Mobile Learning Environments
Guiding Questions for Discussion
 Is mobile learning the “next big thing”?
 Does mobile learning extend the learning day
and focus student effort to gain better rigor?
 How has professional development changed
to meet the needs associated with mobile
learning?
 Can mobile learning be a strategy for districts
tackling common core and new
assessments?
 What further advice do you have for others
interested in developing a mobile learning
strategy?

28. Contact Information
• Dr. Sheryl Abshire, Asst Professor – Lamar
University, CTO - Calcasieu Parish Schools,
Current Vice-President of Advocacy LACUE –
abshires@aol.com
• Jake Ragusa – CTO – Ascension Parish Public
Schools - Jake.Ragusa@apsb.org
• Dr. Lonnie Luce – Superintendent – St. James
Parish Public Schools - lluce@stjames.k12.la.us
• Dr. Michael Searson -President SITE, School for
Global Educations & Innovation, Kean University
Michael Searson - msearson@kean.edu