Ready to Launch

Why?

Policies won’t necessarily prevent an issue from occurring, but they are essential for ensuring that the guidelines and rules in the program are communicated to all stakeholders. A good policy is uses clear and accessible language, is up-to-date, and avoids ambiguity.

How?

• Create a review committee that includes multiple stakeholders (including students and parents!) to examine the policies that may need to be updated.
• Consider the communication that will need to happen after a policy is created; how will you ensure that the message is heard?
• Consider what may need to change in current policies when every student has access; what responsibilities does the school have when the device is taken home?

Resources:

Check out the Acceptable Use Policies guide from Common Sense Media.

Why?

We’ve learned that creating a handbook and/or FAQ guide is essential; not just to address needs and concerns, but also to make sure that everyone is on the same page with program guidelines. Developing a handbook and/or FAQ guide takes longer than most people expect; it requires everyone at the same table and working through questions that don’t have a clear answer.

How?

• Find a way to capture needs, questions, and concerns from parents- both before writing the document, and after!
• Consider both types of questions – the WHY we are doing this and the WHAT / HOW it will happen.
• Use language that parents use and avoid education jargon!
• Work on an internal shared Google Doc to get everyone on the same page (each question doesn’t have to be answered immediately!)
• Sit down face to face with administrators to work your way through the questions.
• Share it via a website where it can constantly be updated (live document).

Why?

Work with all stakeholders to develop a common language for behavior protocols. Make sure that everyone is on the same page and understands the process if a student uses the device inappropriately. Keep in mind that students are going to make mistakes. Continue to model appropriate use and remind them of ways that they can be digitally responsible.

How?

• Work with your team to identify a few key attributes you would like all students to display before receiving their new technology. Consider ways you can promote these attributes with students: Can you ask all students to create a multimedia project? Can you ask students to create videos for each other?

Why?

Taking the time to help teachers set goals will ensure that devices are used productively after the rollout.

How?

• The first step doesn’t have to be big; encourage teachers to substitute a small part of their daily work to a more efficient or effective solution. A great example is taking a paper quiz and making it digital.
• Give teachers a survey with a list of individual goals. Consider using the Teacher Starter Kit on this website!
• Check in with teachers throughout the year: What worked? What would they do differently? Can they share their learning with others?

Resources:

Watch the video: “First Day: Teachers Receive Technology!”.

Check out our Teacher Starter Kit.

Why?

We’ve learned that having a clear and repeatable process is essential for a smooth device check-out. Consider everything that students and parents need to do before they receive the device: forms that need to be signed, communication about digital citizenship, information about insurance, initial device setup and login, etc. How will you ensure that each step has been completed?

How?

• Make sure that your process is repeatable for new students or families that can’t attend the event.
• Have multiple pathways that students and parents can take – consider a “Fast Pass” for families that have completed their paperwork and/or digital citizenship requirements ahead of time.
• Consider creating a visual / map of the steps to help with flow of traffic.
• Plan for all situations where someone might get stuck- What if they are missing a form? What if they speak a different language? What if they don’t know their student ID? Have a document that explains what to do in different scenarios.

You will need a plan for device check-in far sooner than you expect! You might have a student switch schools a few weeks into the school year, and you don’t want to scramble together a process to retrieve the device in the hectic days following rollout! Creating the plan for check-in before implementing check-out will also help you avoid the “I wish I would have” reflection months later.

How?

• Make the costs of any missing or damaged parts very clear from the beginning.
• Involve your students in the check-in process. Use a checklist to ensure that steps in the process haven’t been skipped.
• Work closely with IT to determine if devices should be sorted as they are collected. It is a lot easier to sort during collection than later!

Why?

A rollout committee needs to include all stakeholders; administrators, IT, teachers, etc. One of the key members should be the “Party Planner”- a parent or a random staff member who is not involved in the procedures and can just focus on event logistics for the day.

How?

• Work backwards from your rollout date goal. What needs to happen with IT, teachers, parents, etc. before then? What obstacles could push the date back?
• This event should be a celebration. How can you make it fun for attendees? How can you make it stress-free? Consider babysitting support, food, and games.

Resources:

Watch the video: “What Does a Rollout Celebration Look Like? Find out How Armstrong Middle School Got the Party Started!”.

Watch the video: “Leveling the Playing Field for Students with Always Available Access”.

Watch the video: “Students are the Key to a Successful Rollout!”.

Why?

The rollout is an exciting and inspiring event for students to receive their devices and show the community what they have done to earn them. Documenting the event is the perfect way to get the community excited about the new learning opportunities that are being launched.

How?

• Create a mind map of the shots needed ahead of time.
• Involve students in the image and video capturing process.
• Make sure you have media releases signed!

Resources:

Watch the video: “Students as Storytellers: Who is Telling Your School’s Story?”.

Read “Capturing the Excitement of a Technology Rollout” on the Digital Promise blog.