Strategic Direction

To learn more about Digital Learning at HSSD, visit the Teaching and Learning page.

Security

• HSSD takes all necessary precautions to comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and federal guidelines 
• HSSD employs a content filtering system to ensure safe Internet use
• HSSD uses an antivirus solution, keeps firewall enabled, and uses software to block unwanted applications
• All security policies listed above apply whenever the student is using an HSSD-issued laptop or iPad

Network

• HSSD provides a comprehensive wireless and networking infrastructure 
• Each school is connected to the district data center via fiber with a 10 Gbps connection
  • As a comparison, home internet that is considered “fast” is advertised at 15Mbps
• Teachers and students should not experience disruption
  • Teachers maintain access to their network drives 99.9% of the time
• Routers and switches are maintained by HSSD IT staff and interns

WiFi

• HSSD uses eRate funding for some Internet connection services
• There is one wireless access point in every instructional classroom 
• HSSD device connection is encrypted and secure. HSSD also supports guest device access.

Why Did HSSD Choose Apple Products?

Click here to read the report including the research and reasoning behind choosing Apple products. 

Nine Keys to Student Achievement

1. Intervention classes - Technology is integrated into every intervention class period.
2. Change management leadership by principal - Leaders provide time for teacher professional learning and collaboration at least monthly. 
3. Online collaboration – Students use technology daily for online collaboration. 
4. Core subjects - Technology Is integrated into the core curriculum weekly or more frequently. 
5. Online formative assessments – Assessments are done at least weekly. 
6. Student-computer ratio - Lower ratios improve outcomes.
7. Virtual field trips - With frequent use, virtual trips are more powerful. The best schools do these at least monthly.
8. Search engines – Students use daily.
9. Principal training - Principals are trained in teacher buy-in, best practices, and technology-transformed learning. 

Project Red

To begin this Digital Transformation, HSSD administrators sought counsel from Project RED authors, Tom Greaves and Michael Gielniak, and incorporated research findings into its Digital Transformation. 

After closely examining the findings from five separate research papers on four independent 1:1 computing studies, they identified a number of key commonalities. 

1. The quality of implementation was linked to the level of technology use (Shapley, et al.). Conversely, ineffective implementations resulted in a level of technology use by students that was approximately equal to those students in schools without a 1:1 implementation (Bebell & Kay). 
   • In fact, Shapley found that the "implementation strength of Student Access and Use (of technology) was a consistently positive predictor of students' TAKS reading and mathematics scores" and that students' use of their laptops for learning at home was the "strongest implementation predictor of students' TAKS reading and mathematics scores."
2. Since nearly all of the studies reported that 1:1 programs depend largely on teachers for success, it was not surprising that teacher preparation through professional development was important for successful implementation.
3. Perhaps the most significant research to date, however, is the Project RED study completed in 2010 by a collection of expert researchers and authors. This research identified a number of success factors when analyzing what contributed to success in schools using computers as a primary resource for instructional delivery. 
   • The study involved collecting data from more than 1,000 schools, including MGSD, and found that there were nine critical success factors that contribute to improvements in student achievement and return on investment, as outlined above.

Why Digital Learning Transformation?

1. The world has changed
   • Today’s world is connected, fast-paced, competitive, and complex. 
   • It is estimated that a week’s-worth of the New York Times contains more information than a person was likely to come across in a lifetime in the 18th century!
2. The economy has changed
   • Some call today’s global economy a knowledge economy. 
   • Knowledge resources such as know-how and expertise are critical in society. 
3. The workforce development has changed
   • HSSD is working to prepare students for jobs that do not yet exist. 
   • This year’s high school graduates will change jobs up to 14 times and professions up to nine times before the age of 40. 
   • The Digital Learning Transformation equips students with knowledge and skills that are transferable and customizable. 
4. Students have changed
   • Students’ lives are filled with technology, giving them access to information 24/7. 
   • Outside school, students are free to pursue their passions in their own ways and paces. The opportunities are limitless, borderless, and instantaneous. 
5. Education has (and continues to) change
   • A challenge HSSD faces is the leveraging of learning sciences and technology to create engaging, relevant, and personalized experiences for all learners. 
   • HSSD provides flexibility on several dimensions, allowing students to take control of their own learning. 
   • Students must function in teams, think critically, and predict outcomes. The Digital Learning Transformation is critical in supporting these objectives. 

In a fast-changing world, HSSD uses powerful trends data, coupled with imagination, to live its strategy and vision. The Strategic Objectives of the Technology Division are:

1. College & Career Readiness
2. Student Engagement
3. Professional Excellence
4. Resource Management