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Software
Inventories / Audits (in conjunction with Technology
Bond Deployments and Active Directory Migration)
Periodic software inventories / audits are essential when
it comes to following the letter of the law and software
licensing agreements. For this reason, software inventories
/ audits are conducted by Technology Services in conjunction
with District initiatives such as Campus Technology
Bond Deployments and the Active Directory (AD) Migration.
Technology
Services begins preparation work with campus and District
staff at least 6 weeks before deployments and AD migration
is scheduled to begin.
See also: "Software
for Technology Re-Deployments and the AD Migration"
Presentation, AD Schedule,
Technology
Bond Deployment Schedule
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Active
Directory (AD) Migration
A project is underway to transition all District computers
(and computer users) from a Novell network environment
to a Windows network environment. Our Microsoft
Active Directory Services implementation - or "AD"
for short - will improve performance and efficiencies
for users and network administrators. For example, once
on AD, employees will be able to access their network
files (home directory and shared directories) remotely
via the Internet. As another example, network administrators
will be better able to deploy software and software updates
remotely to computers District-wide across the network.
The AD project is slated to be complete by June 2009 (barring
unforeseen circumstances). See also: AD
Schedule, "Enhancing Network
Services and Efficiencies" Presentation
- Campus Technology
Deployments
Based upon NISD’s six year replacement cycle for technology
hardware, new computers are deployed to campuses all through
the year. In addition, ceiling-mounted digital projectors are
being added to all NISD classrooms. Funding is provided by the
Technology Bond Program.
See also: Technology
Bond Deployment Schedule , Technology
Bond Standards for Campuses , Projector
Installation Schedule
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Digital
Media Fair
The 2008-09 Digital Media Fair will soon be underway and
accepting entries for the prestigious seventh annual "Digi
Awards" to be held in the spring! Students from across
the District and across all grade levels will be eligible
to submit work in nearly 100 different categories, connected
to school studies and learning. Student projects will
be judged on their content, originality, purpose, age-appropriate
complexity, graphic design, technical quality, copyright
compliance, and grammar and spelling (if applicable).
Trophies and medals will be awarded to recognize and celebrate
students' work in the creation of digital media products
(video animation, digital graphics, web publishing, desktop
publishing, etc.).
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Wireless
for All Campuses
Northside ISD will become the largest school district
in the state to go completely wireless, giving students,
teachers, and staff access to the Internet anywhere and
any time at all campuses. Internet coverage and NISD network
access will be available throughout all campuses, including
classrooms, libraries, cafeterias, gymnasiums, and outdoor
common areas to support a wide variety of instructional
and administrative applications. The installation will
be complete by the end of 2008. Read all about it in Northside
Schools are Going Wireless (San Antonio Express-News,
June 5, 2007). See also: Installation
Schedule, Frequently Asked
Questions
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Parent
Connection
NISD's popular Parent Connection (http://www.nisd.net/parentconnection
) continues to expand its offerings of information for parents!
All parents of students in grades one through twelve have
real-time online access to:
- their child's
daily grades and attendance records for the current
school year, directly from teachers' gradebooks
- their child's
longitudinal enrollment and academic data, directly
from the District Curriculum Management System (school
enrollment, total days absent, course enrollment and
teachers, course credits and cycle grades, TAKS and
other standardized assessment results)
- important
news and announcements especially for parents
- current-year
discipline data
- parents
at some campuses can make online cafeteria payments,
with all campuses to be phased in as soon as possible
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Data
Warehouse (intranet only)
The
acquisition and implementation of a data warehouse has
been identified as a high priority need to support data-driven
decision-making throughout the Northside Independent School
District. The project planning team includes members from
all across the district who meet weekly, with the expectation
of implementing the data warehouse in 2008-09.
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Business/HR
Information Management System (intranet
only)
The
acquisition and implementation of a robust
Business/HR System will provide school and district administrators
and support staff with the ability to easily access and
manage both summary and detailed fiscal and employee information.
The
project planning team includes members from all across
the district who meet weekly, with the expectation of
implementing the new system in 2008-09.
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Digital
Streaming Video-on-Demand
The District has implemented UnitedStreaming, a digital
video-on-demand product from Discovery Education. This
research-based instructional resource includes over
5,000 full length educational videos, 50,000 video content
clips, 28,000 images, and a variety of teacher materials.
All media and materials are aligned to TEKS, updated
daily, and delivered to the computer desktop (video
may be downloaded or "streamed" live). Not
only can this content be used by all NISD educators,
but it can also be used by students in the creation
of their own digital media connected to their learning.
Professional development is ongoing for all teachers,
campus technologists, librarians, and administrators.
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Integrated
Security Management System
(ISMS)
The ISMS is a modular system that operates over the Northside
Wide Area Network and provides digital video surveillance,
access control, alarm monitoring, and badging identification.
The system was implemented at all high schools during the
2005-06 school year. All middle schools will be completed
by late fall 2008. The purchase of an ISMS was identified
as a high-priority need to support the District Strategic
Improvement Plan goals for Safe and Secure Schools, Technology,
and Facilities.
See also: Installation
Schedule
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Cafeteria
Point-of-Sale System
The Child Nutrition and Technology Services departments
piloted a Point-of-Sale (POS) system in April in school
cafeterias to replace the current food line terminal /mainframe
system. This new system offers several enhanced services
and efficiencies to NISD students, staff, and parents.
All other schools will be added during the next year.
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NISD
Technology Integration Project Planning & Assessment
(TIPPA) (intranet only)
The TIPPA website materials will assist classroom teachers
in effectively planning, delivering and evaluating technology-infused
projects which will engage and challenge students in targeted
academic objectives. The TIPPA rubric takes into account
cognitive theories and differentiated instruction, and identifies
five key components in developing and assessing technology-infused
lessons to support student learning: Curricular Connections,
Technology Standards, Student Engagement, Student Challenge,
Student Assessment.
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Q.U.A.D.
(Quality, Usable, Accurate Data)
(intranet only)
In a continuing effort to ensure the quality and accuracy
of data in student and administrative information systems
that guide decision-making, Technology Services is once again
coordinating Q.U.A.D. workshops! Campus staff members who
are responsible for data entry into Region 20 (attendance
secretaries, registrars, data processors/grade reporting secretaries,
counseling secretary, etc.) should attend these workshops,
some of which are required for certain employee groups. Q.U.A.D.
Workshops will be held in August, October, February, and April.
Copyright 2003. Northside Independent School District. All Rights
Reserved.
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