Hayward USD Unveils World's First Citywide WiFi eDistrict & High-Tech Learning Center.
Public Demonstration at Hayward USD to Reveal Revolutionary eDistrict Solution
HAYWARD, CA -- February 10, 2006 -- Hayward USD and Hayward Partners in Education (PIE) are launching the world's first web-based, globally-converged, continuously available, citywide wireless school district. eDistrict is powered by a wireless Nortel network and features an "On-Demand Learning System" that escalates student learning and assessment, professional development and facilities/document management. The entire Hayward community will have free Access to the citywide network through the eDistrict portal. HUSD's eDistrict deployment also includes the implementation of the most advanced classroom/curriculum technology available, designed to sync and interact with eDistrict programs and an Education Resource Center, which serves as the vital bloodline between the eDistrict and the community.
"eDistrict is the beginning of a total transformation to (EPR) Educational Process Reengineering by allowing teachers and administrations to utilized new 21st century tools as part of their day to day learning and administration activities," said Patrick J. Simon, Chief Technology Officer, HUSD. "It's integration and convergence by connecting all the dots with the focus totally on the achievement gap. We appreciate the support received from the community, school board and staff on this project. Without their combined efforts through PIE, eDistrtict would not have been possible."
"The Hayward Education Wireless Network (HEWN) and eDistrict were the results of a community effort to bridge the digital divide and tackle achievement gaps," said Rick Hart, PIE member and Co-Chair Technology Committee. "The unique partnership created with PIE resulted in a new approach to education where school administration and the community were both closely involved in the process of creating the eDistrict solution."
HEWN is a MESH 802.11 (G) wireless network scalable to broadband that provides students free access to a wireless Internet learning portal. This state of the art network offers exciting new on demand educational tools that haven't been available in school districts before. Leveraging this converged network, eDistrict utilizes Voice over IP (VoIP) telephony to provide effective communication in a crisis situation so safety is optimized in classrooms, hallways, lunchrooms and playgrounds.
"The use of VOIP enables substantial telecom cost savings, freeing up funds that may be reinvested in student programs," said Dale Vigil, Superintendent, HUSD. "Additionally, this converged network enables parent involvement through the Nit's Parent Connect Web/Wireless based notification System which notifies parents in emergencies, automatically reports student absences and makes school announcements. Parent Connect was the first eDistrict application deployed by HUSD last year."
The Network is integrated with a District Portal, accessible by teachers, students and parents, enabling Single Sign-On to multiple enterprise applications including a fully integrated automation system known as School MATRIX®, developed by VIP Tone in California. Learning On-Demand (LOD), Assessment on Demand (AOD), Professional Development on Demand and SAS (Software as a Service) are provisioned through the portal and are available anytime over the wireless network to the Hayward community with School MATRIX.
"We are excited about this partnership with HUSD and the Hayward community," said Robert Iskander, VIP Tone's founder and CEO, "We're pleased the Hayward community has chosen School MATRIX as a key enabler in this project and are confident that eDistrict will make a significant improvement to the learning experience for teachers, students and parents."
The Portal, known as the CEEDS Portal, also integrates other e-District web-based applications and has a unique identity management system that enables the District to allow secure access to each of its applications by its stakeholders based on their unique role and access rights. For example, parents will eventually have a unique user ID and a secure password to access their children's data including, class schedules and grades, on an ongoing basis. The CEEDS Portal is being developed by Alameda County Office of Education, which is the founding member of CEEDS (Consortium of Education Enterprise Data Systems), with VIP Tone as its technology partner.
Students will be using wireless laptops, integrated with "ACTIVclassrooms," created by Promethean Technologies. These classrooms consist of an interactive whiteboard, wireless stylus, projector, laptops, student response devices and lesson plan development software. With millions of multimedia elements available, teachers create lessons with embedded images, streaming video, audio and other interactive curriculum. Student assessment devices called ACTIVotes generate daily test results and feedback. Lessons are then regularly uploaded to HEWN, so kids and parents may review the lesson at the library, home or anywhere in Hayward City.
"eDistrict will provide our students and teachers with the best educational tools possible while creating new connections between the community and our students," said Christine Quinn, Associate Superintendent, HUSD. "To foster this partnership between the school district and the community we have established the Education Resource Center -- a web-based portal which facilitates the exchange of resources such as classroom supplies, equipment, furniture and fixtures, and volunteers between the businesses, community (donors), Teachers and Administrators (users). With this state of the art technology solution and the new Education Resource Center we're giving our students and teachers the tools they'll need to deliver improved student achievement."
Experience the eDistrict solution at a groundbreaking event featuring a demonstration of Hayward PIE's "Education Resource Center" which intimately connects eDistrict with the community. This live demonstration of eDistrict, ACTIVclassroom, ACTIVotes, and the Education Resource Center will take place on Friday, February 10th from 9am-10:30am in the Board Meeting Room at Hayward USD and the 24th of February for invited and selected business officials and community groups. District personnel and technology facilitator's will be on-hand to answer any questions.
For additional information about the event or eDistrict contact Mig Ruiz at 510-784-2640 or Patrick Simon CTO, 510-284-2600 ext 2524 Technology Services.
About Hayward Partners in Education (PIE): Hayward PIE is a group of concerned community leaders dedicated to optimizing student achievement through connecting community resources with the schools and students that need them. Through establishing a comprehensive partnership between families, students, community organizations, businesses and Hayward's Public & Private Schools, Hayward PIE envisions a fully-engaged community network wholly committed to making a world-class education available to all Hayward students, better preparing them for higher education, careers, and responsible citizenship. For more information, visit www.husd.k12.ca.us/PIE
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