[MLTI-MS] Informational Letter 20
Jeff Mao
jeff.mao at maine.gov
Fri Sep 1 16:55:12 EDT 2006
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TO: ALL SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS
The following message is being sent at the request of the Commissioner.
***** Please forward to Principals, Business Managers, Technology
Coordinators, MLTI Teacher Leaders, and MLTI Technology Leads *****
Note: The Administrative and Informational Letters (with more
formatting for ease of reading and printing) are available on our
website at the following address: http://www.maine.gov/education/
edletrs/homepage.htm
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INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 20
POLICY CODE: IHAJ
TO: Superintendents of Schools, Principals, Business Managers,
Technology Coordinators, MLTI Teacher Leaders, MLTI Technology Leads
FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner
DATE: September 1, 2006
SUBJECT: Maine Learning Technology Initiative Update
The next phase of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) has
begun in partnership with Apple Computer, Inc., and laptop computer
devices (nearly 38,000) have shipped to all participating schools.
The deployment of this phase of the program will include a number of
upgrades and the introduction of new systems. All of these will
require input and coordination among local schools, the Department,
and Apple Computer, Inc. There are many new systems and protocols to
be introduced, as well as specific training including:
1) deployment of new laptop computers and software
2) upgrades/installations of wireless networks
3) professional development opportunities for principals, teachers,
and technology leads
4) introduction of a new online learning and collaboration environment
5) introduction of a new electronic mail system for participating
staff and students
6) enhanced warranty and technical support.
For the most current information, anyone can subscribe to the new
MLTI RSS feeds (http://www.maine.gov/mlti/portals/). These feeds will
help keep you informed of new articles published on the MLTI
Frequently Asked Questions websites, and of new information sent to
the MLTI email distribution list.
1. Deployment of New Laptop Computers and Software
The new laptop equipment has been shipped to each of the 234
participating schools over the past three weeks. Schools should
inventory every individual laptop device to ensure both that it was
shipped in good working order, and that each device is present and
accounted for based on inventories published in the MLTI Asset
Manager (http://assets.mlti.org). Login information for the Asset
Manager was sent via U.S. Mail in the first week of August, 2006 to
each school’s Deployment Contact as listed on the school’s Device
Order submitted to the Department in July. Return and repair
protocols were included in the mailing and are posted in the MLTI
Asset Manager in Tech Update #21 (http://assets.mlti.org). Devices
are preimaged with the new MLTI image, and only require that schools
modify the administrator password to a localized password.
The new MLTI laptop devices are a significant upgrade from the
previous model. While the outside appearance of the device is very
similar, the computer has benefited from the experiences of the first
deployment and from 4 years of innovation in the computer industry in
general. For specific details on the laptop and included software,
please see http://www.mlti.org/2006details.htm.
2. Network Upgrades/Installation
All school wireless networks will be upgraded as part of the new
deployment. These upgrades will begin in September, 2006 and are
expected to be complete by February, 2007 at the latest. Schools that
do not have wireless networks now because of new construction or
migration to a different school building will take precedence. In
general, all schools must complete online School Readiness Checklists
(SRC) before the network upgrade will be scheduled. The SRC is also
located in the MLTI Asset Manager, and specific directions were
included in the August mailing to the Deployment Contacts. These
details are also listed in the MLTI Asset Manager in Tech Updates #21
and #22 (http://www.mlti.org).
3. Principal, Teacher, and Technology Lead Professional Development
Professional development is the key to success for the MLTI. It is
critical that school personnel attend professional development
events. Schools should not send technology staff to principal and
teacher training in lieu of principals and teachers because
professional development is specifically designed for different
roles. Professional development will begin for principals in
September and October, 2006. Specific details, dates, and
registration are available at http://training.mlti.org/
principalhome.shtml. Teacher and technology lead training will begin
in October, 2006. Specific details will be available online at http://
training.mlti.org. Learning opportunities for all will be ongoing.
4. New Learning and Collaboration System
The new learning and collaboration system will use the StudyWiz
online system. The introduction of the MLTI StudyWiz environment will
be done in stages in coordination with principal, teacher, and
technical staff professional development. The new system will be
available at http://studywiz.mlti.org. When available, students and
participating staff will utilize the same user account login names
and passwords as they use to access their MLTI email accounts (see
next section). For schools with no student email access, the account
will access StudyWiz only.
5. New Electronic Mail System
The new electronic mail system is expected to be available to schools
in mid-October, 2006. The new system will replace the previous MLTI
FirstClass system (middlemaine.org). Schools will utilize a new
module in the MLTI Asset Manager (http://assets.mlti.org) to create
and manage user accounts. Each school may choose from a number of
different levels of access to email for students: full access (may
send and receive email with users on the public Internet), MLTI
access (may send and receive email with users at other MLTI schools
with at least MLTI access), school access (may send and receive email
with users at the same school), or no access (may not send nor
receive any email). Staff accounts will have full access. Schools may
change email access levels for an individual student at anytime in
the MLTI Asset Manager (http://assets.mlti.org). Regardless of a
school’s email access level, every school will need to generate
accounts for all students and participating staff because these
accounts will also be used to access StudyWiz system.
The email system includes filtering of known viruses and SPAM.
Messages containing a virus will be deleted immediately and will not
be delivered. Email identified as SPAM will be labeled in the
“Subject” header of the message, but will not be deleted.
6. Enhanced Warranty and Technical Support
MLTI devices are covered by an enhanced 4-year AppleCare Warranty and
Support agreement. In order to receive these enhanced services,
schools must follow MLTI repair and support protocols and utilize the
MLTI Local Depot for all warranty repair work. Repairs performed by
non-authorized service providers and technicians will void the MLTI
AppleCare Warranty and Support for that device. Restoration of the
MLTI AppleCare Warranty and Support coverage for that device will
require that the device is re-repaired and inspected by the MLTI
Local Depot at local cost.
Repairs performed by in-house certified AppleCare technicians or a
Department approved Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) will not
void the MLTI AppleCare Warranty and Support agreement. However, for
some repairs not all services covered by the enhanced MLTI Applecare
Warranty and Support agreement will be available to in-house
certified AppleCare technicians nor to AASPs. In addition, the
Department does not maintain an agreement with other AASPs, and it
will not be able to aid schools in the event of a faulty repair or
slow service. Schools with an in-house certified AppleCare technician
will need to determine the best use of their skills and time against
the availability of the MLTI Local Depot.
The MLTI Local Depot will also repair MLTI devices that require out-
of-warranty repairs. For out-of-warranty repairs, schools may utilize
either the MLTI Local Depot, in-house certified AppleCare
technicians, or a Department approved AASP (http://www.maine.gov/mlti/
aasp/). Out-of-warranty repairs should be the exception and not the
rule as these types of repairs should only be necessary due to
accidental or intentional physical damage to the device. Each school
should establish a policy on how it will manage the costs of
accidental and/or intentional damage.
Each school has been allotted a specific number of buffer pool
devices. These devices are available to schools in exchange for a
device that has been damaged beyond repair or has sustained enough
damage that a repair is not feasible. In general, no out-of-warranty
repair should exceed $755. All buffer pool exchanges must be approved
by the Department. School buffer pool allocations are displayed in
the MLTI Asset Manager (http://assets.mlti.org)
Links to MLTI Information
http://www.mlti.org - MLTI Website for general information,
deployment issues, etc.
http://assets.mlti.org - MLTI Asset Manager for asset tracking, user
account management
http://www.mainelearns.org - Resources and information for Educators
For more information, please contact Jeff Mao, Coordinator of
Educational Technology, 207-624-6634, jeff.mao at maine.gov.
Note: The Administrative and Informational Letters are available on
our website at the following address: http://www.maine.gov/education/
edletrs/homepage.htm
*****************************************
MLTI FAQs
Deployment Issues - http://www.maine.gov/mlti/deployment.htm
Tech Lead Questions - http://www.maine.gov/mlti/portals/tech/
RSS Feeds
http://www.maine.gov/mlti/portals/
*****************************************
Jeff Mao
Coordinator of Educational Technology
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station • Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 624-6634 (office) • (207) 462-4137 (mobile)
(207) 624-6601 (FAX)
jeff.mao at maine.gov
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