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Service Prospectus - DRAFT

Service Name (Coser Number)

Online Curriculum Development Service - NERIC e-Learning Blackboard Service

Description of Service To Be Provided by BOCES

Blackboard is a web-based online course creation tool and management system. It possesses an easy-to-use interface that allows the user to integrate existing materials from numerous popular applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, graphic file, and web pages created in HTML.  The interface also provides a secure environment for district curriculum and online materials: requiring username and password authentication. Blackboard allows an instructor to create online assessments and record test results in an online grade book.

The Blackboard software will be housed on a server at the NERIC.  The NERIC will provide accounts, training and support to participating districts for creation of online courses, modules, curriculum, and informational pages.  The service will allow subscribing districts to focus on the home/school connection, through teacher-to-student, teacher-to-teacher, and teacher-to-parent connections. It will also provide a medium for the delivery of professional development materials.

The service will provide participating districts with accounts that enable users to create online course and informational materials.  The number of accounts will be limited to 10 per district (Base Service), with an option to purchase additional accounts.  Possession of an account will enable a user to create courses/modules.  Course size (disk space in Mb) will be limited by the NERIC.

Training, included in the service fee, will be provided to each account holder at the NERIC or at a centrally designated location.  Additional training is available at the per diem rate.

Support and coordination of the service will be provided by an Instructional Coordinator via training sessions, E-mail, phone, discussion list, user meetings, and onsite visits (optional).

Future enhancements could include training and support via Internet conferencing.

Service Delivery Standards

The district must have appropriate hardware, software and telecommunications connections to access the Internet.  Version 5 or higher web browsers (Internet Explorer and Netscape) are suggested.  Both PC and Macintosh platforms are supported.

Eligibility and Prerequisites

This service is available to all school districts in the service area. Internet access is a prerequisite for the service. The superintendent and school board of the participating district must make a commitment to the service. Administrative support will be demonstrated by the school district:

  1. Mandating all participating district staff to read, sign and agree to abide by the NERIC’s Acceptable Use Policy. 
  2. Providing the professional staff with time to participate in the training and follow-up activities.
  3. Agreement to cooperate in shared development of stored courseware on the Blackboard, e-Learning server.

 Service Plan

 

A. Needs which the Service will meet:

This service will provide districts with an affordable online curriculum creation option for teachers and staff, as well as establish a “home/school connection.” An essential element of all training will be the understanding and appropriate integration of the NYS Learning Standards, nationally identified "best practices," and performance assessment into classroom use.

 

B. Planning Process for Service Development and Delivery:

The NERIC Blackboard Pilot conducted during the 2002-03 school year served as a test forum for the service.  Participants included NERIC Model Schools districts, HFM and WSWHE BOCES, Shared Learning Objectives and Onsite Training districts, including 60+ teachers and staff from over 15 different school districts.

The participating district requests the service from the Northeastern Regional Information Center of the Capital Region BOCES by sending a commitment letter to their local BOCES with a copy to the Director of the NERIC.

The subscribing district identifies teachers and staff to participate in the service. 

1.   The participating district requests the service from the Northeastern Regional Information Center of the Capital Region BOCES by sending a commitment letter to their local BOCES with a copy to the Director of the NERIC.

2.   The subscribing district identifies teachers and staff to participate in the service.  The NERIC will provide training, facilitation and examples of best practices. 

 

3.   The NERIC Blackboard coordinator will notify the subscribing district of upcoming training sessions.  Participating teachers must attend a training session.

     

4.   After attending a training session, participants will receive a designated unique user account and courseID.
 

5.   The NERIC Blackboard coordinator will set up accounts and notify participants when they are functional.
 

6.   Participants will be notified periodically of system changes, updates, maintenance, and improvements by the Blackboard coordinator.
 

7.   At least one annual user meeting will be sponsored by the NERIC.

 

C. Measurable Goals and Objectives of the Service:

1.   Consultation and support will be offered to districts to ensure that staff development results in nationally identified best classroom practices and opportunities to share these practices among districts.

2.    A component of the service will be the coordination of sharing of best practices. Additionally, as districts conduct other instructional assessments and identify deficiencies in specific areas, BOCES staff will work with them to develop services that are effective and cost efficient means for improving student performance.

D. Evaluation Measures to Determine Achievement of Goals and Objectives:

Trainers will report general proficiency in the use of technology applications or concepts that participants are trained to use. Program participants will conduct an annual summary evaluation as well as an assessment of each individual training session. Resulting data will demonstrate progress on a continuum of technological skills and classroom integration of technology.

Trainers will report on the quality of delivery of the staff development offerings. A self-evaluation will be used to monitor effectiveness and individual improvement.

Based on the effectiveness of each session, material developed by teachers (i.e. courses/modules) will demonstrate improvement in resources developed by service participants. Access to these materials will be documented through references in trainings as well as access through a NERIC Blackboard Best Practices website.

E. Role of BOCES Staff in Providing Service

The Blackboard Service Coordinator and the NERIC training staff will work with school districts on the design, implementation and evaluation of all of the activities offered under this service. Staff from other BOCES’ divisions may consult and work with NERIC and school district staff on related instructional areas, such as curriculum design and the integration of "best teaching practices" with technology applications. 

F. Stipends and Substitutes

Districts may request aid on expenditures made by the districts for qualified Blackboard trainings and meetings. Qualified expenses for successive shared Blackboard events are aidable. Aid is based on shared participation and investment. NERIC will verify participation and attendance of teachers at Blackboard events by keeping signed attendance forms and substitute information on file in the training unit at the NERIC.  

G. Aidability

The service fee is aidable under the Model Schools Program COSER. 

 

H. Base Service and Additional Service:

Base Service

            $1300

(Includes 10 user accounts for the current school year with training to be provided at NERIC Centralized Training sessions.)

 

$1040 

(Discount for Instructional, Model Schools, Shared Learning Objectives, and Onsite Training districts. This includes 10 user accounts for the current school year with training to be provided at NERIC Centralized Training sessions.)

 

Additional Accounts

 

$158/account (2004-’05 rate)
 

(For the current school year with training to be provided at NERIC Centralized Training sessions.)

 

 Additional Training Options
 

1. On Site Training

Districts participating in the Model Schools, Shared Learning Objectives and Onsite Training Service can use their training days/time for Blackboard training onsite.

 

2.  Per Diem - $650 (2004-2005 rate)
(Available at the daily rate to all participating districts.) 

 

I. Describe Cost Basis for Services:

The basis for cost varies according to the level of service requested.  The cost for the base service is a flat fee with a discount given to current subscribers of NERIC Instructional Services.  The Additional Account fee ($158/account) is based on the participant fee for a full-day NERIC Instructional training session (2004-'05 rate).  All fees are less expensive than a district would pay if they obtained the service directly from Blackboard.