Classroom to GoLeveraging Technology to Maximize

Instruction

Western Suffolk BOCESDivision of Instructional Support Services

• Students unable to attend school due to physical, mental or emotional illness or injury for more than two weeks must receive instruction

• Elementary instruction = minimum of five hours/week or one hour/day• Secondary instruction = minimum of ten hours/week or two hours/day

• Impact of homebound instruction on student• Limited educational exposure• Student often falls behind academically• Limited social interaction• Separation from school culture

•Homebound Instruction

• Impact of homebound instruction on school• Contract with qualified outside provider (tutor)• Instructional rigor may not be consistent with classroom• Reduced instructional time• Costs, examples:

• Average $50 to 80/hour for tutor• Babylon = approx. 10 – 15 students/year, cost = $25,000• Northport = approx. 100 students/year, cost = $185,000• Lindenhurst = approx. 80 students/year, cost = $340,000• South Huntington = approx. 24 students/year, cost = $164,000

•Homebound Instruction

INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

• Connection to the internet• Redundancy• Bandwidth

• Connection anywhere in the school

WIRELESS CAPACITY

• Instructional TechnologyTechnology Readiness

Creative AlternativesWhat technology can do differently.

• Using internet & wireless school technology, interactive robotics brings homebound student to school.

• Student connects to school from home• Student controls the robot to participate in class real-time

• Collaboration between our instructional technology, model schools and distance learning programs

• WSB will purchase one system for approximately $7000• Selected districts will each use the system for one month• WSB will provide technical support, training, and collect data to

determine the future uses• Expectations:

• Low cost alternative or supplement for homebound instruction• Increased student learning, achievement and social connection• Continue as a shared service between districts• Other program uses include:

• virtual field trips

• video conferencing

•WSB Pilot

In the Classroom• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9

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• Introducing VGo

Let’s meet VGo