[Technical] Ultranet
Stephen Digby DEET
digby.stephen.p at edumail.vic.gov.au
Fri Apr 29 11:31:16 EST 2005
How is it going ? Any update ? Have found ......
<http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/blueprint/fs1/s@c.asp> http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/blueprint/fs1/s@c.asp and
http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au/projects/ultranet/
Interested conceptually :
* are you writing applications in all areas mentioned as a singlke integrated product OR
* are you interfacing existing database applications (e.g Timetabler, Markbook, First Class etc) within an Oracle framework
Interested practically
* ETA for rollout of "Beta tested" stable product
* Likely pricing structure/ approach
These questions are very important to many schools who are researching, experimenting and even developing software in this area when
perhaps they should be leaving this area alone until the ultranet project bears fruit.
Duplication of effort and re-invention of the wheel remain the two most costly budget items in the education. Wherever we can
reduce them, we allow other fruit to ripen.
Thanks
==================================
Stephen Digby, Learning Technology Manager
<mailto:digby.stephen.p at edumail.vic.gov.au> digby.stephen.p at edumail.vic.gov.au
Cheltenham Secondary College
<http://www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au/> www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au
Ph: 613 955 55 955 Fx: 9555 8617
==================================
Students at Centre Ultranet
<http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/blueprint/fs1/s@c.asp#background> Background |
<http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/blueprint/fs1/s@c.asp#objectives> Objectives |
<http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/blueprint/fs1/s@c.asp#benefits> Benefits |
<http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/blueprint/fs1/s@c.asp#functions> Functions |
<http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/blueprint/fs1/s@c.asp#schools> Schools in the Project |
<http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/blueprint/fs1/s@c.asp#updates> Project Updates |
<http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/blueprint/fs1/s@c.asp#contact> Contact
Background
The Victorian Department of Education and Training is undertaking a joint Research and Development Initiative with the Oracle
Corporation to help support a number of the key flagship strategies outlined in the Minister's Blueprint for Government Schools.
Specifically, the Research and Development Initiative aims to produce the prototype for a student centric system that supports
teaching and learning, curriculum delivery and the management of knowledge in Victorian schools. The prototype, to be known as the
Ultranet, will be based on Oracle's L360 design and provide the functionality of the Glen Waverley Secondary College intranet. The
Ultranet will be developed and tested in twelve Primary and Secondary schools (to be known as R&D Schools) over a 12 month period to
provide the information required for the implementation and evaluation of the prototype solution in a range of school settings.
Phase 1 implementation is scheduled for July 2005 and Phase 2 in January 2006.
* <http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/blueprint/docs/background_paper.doc> Background Paper (Word - 163Kb)
* <http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/blueprint/docs/what_is_the_ultranet.ppt> What is the Ultranet Powerpoint (PPT - 296Kb)
<http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/blueprint/fs1/s@c.asp#top> Back to Top
Objectives
Victoria has been a world leader in the provision of technology to government schools. Several initiatives undertaken by the
Department of Education and Training have been essential in developing schools' and teachers' capacity to engage with ICT. The
challenge is to now shift the focus from one of peripheral engagement and supply to holistic intent and demand; to provide an ICT
framework that allows the whole school community to engage with learning in ways not previously possible; to foster a culture of
collaboration and sharing.
The Ultranet provides the fabric upon which organisational intelligence can be created. One of the ways by which this is
accomplished is by building a rich picture of the student, tracking his/her progress from class to class, year to year and school to
school. The development of this longitudinal record is an essential part of the Ultranet.
<http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/blueprint/fs1/s@c.asp#top> Back to Top
Benefits
Students can access their classroom activities and resources from anywhere at anytime. There is greater opportunity for
collaboration, reflection and personal interaction with their teacher. There is a greater emphasis on their learning and more
opportunity to reflect upon their progress.
Teachers are provided with a better understanding of their students. They are able to collaborate far more effectively with their
colleagues and there is greater transparency. This fosters an environment where programmes are continuously improved and extended,
where the knowledge base of teachers is captured, organised, shared and utilized so that it incrementally builds the organisation's
knowledge base.
Parents gain a much richer and timely insight into their children's progress. They do not need to wait until parent-teacher night or
for an end of semester report to receive feedback on how their child is progressing. They can log on to follow the activities and
the interactions with teacher and peers that their child is undertaking at school.
Schools have the capacity to readily identify students in an at risk situation and design appropriate interventions as the Ultranet
integrates data from a range of sources. Schools have access to real-time and longitudinal data that enables them to effectively
monitor, measure and evaluate the impact of their programmes.
The School System will also have accurate and real-time data on: student attendance and achievement; time spent in key learning
areas; courses and activities undertaken in schools; extent of teacher engagement with professional development and the use of
digital resources. This data will facilitate strategic planning allowing for more informed allocation of resources to support system
wide objectives.
<http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/blueprint/fs1/s@c.asp#top> Back to Top
Functions
The Ultranet will build organisational intelligence and assume the central focus for how all 'business' is conducted in schools. It
is not about 'online learning' or 'content management'. It will integrate the key processes involved in the day to day running of a
school and a classroom. It will redefine the nature and purpose of all interactions between members of the school community. It will
support teaching and learning, particularly Flagship Strategy 1 - Student Learning. It will provide functionality in areas of
classroom and school administration, exploiting the synergy between the two. Specifically the Ultranet will provide functionality in
the following areas:
* Professional Development
* Attendance and Roll Marking / Excursions
* Timetabling / Daily Organisation
* Bookings and Lists
* Notifications / Messaging
* Course and Lesson Planning
* Assessment and Feedback
<http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/blueprint/fs1/s@c.asp#top> Back to Top
Schools in the Project
S at C Research and Development Schools
* Ringwood Secondary College
* Koonung Secondary College
* Balwyn High School
* St Albans Meadows Primary School
* Debney Park Secondary College
* Fitzroy North Primary School
* Noble Park Special Developmental School
* McKinnon Secondary College
* Ormond Primary School
* McKinnon Primary School
* Murrumbeena Primary School
* Valkstone Primary School
Project Updates
28 February 2005
The project is well underway with Oracle in the process of developing software for a staged implementation of Ultranet functions
into the 12 pilot schools. DE&T has initiated a professional learning program for the pilot schools and a privacy impact statement
for the project has commenced.
Consultants engaged from Melbourne University are in the planning stages of an extensive evaluation of the pilot, which will inform
DE&T as to whether there is a compelling enough case to secure resources for a public tender to deploy the Ultranet in all schools.
Contact
For further information email <mailto:ultranet at edumail.vic.gov.au> ultranet at edumail.vic.gov.au
<http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au/index.htm> McKinnon Secondary College
Ultranet
In 2004, McKinnon Secondary College and its cluster schools were chosen to trial the Ultranet project. Involving wireless ICT and
new intranet software, the project is led by Darrell Fraser, Assistant Secretary to Schools in Victoria.
McKinnon Secondary College and its partner Primary Schools have been selected to trial this new government initiative which will
streamline many administrative practices and greatly improve the use of IT in classroom teaching and learning. McKinnon Secondary
College will have a wireless network, with teachers and students having access to the internet and our IT network everywhere in the
college.
The trial will begin in earnest in semester two, and we will be attending regular briefings over
the first half of the year. We hope to devote our cluster conference day in May to preparation for this exciting initiative.
More details of the project will be given when they are known. The project is due to commence in June 2005.
Ultranet innovation for teaching and learning (From The Education News)
Twelve Victorian government primary and secondary schools will be involved in a major research and development
(R&D) initiative that aims to produce the prototype for a student-centric system that supports teaching and learning, curriculum
delivery and the management of knowledge in Victorian schools.
The Department of Education & Training (DE&T) and software company the Oracle Corporation have been working together to produce a
prototype - to be known as the Ultranet - that will combine features of a school Intranet, learning management system and student
administration system. It will also link to other information systems such as school timetabling software and DE&Ts CASES21 system.
The Ultranet will integrate many administrative tasks, online roll marking, course and lesson planning, assessment and feedback, and
enable access to students, parents and teachers.
DE&T Deputy Secretary of the Office of School Education (OSE) Darrell Fraser said a number of schools, including McKinnon Secondary
College, Ormond, Valkstone, and McKinnon primary schools, Debney Park Secondary College and Noble Park Special Development School
would be involved in the pilot.
"Many schools are experimenting with their own [ICT] frameworks and have done some very impressive work in utilising technology to
inform learning," he said.
"However, this project aims to build a product that provides an ICT framework that allows the whole school community to engage with
learning in ways not previously possible."
Mr Fraser this week joined principals from the R&D schools to detail the initiative and the potential benefits for the Victorian
government school system. He said the benefits of such an initiative were varied.
"The Ultranet has the capacity to revolutionise how we work in schools. It aims to simplify many administrative tasks as well as
enhance cooperation and collaboration between teachers, students and parents.
"Over time, a picture of individual students is developed, which maintained as students move fit class to class, between year levels
and from school to school.
"This means that schools, clusters, regions and the Department will have much richer longitudinal information."
The prototype testing, development and evaluation with the pilot schools will take place over 18 months and will inform possible
system-wide roll out.
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