NWSD IT Vision

To create an environment that integrates technology as a natural part of the educational experience, and provides all learners with the skills to access knowledge that will build a foundation for their future.

We will accomplish this vision by creating a dynamic technological environment that allows the community of learners equal access to interact and collaborate successfully. We believe that the use of technology as a part of the curriculum should focus on supporting higher-level learning, problem solving, and critical thinking skills.

1. Standardize hardware: By standardizing desktop hardware and software, we can ultimately advance toward a more flexible, agile, and optimized infrastructure. Ad hoc PC (and other hardware purchases—often driven by price, or by departmental end-user preferences—can prove much more costly to the division.
2. Standardize software image and management: It results in reduced costs.  Image management accounts for 20-25 percent of operating system deployment costs, and can cost the division an average $25-$35 per PC annually.    
1. Group-based image configuration: By enabling greater automation and increasing efficiency, a standardized software image helps reduce costs for deployment, image management, and ongoing patches and updates. 

Procurement and Acquisition:

• The more fragmented a division’s technology purchasing pattern, the wider the variety of equipment (software/hardwar) in use. The wider the variety of equipment (software/hardware) in use, the higher the service and support costs become.
• When purchasing is done at a school-based level, the central technology group is often left to respond to individual school-based technology purchasing requests.  Consequently, the purchasing process is repeated. This results in an inefficient use of managerial time and fails to take advantage of economies of scale.
• When technology purchases are funded from multiple budgets, the internal accounting functions required to track and reconcile technology expenditures and budgets can be time consuming and cumbersome.
• Limiting technology variables simplifies technology management.  This can be difficult since technology is always in transition.
• When technology standards are applied, the depth of user and technical support personnel understanding is maximized. In highly standardized environments, peer support becomes the norm, and there is a heightened synergy of individuals’ computer skills.
• There is the benefit from in-school personnel to assist with local trouble-shooting and technology support.
• All personnel should recognize that there is a balance between innovation and ease of management and support. Variations in standards come at a cost to the division. The costs, risks and benefits associated with increased variations in established standards should be factored into technology purchasing decisions.

Based on these observations, the following best practices – with respect to technology procurement and acquisition, are: 

• Hardware and software acquisitions should be planned and managed on a division wide basis, and within the context of the provincial directions and standards (curriculum) and guidelines.  The acquisition process should be sufficiently responsive to meet school needs (not wants).
• The central technology group should be involved in the acquisition process in order that effective standards are set, and kept up to date.
• School based or individual requests for software installation, and or the addition of hardware or peripherals must follow formal request procedures in order to ensure the following:
• software is tested to ensure compatibility with the technical and learning environments
• licensing is verified
• software, peripherals and hardware fit with school division directions
• technical staff are aware of new programs and equipment within the school division
• curriculum staff are aware of new applications that may require support, resources and training

Administrative Procedures - Software Procurement 

Software Evaluation Form

Equipment Purchasing Guidelines

Computers For Schools (Saskatchewan):  http://cfs-sask.sasktelwebsite.net/