April 2010 CRS Advanced Technology
IN THIS ISSUEWELCOME NEWEST SUBFINDER CUSTOMERS GRANITE SCHOOL DISTRICT 6 TECHNOLOGIES SOON TO AFFECT EDUCATION CRS IS ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK 9 QUICK TIPS ON GOING GREEN
QUICK LINKS CRS WEBSITE NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE CALENDAR SUBFINDER MEET MAXX
Welcome to the April edition of InTouch Online! Finally, spring has sprung! The springtime is typically a good season for most, with the moderate temperatures, and those rainy days that sometimeS seem as enjoyable!The beginning of April was a busy one, of course kicking off with April Fool’s Day, then it went straight to Easter, followed by Spring Break for many. We hope you are enjoying the rising temperatures, and watching the flowers and plants bloom. On that note, today marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day! Be sure to get out there today and plan an Earth Day activity with your friends and family!
Here is what we have for you in this edition of InTouch Online! We spoke with Granite School District in Salt Lake City, Utah this month for our Customer Highlight. SubFinder Operator, Pamela Payne, provides great insight on how SubFinder has helped this busy district for over 10 years. Next, we have an article from eSchool News regarding technology trends in the classroom. But first, check out our newest SubFinder customers!
Customer Highlight:
Granite School District, UtahFreedom, Flexibility, and Accountability
Interview by: Corinne McLaughlin, CRS Marketing Coordinator
Interview with: Pamela Payne, SubFinder Operator
Granite School District is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the largest school district in the state, serving 68,372 students in 89 schools consisting of: 63 elementary schools, 15 junior high schools and 9 high schools in addition to a school for students with serious disabilities, Granite Alternative High School, the Hilda B. Jones Center (for vocational training), and several other specialized facilities. Serving these schools and children is a team of 3,500 full-time certified teachers, and over 5,000 full-time support staff.
It wasn’t long ago that the City of Salt Lake was founded. Over 150 years ago, a group of 148 Mormon pioneers, led by Brigham Young, were the first non-Native Americans to set up permanent residence in the Salt Lake Valley, where in later months, thousands of other Mormons would follow in search of a region where they could freely practice religion. Just after the settlers’ arrival, the soil was tilled and crops were planted and plans for Great Salt Lake City were drawn – the name coming from an inland lake to the west, which is known for its high salt content. Prospering through the California gold rush in the 1850s and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, Salt Lake City became a name on the map for mining fortunes, trading, and agriculture. In 1896, Utah became the 45th state in the union, as well as becoming the third state to extend voting rights to women.
To this day, Utah has strong economic and employment growth, which is why it has been ranked the best environment for business, technology, and software firms. After hosting the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Salt Lake City became internationally known and valued.
Due to continued population growth, there are 13 elementary schools in growth areas of the district that operate on a year-round, multi-track calendar. The year-round calendar significantly increases the student capacity of the buildings involved. I was lucky enough to touch base with SubFinder Operator, Pam Payne, to learn how SubFinder has helped their human resource and payroll departments, in a district that seems to never have a “down time.”
When did Granite School District begin to use the SubFinder system? How long have you been the SubFinder Operator?
We implemented SubFinder in 1997. I have been the SubFinder Operator since 1999.
Currently, Granite School District uses just the IVR portion of SubFinder; however, Granite has made the decision to upgrade to SubFinder 5.9 and start utilizing the Internet portion of SubFinder. What was behind the district’s decision to do so; and how excited are you and the HR and payroll departments?
Granite School District takes pride in its technology strengths within our school system. We started using SubFinder before there was the option to have Internet! The Internet portion of SubFinder is a natural fit providing convenience and ease of use for our staff. Even though budget issues are always the sticking point, the time savings to our district with payroll, administrators, and staff are immeasurable. I am looking forward to much easier times ahead for all of our SubFinder users.
What benefits do you feel SubFinder provides to the employees, substitutes, and the HR and payroll departments at Granite School District?
The ease, flexibility, and availability of the Internet are a must for any business in this technology-based generation. The customer support I have received since I assumed my position is surpassed by no other. The freedom, flexibility, and accountability offered by SubFinder have taken over hours of tedious work performed by several hourly employees daily. Our retention rate for our guest teachers is, in part, due to the successful use of SubFinder.
Does your SubFinder system integrate with your payroll system, Pentamation?
SubFinder integrates beautifully with Pentamation II. The entire process is so quick and efficient.
Granite enrolled in the Maxx Advantage Program. How has this FREE customer service oriented program helped you?
I would definitely recommend the Maxx Advantage Program for all SubFinder operators. In our district, we tend to become position focused with little cross-training. The Maxx Advantage Program provides the on-line training necessary for someone to step in and learn how to handle my position. The webinars are so easy to follow--always informative and ready to view on demand.
What has your experience been like with the customer service that CRS provides?
I can honestly say that there is not another company so ready and able to back up their product line as CRS. I have never been met with an unkind or an impatient word. From account specialists to the sales representatives to the implementation specialists — all stand out heads above the rest! My hat goes off to the entire staff!
I personally would like to thank Pamela Payne for her participation in the Customer Highlight during the busy spring season! She has been an operator since 1999 and has a close relationship with many here at CRS! If you would like to learn more about Granite School District and the Salt Lake City area, please visit their website at http://www.graniteschools.org/.
Six Technologies Soon to Affect Education
Game-Based Learning, Mobile Devices, and Cloud Computing Will Find A Place In Schools Nationwide, Researchers Say
By: Laura Devaney, Managing Editor, eSchool News
Cloud computing and collaborative learning environments are set to take hold in K-12 schools in the very near future, with mobile devices, game-based learning, and other education technologies to follow suit in the next few years, according to the 2010 Horizon Report’s K-12 Edition, released by the New Media Consortium (NMC).
NMC researchers examined 100 different technologies and whittled them down to the six most prominent technologies that are on the verge of classroom adoption in the next five years. Those six technologies were placed into three categories according to how close schools are to implementing them on wide scale.
The report also identifies the challenges facing K-12 technology leaders, noting that while digital media literacy continues to rise in importance as a key skill in every discipline and profession, educational practices are changing very slowly, said Larry Johnson, NMC’s chief executive, during an April 13 webinar sponsored by the Consortium for School Networking.
Many policy makers and educators believe that deep reform is needed, but at the same time, there is little agreement as to what a new model of education might look like, the report says. The fundamental structure of the K-12 establishment is another challenge. Many activities related to students’ education—such as social networking and multitasking with digital tools–now take place outside classroom walls, but these experiences are often undervalued or unacknowledged by school leaders.
Schools are likely to implement cloud computing and collaborative learning environments in a year or less, according to the report. Many K-12 schools already are using cloud computing for shared applications and storage, but not as many are using the technology—in which applications are hosted on a company’s servers and delivered online, rather than residing on the user’s desktop computer—for the higher-end computing power that can facilitate advanced research, said Rachel Smith, a vice president at NMC.
Collaborative environments involve creating content in shared social networking spaces, and because today’s students are constantly connected and typically frequent social networking web sites, this technology plays to students’ strengths and interests. Students in classrooms across the United States or worldwide can team up to create wikis and other informative web sites for various projects, Smith said.
Game-based learning is inching closer to classroom adoption, although it is still two or three years away from widespread implementation. Digital games can include single-player tutorial games such as Reader Rabbit or Math Blaster, all the way up to alternative-reality games intended for multiple players and that strengthen collaborative learning.
“[We’ve seen] a high adoption rate on single-player games, and we’re starting to see more on multiplayer or collaborative games,” Smith said.
Mobile devices also fall into the two- to three-year adoption timeframe. Although most older students own smart phones or other mobile devices, and many younger students now have access to these devices as well, policies prohibiting their use in classrooms are preventing more widespread adoption of the technology in K-12 education, Smith said.
Other technologies are potential game-changers but present too many logistical hurdles for immediate implementation. Augmented reality and flexible displays are two technologies that Johnson said are four to five years from K-12 adoption.
Augmented reality uses GPS and compass features, such as those found on smart phones running Google’s Android operating system and Apple’s iPhone, to access high-speed wireless networks that mash up local web content with the user’s surroundings. Augmented reality often overlays images onto a user’s screen. SciMorph is one augmented reality science learning program that lets students place an alien in different environments, take measurements, and gather data. The alien is overlaid atop what students see via webcams.
Flexible displays—paper-like computer displays made mostly of plastic—are also a few years from K-12 implementation, Johnson said.
“We’re not really sure where flexible displays are going, but you can imagine them being used initially in marketing,” he said, adding that flexible displays could appear on science lab equipment with instructions on how to use different lab tools. Others have speculated that flexible displays soon could reduce the price of laptops and mobile devices, because they consume less power and use fewer materials.
“The technologies we’re using are causing significant policy changes” in K-12 education, said Susan A. Gendron, commissioner of the Maine Department of Education and president of the board of directors for the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).
Gendron said the report’s contents would help with key policy components as states work to integrate technology into instruction.
“The chiefs within CCSSO are trying to examine, in particular, how cloud computing and collaborative environments will help us work across all states,” she added.
Links:
2010 Horizon Report K-12 Edition
Arizona State University Flexible Display Center
Council of Chief State School Officers
Reprinted with permission from eSchool News, copyright 2010. Visit http://www.eschoolnews.com/ for daily news and resources for K-12 educators. For free subscriptions please visit https://www.eschoolnews.com/freeesn/index.cfm
CRS is on Twitter and FacebookGetting Into the World of Social Networking
By: Corinne McLaughlin, CRS Marketing Coordinator
What do you prefer? Twitter or Facebook? Or both?
We have joined the phenomenon of social networking – and its ever-changing ways! For all of you social networking lovers, or if your organization is connected to either as well, follow us on Twitter, or search for CRS Advanced Technology on Facebook!
We look forward to connecting with you!
9 Quick Tips on Going Green
By: Green Life Staff
*article from Green Life (http://agreenliving.net) – Start A Green Living Now!
Going green is something that is flying around the world like wild fire. More and more people are seeing the problems with global warming and the hole in the ozone layer as a big threat. Actions are finally being taken to make our world greener, making the ones who have been green all along sit back and relax as the new trend takes way. There are many things you can do, to make this world a little greener; all easy to follow and will make you feel great!
Get some exercise and walk or ride your bike to school or work, anywhere you can. This will reduce green house gas emissions and you can build some muscles at the same time which is always nice. If walking is not an option, take a public bus or train. Less cars on the road means less of that gas in the air.
Leave your car at home! There is no need to have to drive every day of the week. If you can car pool at least twice a week, green house gas emissions will reduce 1,590 pounds per year on average. In addition to car pooling, also combine your errands. If you need to go to the grocery store and the bank in the same day, do it all at the same time. It will save your gas, time, and money; we all need to save right now!
If it is within your finances, make it a point to buy a compactor. A compactor is made for crushing down your garbage, making it so the objects packed into a landfill are smaller.
Recycling is also a good way for a greener earth. Ask for paper bags instead of plastic in your local supermarket. By putting soda cans in different bins, you can reduce pollution easily. Statistics show that if an office of seven thousand workers recycled all of its leftover office paper in a year, it is equal to taking almost four hundred cars off the roads.
Change the type of light bulbs you use. Compact fluorescent light bulbs, also known as CFLs, last times longer than the typical light bulbs we have been using for years. This light bulb also uses two thirds less energy than other light bulbs.
Making your home more energy efficient will also help you become green, and help you save the green. Cleaning out your air filters on a regular basis will help your system not have to work so hard so it saves energy. Turn the air up when you are out of the house or sleeping. There is no use cooling down an empty house or sleeping people.
Be sure to keep up with the maintenance on your car. If your tires are not inflated at the right pressure, your car has to use more fuel to continue a normal pace; causing more emissions which we are trying to avoid!
Slow down! There is no use going seventy MPH in a sixty MPH zone. If you slow down, you can save four gallons per mile which also saves even more money. So, as you can see, being green is good for the environment and your wallet.
What is the sense in lighting an empty room? That makes no sense! Turn off the lights in rooms you are not using along with appliances that are not being used. Something so little will make you environmentally cautious!
CRS Advanced Technology is the leading provider of employee absence management and substitute placement solutions serving over 1.5 million throughout the United States and Canada. Our flagship product, SubFinder, completely automates employee absence reporting, substitute placement, data management, and payroll tasks. If you would like further information about SubFinder, please contact us at 800.782.3463.
Sincerely,
The CRS Advanced Technology Team
