The following Digital Learning Environment Inventory assesses the digital tools available to teachers and students at KIPP College Prep, the only high school in the KIPPNYC Charter Network, in the South Bronx, New York.
- Throughout our high school, there are three laptops in every classroom designated for student use and one for teacher use that is connected to a document camera and Smartboard. All of the personal staff laptops are PCs employing Microsoft Operating Systems. However, we do have one classroom that has 25 Apple computers running Mac operating software for our Music Production, Year Book Publishing, and Computer Science Course.
- All teacher computers are equipped for Internet access, primarily using Internet browsers such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Chrome. All teachers are equipped with the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, Outlook).
- KIPPNYC has a contract with Microsoft with regards to software and with Sprint for our Internet access. The only email provider accessible for students is utilizing their Google Drive account. Gmail is accessible only to teachers.
- Our Charter uses PowerSchool to record student grades and attendance. All students have access to this information via the PS student and parent portals. Likewise, teachers are able to access PowerSchool from home.
- Due to the recently completed construction of our high school in 2013, all classrooms are equipped with PolyVision projectors with software that is compatible with SMART technology. Our charter has a robust tech support team, who actively promote the appropriate use for this technology, and provide several training opportunities for faculty to learn the various uses of the resources.
- All floors (5) are equipped with 2 Mobile Laptop carts (30 PCs per cart) that are Wi-Fi accessible for student use.
- KIPPNYC CP also has a videoconferencing capability through the Skype access on personal staff laptops.
- The established firewall in our school blocks numerous websites from student use, including most social media sites but is accessible to teachers. In addition, many other sites are blocked due to key word searches that are deemed inappropriate. YouTube is also blocked from student use, but is accessible to teachers.
- The school’s library is still being staffed and has only recently paid for the following research databases for student use, including: EBSCO, Follett Library Destiny Manager
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