Monday, April 22, 2013

The TRIG SPOT desktop forecasting window is now open. (SPOT Bid Michigan 22.i)

The TRIG SPOT desktop forecasting window is now open.

Please have your authorized SPOT user visit the www.remcbids.org site to complete forecasting. The forecast window will be open from today until 5pm on May 7. Your existing SPOT user and password will continue to work for forecasting and purchasing through the SPOT tool.

If you do not have a SPOT user, the user creation survey is available from your TRIG Tech Ready contact person, and will be open until noon on May 6.

The expected bid award is June 19, with the purchase window open by July 1 - July 31.

The desktop units will be discounted based on volume purchasing, but will not qualify for the incentive payments.

As with the mobile device bid, the forecast is for a limited number of items (desktops and monitors) for simplicity and ease of forecasting, but the final purchase will include additional options for extended warranty, memory and hard drive upgrades, etc.

Any questions can be directed to SPOThelp@remc.org (my apologies to anyone that got a bounced message as I mistyped this address in my last email).

The FAQ page is available here as well - http://tinyurl.com/SPOT-FAQ.

Mike

-------
Michael Richardson REMC 1 Director
906.482.4520 x240 811 Hecla St
mike@remc1.org Hancock, MI 49930

For difficulties with the listserv, please contact smitha24@michigan.gov.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

22i Technology Readiness Infrastructure Grant (TRIG) Overview

FOCUS: The focus of this grant is to develop or improve a
district’s technology infrastructure, including, but not
limited to, hardware and software, in preparation for the
planned implementation in 2014-2015 of online growth
assessments.

GOALS:
1. Build a statewide interconnected network to support
reliable unencumbered access to online assessments.
2. Establish collective purchasing contracts for learning
devices and online content.
3. Leverage regional networks to facilitate the
consolidation and improve services levels for data,
technology, and other related services to service centers.
4. Build capacity to assist educators in planning and
implementing the best practices and technology required
to support the next generation of assessment, teaching,
and learning.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Consortia Named for the 22.i program

Consortia Named
1. Intra-Michigan Technology Readiness Leadership Consortium (Wexford-Missaukee ISD Awardee) Orange
2. Greater Michigan Educational Consortium (Genesee ISD Awardee) Blue
3. Kent ISD Consortium (Kent ISD Awardee) Green
4. Rural Northern Michigan Consortium (Coppery Country ISD Awardee) Purple
5. Southwest Michigan Consortium (Kalamazoo RESA Awardee) Red

Activity Two – Technology Readiness Planning Pilot On March 20

Activity Two – Technology Readiness Planning Pilot On March 20, Activity Two held a successful pilot training of the Michigan Technology Readiness Tool (MTRAx). A total of 127 participants were in attendance for the training at Wayne RESA. In total, the group comprised a vast majority of the Intermediate School Districts in the state as well as a number of local districts from those ISDs/RESAs. The three hour
training gave an overview of MTRAx reports as well as giving participants detailed information so they can complete the survey. Once the pilot districts have successfully completed the pilot phase MTRAx, they will be helping train the rest of the districts in the state as the survey is rolled out to all districts in the fall.

Activity Four – Statewide Device and Software Purchasing Consortium

Activity Four just finished receiving commitments through the State Procurement Online Tool (SPOT) for the device purchasing project. In all, over 475 districts forecasted that they would be purchasing devices through the pilot project. Here is the breakdown of the number of devices by type that were committed to be purchased:

Description Forecasted:

Netbook Computer, Windows 6,088
Netbook Computer, MacOS 2,633
Netbook Computer, Chromebook 16,017
Notebook Computer, Windows 6,523
Notebook Computer, MacOS 2,296
Notebook Computer, Linux 581
Tablet Computer, iOS 33,939
Tablet Computer, Android 2,303
Tablet Computer, Windows 1,462

Grand Total 71,842

Information on the incentive rebate will be sent out soon so that districts can begin to plan for the potential amount of money they will receive through the device incentive program.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

FAQs responses regarding SPOT and the purchasing pilot:

Each district will have only 1 SPOT user.
The SPOT user is for both forecasting, and later for purchasing devices.
Each email address can only be associated with 1 district (can't do forecasting for multiple districts with a single login).
The SPOT survey (user creation) is open until 3/27.
The forecasting window is open until 3/29.
The forecast is NON BINDING, simply measuring district interest levels.
The device minimum specifications are inside the SPOT tool, as is estimated LIST pricing.
We expect final pricing to be lower than list once vendors bid (based on forecasted volume).
Device purchasing will be June 1-July 31.
All districts are eligible to purchase from this project - public, private, and PSAs; whether they are participating in TRIG or not.
Districts may use any funds to purchase from this pilot, not limited to 22i Category 1 funds.
There will be incentive payments for those public schools and PSAs that participate in TRIG. The incentive amount will be determined based on the number of units purchased, but will not exceed $100.
This is the first SPOT purchasing cycle, and this pilot included mobile devices only.
Future SPOT cycles could potentially include other devices.

Questions and problems regarding SPOT can be sent to SPOThelp@remc.org<mailto:SPOThelp@remc.org>.

22i Device Forecast REMC Bid SPOT

22i Device Forecast

As of March 23, 2013