About the PWCS Software Approval Process
by:
Louis Johnson, ITRT Beville Middle School
PWCS Notice 414.02-2-1 stipulates:
“...Administrative software, instructional software, operating systems, and office automation products listed in the technology software standards will be supported. Software purchased by schools or individual departments that is intended for use on the PWCPS Network must be reviewed by the IT Steering Committee prior to purchase. Screen savers, games, and other personal use software will not be supported...“
If you are interested in obtaining new software or subscription resources, proceed as follows:
1. Identify potential technology resources that will compliment the teaching and learning of PWCS Curriculum in your classroom instructional environment.
2. Obtain a Demo/Evaluation copy of the software from the publisher or from an approved vendor.
3. Perform a formal evaluation of the resource for instructional use.
Note: Open these documents,
fill in the information fields, print the documents and then save them on your
computer (if you wish to keep an electronic copy).
a. If you are evaluating instructional software, you should use the
PWCS Software Evaluation Instrument.
b. If you are evaluating a web-based or subscription resource, you should use the
PWCS Website Review Instrument.
4. Check the current PWCS Approved Software List
a.
View
the PWCS Approved Software lists via the Information Technology Intranet Portal
Note: You must be on the PWCS network to view
this site.
b. View the Approved Software List as of April 2007
b. View the Approved Internet Subscription List as of April 2007
If the software is already on the current list of PWCS approved software, there is no need to go any further. All you will need is building-level approval to purchase the software or web-based subscription resource. This is assuming that your evaluation indicates that it is worthy of your purchase and it satisfies a defined instructional need within your classroom curriculum.
5. Complete the
PWCS Software Approval Routing List.
Note: Open this documents,
fill in the information fields relating to School Contact Information, print the document and then save
it on your
computer (if you wish to keep an electronic copy).
6. Submit a copy of the reviewed software or a link to the reviewed web-based resource (please include login information if applicable), along with all of the completed documents referenced above to your building ITRT. They will make sure that the software is put on the agenda for consideration of approval at the next PWCS Software Committee meeting.
Please note that inclusion of the PWCS approved software list means that the software is approved for installation on a computer that is attached to the PWCS Novell network. DIT will provide support pertaining to technical issues that may arise as a result of installing and using these resources on the PWCS network. Inclusion on this list is not necessarily indicative of the appropriateness or effectiveness of the resource in the instruction of students in your building or at your grade level. Please work with your ITRT to devise a plan for utilizing and integrating any technology resources within your own school and classroom instructional environments.