Ultranet Frequently Asked Questions
Why have an Ultranet?
The Department understands that to prepare students for the innovation and knowledge economy of the 21st century, schools must readily provide students with access to ICT environments that increase their participation, engagement and achievement in education. The education system faces irrelevance unless it recognises and minimises the gap between how students live and learn in the digital and multi-media world. Progressive and effective integration of ICT into education planning and delivery is needed.
The Department proposes to transform government schools by applying a new information and communications technology (ICT) system, the Ultranet. The Ultranet will help to improve student learning and enable the Department to better manage government school performance.
The Ultranet will:
- Improve student-learning outcomes
- Help build effective partnerships between students, parents and teachers
- Be a consistent online learning environment across all Victorian government schools
- Streamline school management processes and reduce the administrative burden on schools
- Meet the needs of today’s students and tomorrows future
- Lead the way in curriculum delivery
- Facilitate more accurate and streamlined reporting
- Reduce the ICT divide between schools
- Provide a suite of collaboration tools
- Enable equality and ease of access to high quality resources across the State
Tender process
Why isn’t the Department appointing a supplier for the Ultranet at this time?
The Department is unable to enter into an acceptable contract with any shortlisted tenderer. The overall response from the market did not satisfy key tender requirements. This decision has been made in the public interest to ensure the best long term outcome for Victorian government schools.
Was the tender specification too complex?
The vision for Ultranet is sound. The market testing and industry briefings that were undertaken gave every indication that the market could adequately respond to the tender specifications. However, in practice the market was not able to provide a value for money response at this stage.
Were there any probity breaches in the tender process?
No. There were no breaches of probity. The tender process met the Government's probity objectives, including integrity, impartiality and effective competition. In addition, an independent review found that the project has been well managed to best practice standards.
Will the Department go back out to the market for a supplier?
The Department will develop a revised approach involving a comprehensive market sounding exercise. The revised process will focus on the key priorities of learning and teaching and a parent portal. The benefits of the Ultranet will be the same.
Is this a reasonable outcome from a tender process?
The decision not to award a contract in any tender process is a legitimate and sometimes necessary outcome. This decision has been made in the public interest to ensure the best long term outcome for Victorian government schools.
Revised Ultranet
What will the revised Ultranet look like?
The revised Ultranet will still focus on the key priorities of teaching and learning and a parent portal. This means that the objectives and benefits of the Ultranet project will remain the same.
Will any features be left out of the revised Ultranet project?
There are some low-priority features that will no longer be in scope. Some of the features that will not be included are:
- records, workflow, resource and events management functionality
- school surveys
- journals
- online course selection
These features don’t impact on key activities inside the classroom or engaging parents.
Will the Ultranet still operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
The Ultranet will be available during and outside regular school hours, on weekends and school holidays. Within this, there will be reasonable allowances for downtime to manage maintenance and other outages etc.
What does this announcement mean for the coaches who are already training teachers for the Ultranet environment?
Ultranet coaches started working with schools in February 2008 to support teachers in readiness for the Ultranet. Significant progress is being made in improving the use of ICT in the classroom. Ultranet coaches will continue this work as part of the school improvement teams based in the Department’s regional offices. The Ultranet Coach position description has not changed.
Timeframe
What are the revised timeframes for the project?
The Government is still committed to the delivery of the Ultranet to all Victorian government schools by Quarter 3 2010. Ultranet coaches will continue to prepare schools for the Ultranet by supporting the use of ICT in the classroom.
School Readiness
How can schools get ready for the Ultranet?
Schools can begin to get ready now for the Ultranet. The change management approach involves 50 Ultranet coaches based in regions across the state.
The coaches are working with teachers and schools to ensure each school is ready for the Ultranet. The considerations for school readiness are;
- School Leadership – Are principals and school leaders ready to effectively lead the implementation of the Ultranet.
- Workforce Capability - Are staff confident and capable users of ICT?
- Learning & Teaching - Are teachers confident and capable to use ICT effectively to plan, deliver and assess?
- Data / Content - Is data ready for the system?
- Infrastructure - Is the ICT infrastructure in schools robust?
- Community - Is the school community ready to receive the Ultranet?
How can Ultranet coaches support schools?
The main role of the Ultranet coach is to support schools in making ICT a part of the daily work of the staff, with a focus on learning and teaching. We know that people who are confident users of ICT will be more likely to embrace the Ultranet.
Ultranet coaches may assist schools to:
- Support teachers to complete the e-Potential ICT Capabilities Survey (http://epotential.education.vic.gov.au/) and subsequently develop Professional Learning goals.
- Support school leaders to analyse the data collected and develop ICT Professional Learning strategies to support staff.
- Provide support to use the ICT Capabilities Resource effectively to build staff confidence and capability. This Resource includes a continuum, a bank of resources, journal tool and planning tools.
- Develop a range of school based professional learning strategies, including peer coaching ensuring that ICT professional learning is focused on learning and teaching.
- Work with the school leadership team to review or develop the school eLearning plan, using the eLearning planning guide. (http://elearning.education.vic.gov.au/elpg/)
- Plan for the National Secondary School Computer Fund and other Digital Education Revolution initiatives (http://www.digitaleducationrevolution.gov.au/).
Privacy
How will my private information be protected?
The Ultranet project will be subject to two privacy laws, the Information Privacy Act 2000 (Vic) and the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic). Outsourced services provided to the Department by private operators are also subject to Victorian privacy laws.
Privacy impact assessments will be conducted throughout the project, eg at design/build, implementation and during maintenance phases to ensure that all reasonable measures are in place to protect the privacy of users.
Security
What security will be built into the system?
Extensive requirements will be built into the system, for example:
- security in Ultranet communications and operations management
- protection of Ultranet from malicious software (malware) such as computer viruses
- access control
- application level data validation
- data confidentiality
- disposal of back-up information
- compliance with Departmental ICT security policies
Training
What training will be provided to teachers to learn to use the Ultranet?
The Training strategy will be based on a train-the-trainer model for initial training and then be supported by a range of delivery modes and resources, including face to face, self paced online, mentoring, team teaching, school network sharing etc. A tool kit will be developed that contains a range of resources to support the implementation. The approach to training and change management will be developed in consultation with a range of stakeholders to ensure that the strategy will provide the best approach for schools.
Community Concerns
How many families have Internet access at home?
Latest research from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (2007) shows that about 90% of families have access to the Internet at home and that number is growing. The 2006 census data indicates that Internet access is lower in specific geographical areas.
Will this disadvantage families and children who don’t have Internet access at home?
It is beneficial for a parent to access the Ultranet, however those who can’t will still have access to every thing they need about their child via hard copy or talking to the school as is the case now.
Whilst the Ultranet project does not have the capacity to bridge the digital divide in family homes, it will help to bridge the digital divide between Victorian Government Schools, so that at school all students will have greater equality in accessing ICT. Teachers will be aware if their students do not have Internet access at home, and will adjust programs accordingly.