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Doug Peterson
Computers in the Classroom Consultant
Greater Essex County District School Board
December 2000 (Updated January 2003)
Each year, the Ministry of Education posts, on its tendering website, calls for software to be provincially licensed. The recommendations for the type of software to be licensed comes from the OSAPAC/CCPALO Committee, a collection of representatives from Public and Catholic, English and French schools boards, an energetic representative from the Faculties of Education, and you.
Yes, you! While it isn't feasible to pay the mileage to have every teacher in the province at the meetings where decisions are made, every teacher can have their input into the process by using your favourite web browser.
A survey is posted on the OSAPAC/CCPALO website (http://www.osapac.org - http://www.ccpalo.org) asking for input into the type of software that is needed to support the Ontario Curriculum. That's where we all fit into the picture. When you visit the survey, you have the opportunity to identify a specific piece of software, a specific curriculum area, or a specific type of software. Who knows better than you what piece of software is needed in your classroom?
Last year, many visitors to the OSAPAC/CCPALO website took the opportunity to complete the online survey. The results, coupled with an analysis of the needs of the Ontario Curriculum led the OSAPAC/CCPALO committee to identify the titles that the committee ultimately recommends for provincial licensing. Requests don't always have to be limited to new software titles. Perhaps there's a piece of software that you've had a great deal of success with that needs to be updated. Upgrades are also fair game.
The goal is to provide the best software for Ontario classrooms within the financial constraints of the committee. Preference is given to bilingual, Macintosh- and Windows-based software. But just what is software anyway? Recently, the demands of the Ontario Curriculum has led to the provincial licensing of web based services of Notebook/le carnet, Career Cruising, and Career Explorer. Your own personal, professional growth as an educator creates demands for contemporary resources. Provincial licensing through OSAPAC/CCPALO is one avenue to make it happen.
Does my vote count? Absolutely. if you have a software void in your classroom, chances are there are other teachers in the province in the same situation. That void can only be filled when you express the need by completing the survey.
So I fill out the survey. Does it end there? Perhaps not. All software vendors need to be aware of the priorities as posted on the Ministry's tendering website. if you have a favourite vendor, you can make sure that the software you're looking for makes the submission by contacting the vendor and letting her/him know. They can follow the link from the OSAPAC/CCPALO page for vendors. Follow the process from survey to priorities to negotiations to agreements to shipment. The OSAPAC/CCPALO website keeps you informed every step of the way.
This year, make the decision to join with OSAPAC/CCPALO to determine priorities for software licensing. Your input is important -- please take the time to complete the survey when it's posted.
Look what you did Ontario! Recent acquisitions include Macromedia Studio MX, Fathom Dynamic Software, Word Way, Write Way and the list goes on. Check out the latest licensing by visiting the OSAPAC/CCPALO website regularly.