The city of Nice has 154 educational institutions. According to the Academic Inspectorate’s forecasts, student numbers remain stable this school year. More than 28,000 children were expected to be welcomed from September 3rd.
Christian Estrosi, during his traditional visit to an institution, wanted to highlight “the” novelty for the 2013-2014 school year: 204 tablets are being deployed in 17 schools.
This new tool will allow internet navigation, messaging, photo and music viewing, text dictation in word processing, reading a text, educational games, applications, etc.
For the mayor of Nice: “This digital plan aims to facilitate access and introduce ALL schoolchildren to information and communication technologies and to facilitate the process of knowledge transmission through a more active and attractive teaching method in learning spelling, mathematics, geography… The teaching of school teachers is energized by these supports, which promote collaborative work.”
Since 2008, all educational establishments have undergone work costing a total of 57.6 million euros. These municipal efforts will continue until the end of the term, particularly concerning necessary construction and extension programs to cope with the increase in student numbers in some areas and thus the necessary opening of classes.
During the 2012/2013 school year, as every year, renovation, extension, waterproofing, accessibility improvement, compliance of catering facilities and creation of self-service, renovation of premises and sanitary facilities have been carried out.
156 projects, of varying scales, for the maintenance of educational institutions were completed.
The Digital Plan in Nice Schools
New for 2013/2014!
Equipping schools with tablet classes
The city of Nice is taking on the digital challenge in Nice schools. Fully aware of the importance of ICT in educational teachings, the community has set the goal of modernizing tools, installations, and IT networks available to the more than 28,000 schoolchildren.
Since the 2011 school year, in partnership with the National Education, a vast digital development plan 2011/2014 has been implemented. The city of Nice is betting more than ever on the future by providing young generations with access to the technologies they need to prepare for their entry into the professional world.
For the entire period, the city of Nice is investing 800,000 euros, approximately 200,000 euros per year.
This digital plan, conducted as an extension of national directives, aims to facilitate the access and introduction of ALL schoolchildren to information and communication technologies and to facilitate the process of knowledge transmission. These tools aim to offer a more active and attractive pedagogy to students in learning spelling, mathematics, geography… The teaching of school teachers is also energized daily by this support that promotes collaborative work.
Computer Equipment in Nice Schools
At the start of the 2012 school year, the city of Nice had committed to renewing the entire computer equipment in schools. It’s done.
Access to and initiation into computers and the internet are therefore possible in the 154 schools in Nice.
The principals of these schools also have very recent computer stations as they were all renewed in 2010.
All the BCD (Library Documentation Centers) are equipped with a station with an internet connection.
Also equipped with Internet-connected computer stations are:
– The administrative offices of the school groups that have them;
– The computer rooms of elementary schools (10 to 15 stations);
– The nurses working in the educational institutions (30 stations) as well as the school psychologists (18 stations);
– Municipal staff working in schools.
The school computer park includes 2,550 fixed computers.
Interactive Whiteboards
The development of new technologies involves the development of Interactive Whiteboards (IWBs) which aim to eventually replace the traditional chalk or erasable pencil board.
This digital tool rethinks teaching by offering interfaces, software, and applications for more modern use and more aligned with educational goals. The IWB is a digital video projection system that combines the advantages of a touch screen and video.
Currently, 45 IWBs are installed in Nice schools. 20 were installed in 2010 by the Academic Directorate 06. For 2011 and 2012, the city of Nice committed to financing and installing 25 more IWBs.
Thus, to date, more than 40 schools benefit from this innovative digital tool.
During the 2013-2014 school year, 17 schools will be beneficiaries of IWBs:
Nursery schools La Bornala, Nikaïa, Les Lauriers Roses, elementary schools Auber, du Château, Saint Sylvestre 2, Darsonval, Aire Saint Michel, Bischoffsheim 1 and 2, Rosalinde Rancher 2, du Port, Saint Charles, Arènes de Cimiez, Les Acacias, De Ginestière, Baumettes 1.
The unit cost of an IWB and its peripherals is about 2,000 €. In three years, the city has invested 90,000 euros to fund the purchase and provision of IWBs.
Thus, 62 IWBs will be operational and used in the public primary schools of Nice with 42 funded by the city and 20 funded by the Academic Directorate.
Mobile Classes in Nice
The mobile class is a tool designed to meet the daily needs of teachers and students. Presented as a piece of furniture equipped with twelve laptops connected to the internet, it complements the computer room.
Its educational advantages are significant: it is the information that moves towards the students and not the opposite. It allows more interactivity than in a classic room and the sharing of information and work with other classes.
Currently, there are 21 in Nice in 10 school groups (252 laptops).
Given technological advances, it has now been decided to equip schools with Tablet Classes rather than mobile classes.
Tablet Classes
From this school year, the city of Nice has chosen to equip many schools with “Tablet Classes.”
During the 2013/2014 school year, 17 classes from 17 schools (204 tablets) will benefit from this new technology, including the Saint Philippe school.
Each “Tablet Class” is composed of a batch of 12 tablets with peripherals (protective shells, preformatted applications, etc.) and a projector that will allow the teacher to use the interfaces offered by these tools.
The unit cost of a “Tablet Class” (including peripherals) is about 6,000 €. Hence, a little over 100,000 € has been engaged this year to equip schools with this tool.
How does it work?
A tablet is a touchscreen.
On the tablet, software called “applications” is installed. These applications are downloadable and comply with the educational content defined by the Academic Directorate 06.
The tablet has several functionalities: internet navigation, messaging, viewing photos and music… It allows numerous uses.
It presents many advantages compared to a laptop:
– Very easy and intuitive to use
– Takes up very little space on the desk and in the classroom
– Everything is integrated (microphone, camera, photo device, mouse, keyboard)
– Less maintenance than computers
The schools to be equipped during 2013/2014:
Elementary Schools Saint Philippe, Port, Saint Roch 1, Saint Exupéry, Arènes de Cimiez, nursery Bellanda, Jean Macé 1 and 2, Jean-Marie Hyvert, Rothschild 1 and 2, Jules Ferry, Thérèse Roméo 1 and 2, nursery and elementary Auber, Bois de Boulogne.
Besides the equipment of digital and IT tools, the city of Nice improves the computer network in schools by enhancing IT cabling, connecting schools to fiber optics, restructuring IT connections…
