Information Strategies Center

Hisar School Information Strategies Center conducts its activities with the aim of structuring a sustainable, manageable, and dynamic digital infrastructure and ecosystem with the ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions and needs within the integrity of K12, fostering a digital culture and achieving the digital transformation.

The circumstances we are facing require education to be planned and carried out in a multi-channel approach. In compliance with the mission and principles of the school, Hisar Schools prioritize approaches that are adaptable to any change and challenging conditions, allowing a flexible and communicative structure, without compromising scientific approaches. These priorities rely on planning and using face-to-face, online, synchronous, and asynchronous learning tools, and strategies holistically in order to deliver superior learning experiences across all academic processes.

To achieve its goals, the Information Strategies Center carries out its activities in compliance with the international standards based on viable deployment, continuity, and sustainability strategies. The roles of students and teachers have been identified and learning environments have been structured pursuant to the educational technologies standards of the ISTE International Society for Technology in Education, the most reputable organization in the field.

You can reach the “Support” website of the Information Strategies Center via the link below.

Our Team

Information Strategies Center Members
Dilara Vardar	Coordinator
Onur Akbudak	Member
Başak Başman	Member
Gökçe B. Yılmaz Aslan	Member
Jose Luis Perez Cabello	Member
Mustafa Bozkurt	Member
Sedat Yalçın	Member
Tuğçe Özer	Member
Banu Aldemir	Member
Merve Vural	Member
Sezin Fins	Member

Information Strategies Policy

The Hisar School Information Strategies Policy is a document that reflects our perspective on the implementation of education through a multi-channel approach and the integration of technology into educational environments. It outlines the relevant processes and defines the roles and responsibilities of teachers, students, and parents. This document is regularly developed and updated as a reference point to ensure that the digital transformation process is trackable, manageable, and sustainable.

Information Strategies Policy

The Hisar School Information Strategies Policy includes the following subheadings:

Sustainability and Standards
Digital Citizenship, Ethics, and Awareness
1:1 iPad & BYOD Programs
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC)
HyFlex Course Design Strategies
Information Infrastructure
Roles and Responsibilities
Technology Roadmap
Digital Competencies
Open Source Approach
Technical Support

Sustainability and Standards

BSM operates with an approach that takes into account international educational technology policies and standards, in line with the standards set by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).

ISTE Standards for Educators	ISTE Standards for Students
Learner	Empowered Learner
Leader	Digital Citizen
Digital Citizen	Knowledge Constructor
Collaborator	Innovative Designer
Designer	Computational Thinker
Facilitator	Creative Communicator
Analyst	Global Collaborator

	ISTE EDUCATOR STANDARDS
Strong Professional	Learners Educators use technology to facilitate student learning and continuously develop themselves in this regard.
	Leader Educators explore and utilize leadership opportunities to ensure students’ active and successful participation, and to improve teaching and learning.
	Digital Citizen Educators encourage students to contribute positively to the digital world and promote digital ethics and responsibility.
Learning Catalyst	Collaborative Educators work collaboratively with both their colleagues and students to explore, share resources and ideas, and develop solutions to problems together.
	Designer Educators design learning activities and environments that are original, flexible, and learner-centered, taking into account students’ differences.
	Facilitator Educators support learning environments with technology to help students achieve the student standards set by the ISTE standards.
	Analyst Educators consider, understand, and use data from students to ensure they achieve their learning goals.

* ISTE Standards for Educators | ISTE.” https://www.iste.org/standards/for-educators. Accessed 16 Jun. 2020.
** Standards for Educators | ISTE.” https://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards-for-students. Accessed 16 Jun. 2021.

Information Technology Infrastructure

Our school’s IT infrastructure is designed to support both in-school and extracurricular learning activities, ensuring quick access to the right tools and resources, and enabling learning to continue independently of time and location.

Hisar School provides a 1 GB symmetric internet connection, 2 backup symmetric lines of 300 MB each, and a Cisco network infrastructure, allowing users to utilize learning and content management tools such as Google Workspace, MS Teams, Cisco WebEx, and accessible cloud and video conferencing systems, all powered by Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Cisco products. Digital tools and platforms that support both in-person and online/synchronous and asynchronous activities, tailored to the needs of grade levels and subjects, are integrated into our technical infrastructure and educational system.

Technical Infrastructure

Technical Infrastructure: 2023 – 2024
Accessible Cloud Systems	Google Workspace services are used for students’ and teachers’ file and email access. Each student and teacher has unlimited email and storage space. Students and teachers use the Google Workspace platform to easily communicate, access resources, and submit assignments and projects.
Learning Management System	Learning Management Systems (LMS) provide teachers with an online platform to create content, deliver it to students, track student engagement, and assess student performance. Hisar Schools uses Google Workspace: Google Classroom as the content management system for preschool, elementary, middle school, and high school levels, ensuring that lesson materials and content are regularly shared with students.
MacBook Computers	At Hisar School, all teachers use MacBook computers, which are replaced every 5 years with new ones.
Video Conferencing Methods	The video conferencing method is a powerful and effective tool for staying connected with students and continuing the academic process in any situation. Hisar School uses Google Workspace: Google Meet for online classes during the remote learning process at the K12 level.
Smart Board Systems	All classrooms are equipped with Promethean Titanium ActiveBoard 75″ or 86″ Interactive Whiteboard systems and camera + audio systems that allow broadcasting from the classrooms.

Communication Channels

Our digital communication channels are shared in the table below.

Channels	Targets	Definitions
E-mail (name.surname @hisarschool.k12.tr)	Academic Staff Student Parents	It is used as the primary communication tool, and the school email account should be checked regularly.
Google Workspace	Academic Staff Student	GMail, Google Classroom, Google Calendar, Google Meet, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms, and Jamboard applications are frequently used by teachers and students.
Content Management System (CMS)	Academic Staff Student	Course materials and content are regularly shared through Google Classroom.
Video Conferencing System	Academic Staff Student	Online classes, meetings, and conferences are conducted through Google Meet.
HisarNet Teacher Portal	Academic Staff	Hisar School Teacher Information System https://hisarnet.hisarschool.k12.tr/LogIn.aspx
HisarNet Student Portal	Student	Hisar School Student Information System https://smart.hisarschool.k12.tr/LogIn.aspx
HisarNet Parents Portal	Parents	Hisar School Parent Information System http://parents.hisarschool.k12.tr/
Support Web Site	General Access	Up-to-date information, educational videos, and documents are shared regarding the integration of technology into educational environments. https://destek.hisarschool.k12.tr/
Hisar School Web-site	General Access	www.hisarschool.k12.tr

Software Policy

Ensuring the effective execution of academic processes requires a reliable and sustainable digital ecosystem aligned with international standards. In this context, it is essential that the software to be integrated into the technical infrastructure meets the following criteria:

Compliance with ISTE / Common Sense Standards
Compliance with KVKK (Personal Data Protection Law) processes
Compatibility with the school’s technical infrastructure and systems
Digital Sustainability
Determination of the software’s usage objectives
Licensing policies applied by the software for educational institutions
Ensuring the continuity of the software at the K12 level
Collaboration of software serving similar purposes

At the end of each academic year, BSM conducts a Technology Roadmap study for the following academic year, taking into account the criteria mentioned above and supporting HyFlex Course Design Strategies. Applications published by international organizations such as ISTE and Common Sense are prioritized for evaluation, and distribution is made according to the following categories:

Operational
Instructional
Content
Productivity
Assessment

1:1 iPad & BYOD

Since 2011 in middle and high school, and since 2021 in elementary school, the 1:1 iPad & BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) programs have directly supported the educational process. Our goal is to ensure the effective implementation of our academic program across all platforms by using the right technologies.

When planning our school’s information technology strategies, we consider the readiness levels of our students and feedback from parents. Based on this, the devices recommended for student use are MacBook / iPad.

Since the 2011 – 2012 academic year:

In middle school, students bring their own iPads to school and use them in educational settings.
In high school, the BYOD Program allows each student to bring their own computer to school and use it in educational environments.

Starting from the 2021 – 2022 academic year, in addition to the 1:1 iPad and BYOD Programs conducted in middle and high school:

Preschool students use the iPads available in their classrooms during educational activities.
In grades 1, 2, and 3 of elementary school, students use the school’s mobile iPad lab in educational environments.
In grade 4 of elementary school, students bring their own iPads to school and use them in educational settings.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) typically consist of pre-recorded video lectures, readings, assessments, and discussion forums. Most MOOCs are created by universities. Some MOOC content producers include Stanford, MIT, and Harvard. Some MOOC platforms include:

These courses are:

Massive – Enrollment is unlimited and can reach large audiences.
Open – Anyone can enroll, and there is no admission process.
Online – Delivered via the internet.
Courses – Comprising content with defined learning outcomes, duration, and objectives.

At Hisar School, online learning models are utilized as part of the academic process to encourage flexible and extended learning opportunities where learners take responsibility for their own learning. MOOC platforms are used to achieve the following goals for the school community:

Develop lifelong learning skills in learners
Encourage learners to take responsibility for their own learning
Provide flexible learning opportunities independent of time and place
Offer alternative learning opportunities
Adapt to the digitizing world
Foster cultural, international, and interdisciplinary perspectives
Prepare our students for university and future life
Contribute to the professional development of our teachers and staff

To integrate MOOCs into academic processes and achieve the mentioned goals, the following process is carried out:

Technical Integration

Structuring the system in a secure and easily accessible environment
Providing necessary guidance and information about platform use

Academic Integration

Managing the technical process for course selection and assignment
Reviewing and approving the suitability of the provided content

Monitoring and Guidance

Receiving user reports from the MOOC system
Providing necessary guidance and information about the process
Recording certificates of course completion on student transcripts

Since 2022, Hisar School has been collaborating with Coursera in line with the specified process. General information on this topic is outlined in the Hisar High School & Coursera presentation, which we recommend reviewing.

HyFlex Course Design Strategies

HyFlex Course Design Strategies

HyFlex, which allows adaptation to changing conditions and provides a flexible structure, refers to a dynamic process capable of transitioning between models and scenarios (in-person, remote, hybrid). The term is derived from the combination of Hybrid and Flexible.

The Information Strategies Center has conducted a HyFlex Course Design Strategies initiative to make learning strategies naturally embedded in academic processes more visible and to provide the appropriate technical infrastructure, tools, and resources for these strategies. Course designs prepared by our teachers across different levels and subjects have been shared with the school community. The strategies outlined for integrating technology into the curriculum are taken into account, and planning is carried out accordingly.

Understanding by Design (UbD)

At all levels and in all courses at our school, learning design is carried out in accordance with the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework. This process consists of three stages:

Desired Results
Assessment Evidence
Learning Plan

Building Blocks of Learning

The WHERETO framework, used for planning learning experiences and activities during the third stage (learning plan) of the Understanding by Design (UbD) approach, directly aligns with the strategies and approaches referred to as the building blocks of learning.

	Building Blocks of Learning
Instruction and Modeling	Explain the key concepts related to your lesson content, provide foundational knowledge, and give clear instructions.
Communication, Discussion, and Speaking	Create opportunities for students to discuss, reflect on, and express their opinions about texts, videos, current events, and topics specific to your lesson.
Research and Exploration	Create environments that encourage students to research, deeply explore a topic or issue, learn from each other, and share the information they find.
Collaboration and Group Tasks	Group students either online/offline or synchronously/asynchronously, and create opportunities that encourage collaboration and creativity by having them work on shared tasks.
Practice and Review	Provide students with the opportunity to apply, reflect on, and review their knowledge and skills. Engage them in practice and review activities to reinforce their understanding of concepts and help them develop their skills.
Assessment	Evaluate students’ learning through both process- and outcome-focused methods.
Reflection and Metacognitive Skill Development	Encourage students to reflect on their learning. What did they learn? How did they learn? What questions do they have?

*The Building Blocks of an Online Lesson, 17 july 2021, https://catlintucker.com/2020/05/building-blocks-of-an-online-lesson/.

Digital Competencies

As part of the Technology Roadmap, the school community is expected to take responsibility for their own learning and utilize the provided platforms, resources, and applications according to their needs.

Internal School Resources

Policies, reports, and roadmaps
Educational documents and training videos
Support Teacher Portal
Newsletters prepared and published monthly as part of the digital transformation – BSM Newsletter
“Stronger Together” Shares
Stronger Together: Lesson Plans
Stronger Together: Teacher Presentations
BSM Training Request Form
Asynchronous Training – Training Document
Asynchronous Training – Training Video
Synchronous Training – Online or In-person Training
Q&A Sessions
Technical support via support@hisarschool.k12.tr

External Resources

To address various needs regarding the integration of technology into educational environments, the platforms TeacherX and Coursera have been made available for the school community. The goal is to create an educational technology content pool accessible to all teachers and to meet different needs related to educational technologies.

TeacherX Training Content List
Certificates
- Teachers are supported by BSM in obtaining Google Educator Level 1 and Level 2 certifications and completing the Apple Teacher Foundational Skills program.

Fundamentals Training

NEW – What to Expect + Sample Test Questions
Step-by-Step Guide to Registering for Level 1 / 2 Exams
Google Certified Educator Level 1 and Level 2 Exam FAQs
Fundamentals and Advanced Course Outlines
Google Workspace Skills Checklist
Google Educator Level 1 Basic Tasks
Google Educator Level 2 Basic Tasks

“Open Source” Approach

With the establishment of the Information Strategies Center at Hisar School, all digital transformation efforts within the institution are conducted in an integrated structure aligned with international standards. Reports, documents, policies, and roadmaps resulting from these efforts are published openly, making them accessible to all educational institutions, teachers, students, and parents.

To manage the uncertainties of our time and carry out the digital transformation process, you can access the published resources through the links below.

Open Source Approach – Click for useful links.

BSM Newsletters

BSM Newsletters are published monthly to support one another during the digital transformation process and to ensure communication and collaboration within the school community. Addressing a wide range of topics related to digital transformation, the newsletters feature diverse perspectives and suggestions, drawing from national and international reports and research. In addition to contributions from our teachers and staff, the newsletters include experiences of educators from other schools and insights from leading academics in their fields.

Our newsletters are initially shared with our entire academic staff, parents, alumni, board of directors, and board of trustees. Subsequently, they are made available to all educators through an open-source approach, published on support.hisarschool.k12.tr and the school’s website.

Hybrid & Distance Education

Affecting all aspects of life, the Covid-19 outbreak has also started a major transformation in schools, mobilizing educational institutions from almost all corners of the world towards a new education design in line with the 21st-century paradigms. Read more…

Educational Technologies

At Hisar School, technology is an integral part of the education process. Necessary transformations and updates are annually implemented on the curriculum as well as the physical structure in line with the advancing technology.
Read more…

Digital Citizenship, Ethics, and Awareness

At Hisar School, our efforts in the field of digital citizenship have been regularly accredited by Common Sense Education, the leading organization in this area globally, since 2016. Read more…

Artificial Intelligence and Education

As educators, by placing ethical principles at the core of studies on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, we can pave the way for developing effective solutions and recommendations within the context of AI in education. Read more…