Does the educational system that you are affiliated with offer a shared storage area on the network for students or faculty? Do you find this beneficial?
Yes, we have shared network drives for all of our staff, however I do not feel that we use them appropriately. We do not provide network storage for students at this time due to the types of computers we deploy and their intended uses, however if we were a traditional school we would have network storage for all users and shared drives as needed.
I see shared storage as essential to efficient data handling, Paired with VPN access keeping data within the network where it can be backed up, secured, and handled by all who need it is a great way to utilize a network. Microsoft's Sharepoint is also another way to move documents beyond folders and automate work flow.
What type of Email System does your educational system implement? Do you use this mail system at school? From home?
The LIU uses Microsoft Exchange 2007 as our email system. In the office/network we use either Microsoft Outlook or the web based Outlook Web Access. We expect to upgrade to Exchange 2010 within the 2010 - 2011 SY.
Exchange is a powerful solution, with email, calendering, contacts,and task tracking. Ours works with our Blackberry Enterprise Server, as well as the slate of smart phones available.
I personally have used Google Apps for Ed, Zimbra, Horde, and have always found Exchange to be head and shoulders above the rest, but its cost is exponentially higher than many other systems.
Overall, from this chapter, the most important thing that I learned is the relationships between user management is multi-faceted. Implementing the tools of a robust network requires a strong set of rules, training, and a well thought out implementation. The biggest takeaway may come from the reflection of the principles of how the author ties AUP's to practices, to overall network management and file backup. All of these important elements seem separate in the scheme of things, but serve as the spokes on a wheel tying the users to the hub.
Ty Yost
Monday, November 1, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Unit 1 - Technology Coordinator Challenges
How you could be a successful technology leader? What challenges might you come across in your position?
The book identifies strong interpersonal skills, problem solving ability, leadership and planning skills as key to the role. As I read some of my classmates responses I feel lucky to know the answer to this question to me personally. My job at the LIU is the director of our technology department. As I summed up in class, I really am a problem solver at the root of my job. The ability to solve problems, while considering the big picture is probably the most valuable asset I possess that carries me day to day.
Many of the other posts mentioned technical skill as a concern. To me this is my number one concern as well, and to compensate I rely on a small team of talented individuals to take care of the heavy lifting. I don't think that anyone person can expect to fill all of the districts technology needs effectively, regardless how small the district is. I think it is important to know what you can do, and focus on doing those things to the best of your ability. Being able to create relationships, and lead people in a unified direction, using a common language and vision really helps make the job easier in the long run. My goal has alway to be as responsive as possible to my stakeholders needs, and to always show progress on projects, no matter how small it appears. I work hard to build a core team of talent and make sure that we can work effectively. Every successful technology leader I have met has built a similar support structure, whether it uses technology staff, teacher tech assistants, technology coaches, or even students.
The prevalence of technology in every day life has led to many misconceptions on the parts of administrators, teachers, and the community. The reality of laws involving minor students, CIPA, FERPA, E-rate requirements, make this a treacherous place to be in charge of from time to time. Handling important data, records, images, and video are roles not to be taken lightly. The expectation is that computers should be fast, reliable, and work nearly 100% of the time. People expect new software, equipment, and the latest gadgets under the guise of productivity and enhancing the classroom environment. There is a fine balance between reality of budgets, long term planning, time to complete projects, priority of work, and what actually can be done.
With all that said, I wouldn't change what I do for anything, as it is rewarding, and every evolving. I try to live by a quote from Dirty Harry in Magnum Force -
The book identifies strong interpersonal skills, problem solving ability, leadership and planning skills as key to the role. As I read some of my classmates responses I feel lucky to know the answer to this question to me personally. My job at the LIU is the director of our technology department. As I summed up in class, I really am a problem solver at the root of my job. The ability to solve problems, while considering the big picture is probably the most valuable asset I possess that carries me day to day.
Many of the other posts mentioned technical skill as a concern. To me this is my number one concern as well, and to compensate I rely on a small team of talented individuals to take care of the heavy lifting. I don't think that anyone person can expect to fill all of the districts technology needs effectively, regardless how small the district is. I think it is important to know what you can do, and focus on doing those things to the best of your ability. Being able to create relationships, and lead people in a unified direction, using a common language and vision really helps make the job easier in the long run. My goal has alway to be as responsive as possible to my stakeholders needs, and to always show progress on projects, no matter how small it appears. I work hard to build a core team of talent and make sure that we can work effectively. Every successful technology leader I have met has built a similar support structure, whether it uses technology staff, teacher tech assistants, technology coaches, or even students.
The prevalence of technology in every day life has led to many misconceptions on the parts of administrators, teachers, and the community. The reality of laws involving minor students, CIPA, FERPA, E-rate requirements, make this a treacherous place to be in charge of from time to time. Handling important data, records, images, and video are roles not to be taken lightly. The expectation is that computers should be fast, reliable, and work nearly 100% of the time. People expect new software, equipment, and the latest gadgets under the guise of productivity and enhancing the classroom environment. There is a fine balance between reality of budgets, long term planning, time to complete projects, priority of work, and what actually can be done.
With all that said, I wouldn't change what I do for anything, as it is rewarding, and every evolving. I try to live by a quote from Dirty Harry in Magnum Force -
Monday, September 20, 2010
Week 2 - Software Selection
Does the current district/educational institute that you work for use Software Selection Forms to gather information before purchasing software?
No, in fact I have not seen a software selection form in several years. Software is discretionary purchases, like textbooks, and is not subject to bidding requirements in most schools. While I see value in having these selection forms there are several reasons I have not seen them in use lately:
IDEA and Title Funding - Funding sources have changed from software being treated like books and multimedia. Specific titles/services like Compass, Study Island, STAR, AR, Aimsweb, IEP Writer are specific to district goals and funded from alternative finding sources other than building budgets or the technology department. This allows the administrative team to find the best "package" to meet their needs.
Web 2.0 - Web 2.0 sites have replaces the large library of media that typical classrooms would have had to keep on hand, and supplements to texts and materials are only getting better. The need to own a few reading programs and math games for elementary classrooms is non-existent with internet connected computers.
Mainstream Software -Do we really need a form to tell us an office suite is a good idea? MS Office, Adobe's Creative Suite, iLife, have become so commonplace we expect computers to have them on them as soon as we login.
Open Source Software - Finally, the white elephant, opens source software. For free you can have software that will word process, create databases, edit photos, create artwork, not to mention Google's Earth, Sketchup, Chrome and a ton of other open source apps to do nearly everything under the sun. Recently I was checking out an opensource Student Information System to replace our system at our Alternative Learning Center. Taking cost out of the equation opens lots of doors in budget strapped schools.
Ty
No, in fact I have not seen a software selection form in several years. Software is discretionary purchases, like textbooks, and is not subject to bidding requirements in most schools. While I see value in having these selection forms there are several reasons I have not seen them in use lately:
IDEA and Title Funding - Funding sources have changed from software being treated like books and multimedia. Specific titles/services like Compass, Study Island, STAR, AR, Aimsweb, IEP Writer are specific to district goals and funded from alternative finding sources other than building budgets or the technology department. This allows the administrative team to find the best "package" to meet their needs.
Web 2.0 - Web 2.0 sites have replaces the large library of media that typical classrooms would have had to keep on hand, and supplements to texts and materials are only getting better. The need to own a few reading programs and math games for elementary classrooms is non-existent with internet connected computers.
Mainstream Software -Do we really need a form to tell us an office suite is a good idea? MS Office, Adobe's Creative Suite, iLife, have become so commonplace we expect computers to have them on them as soon as we login.
Open Source Software - Finally, the white elephant, opens source software. For free you can have software that will word process, create databases, edit photos, create artwork, not to mention Google's Earth, Sketchup, Chrome and a ton of other open source apps to do nearly everything under the sun. Recently I was checking out an opensource Student Information System to replace our system at our Alternative Learning Center. Taking cost out of the equation opens lots of doors in budget strapped schools.
Ty
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Monday, June 1, 2009
Great Guide
I am a huge fan of Richard Bryne's Free Tech for Teachers Blog, where he reviews and post about several great Web 2.0 tools every week.
He just created a guide, 12 Essentials for Technology Integration, where he does a great job summarizing the top 12 free tools. He also uses Yudu, an cool Web 2.0 publishing tool to showcase the Top Twelve. His top 12 are Google Docs, Zoho Show, Animoto, Edublogs, Drop.io, Weebly, Wikispaces, VoiceThread, Ediscio, Snag Films, Schooltube, and dot Sub.
Take a few minutes and read through the guide, it is also downloadable or printable is is creative commons licensed so you can distribute it to friends who may find it useful. If you find it useful I suggest you subscribe to Richards Blog, it is a great source of cutting edge free web 2.0 tools!
He just created a guide, 12 Essentials for Technology Integration, where he does a great job summarizing the top 12 free tools. He also uses Yudu, an cool Web 2.0 publishing tool to showcase the Top Twelve. His top 12 are Google Docs, Zoho Show, Animoto, Edublogs, Drop.io, Weebly, Wikispaces, VoiceThread, Ediscio, Snag Films, Schooltube, and dot Sub.
Take a few minutes and read through the guide, it is also downloadable or printable is is creative commons licensed so you can distribute it to friends who may find it useful. If you find it useful I suggest you subscribe to Richards Blog, it is a great source of cutting edge free web 2.0 tools!
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