This Tech Update consist of information on the following topics:
- Network Slowdown: External Dedicated lines being installed
- Digital Citizenship: Content Filtering
- G-Drive Clean-up: Server folders getting full
- Equipment Care: Please monitor use of equipment and report needed repairs immediately to the tech department so we can get history of the damage
- 1 to 1 laptop program: A Student Centered educational initiative. Learn more about this initiate and the strategies for addressing our growing need for computer access in ES, MS and HS are given.
- Teacher Technology Integration Needs: What would you like us to look into at JOSTI, PowerSchool University and Atlas Curriculum Mapping Education Center this summer.
- AUP: Editing our Appropriate Use Policy. Your suggestions welcome
- Tech Tips: Sites and Tools to check out
For more information on these topics visit our Tech Update Blog May entry at http://wbaistechupdate.blogspot.com/ or read below. Please let me know if there is a topic you would like me to address in a future Tech Update.
Network Slowdown: Once we identified our lack of dedicated lines we began researching the possible effect this was having on our network. While we are not 100% sure dedicated lines will solve our slowdown it is a step to better handle our increase network use. We will also be able to better monitor our Internet traffic. We are now waiting for installers to connect us to the dedicated lines so we can configure the new external IP addresses and begin testing connection speed. This is scheduled to begin on Thursday May 15th. we will see. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
Digital Citizenship: Check out our upcoming newsletter article focusing on content filtering. Please remind all users of "Appropriate Use" anytime you have an activity using digital tools. Use the "LARK" acronym and make sure behaviors are Legal, Appropriate, Responsible and Kind. For more details on "LARK" visit this url http://docs.google.com/View?docID=ddkhkgjs_367f2nnr6cv&revision=_latest
G-Drive Cleanup reminder: Our school data server ("G" drive) is getting overloaded. Although student folders are limited to 100 MB and staff folders are limited to 200 MB there is extensive use of G\classes and G\WBAIS. These two folders are getting too full! This is common for this time of year. However we need to do some spring cleaning and make space for current files. Some files are a few year's old. Instructions on how to do so have already been sent out. This may also be a good opportunity for you to do some spring cleaning of your teacher folder also.
Equipment Care: As the end of the year approaches equipment care and security becomes a concern to the technology department. Please make sure you have a current inventory of all your digital tools and that they are in working order. We don't want any surprises of missing or damaged items at the end of the school year.
1 to 1 laptop Project: The 1 to 1 laptop project is becoming a school wide initiative with a focusing on Digital Literacy, Digital Citizenship and enhancing learning opportunities that multimedia and collaborative communication bring about. It is a student centered educational program design to use digital tools in the learning environment while meeting our growing demand for student access to computers. Students are learning to receive, organize, produce, communicate and submit course materials, learning tools and school assignments digitally. If you have any constructive suggestion for this initiative feel free to email them to me. For more details on the 1 to 1 laptop visit the Fequently Asked Question page at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddkhkgjs_360g29p3svr statements on laptops in the high school and elementary school can be found near the end of the document. Also you can view my notes on this laptop initiative at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddkhkgjs_414gfd4hmds This is a work in progress so information may be added and changed.
Teacher Technology Integration Needs: Kim, Susie and I will be attending JOSTI, PowerSchool University and The Curriculum Mapping Learning Center respectively this summer. What would you like us to look into for you. Email us any Technology Integration topics, PowerSchool grade book and report topics and curriculum mapping topics for which you would like information or training.
Appropriate Use Policy: I will be editing our schools AUP to include statements on Cyber bullying, computer use off campus that effects our learning program and the use of handhelds, cell phones, ipods, iTouch and other emerging digital tools at school. As our students continue to explore the growing number of digital tools it is important we address the ways they are use in the educational environment. Feel free to let me know of other hot topics that may need to be address in our AUP revision. My working draft can be viewed at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddkhkgjs_413vvd883g4
Tech Tips: This tip comes from Atomic Learning.
One of the common problems with many computers is unnecessary and unwanted applications and inefficient file storage. With a few simple steps, as shown in the following tutorials, you can create valuable space on your computer.
Uninstalling Unwanted Applications
http://movies.atomiclearning.com/k12/almovie?key=25015
Using Windows® Disc Cleanup
http://movies.atomiclearning.com/k12/almovie?key=25016
Keep Computing!
Steve
Your Friendly IT Guy,
Steven Roberts
Technology Coordinator
Walworth Barbour American International School
"The man who can make hard things easy is the educator."
by ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~
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