Well, for all you techies, I actually did read the article and the subsequent comments. They don't seem to support the claims of cost savings or relatively few problems. So, definitely something to consider. Celine has also been looking into leasing PC's as an option. More on this later.
Thanks to everyone who attended last night!
Kathy
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
NComputing Info
I was doing some searching on the internet and the nComputing website. Following is some info that is encouraging:
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Infrastructure/NComputing-Spreads-IO-Wealth/
http://weblog.infoworld.com/sustainableit/archives/2008/02/ncomputing_gree.html
In the above article/blog, they reference how the L230 has USB memory device support. This looks like a good solution that is used by many schools. I think the only important thing to understand with this is the Microsoft licensing requirements we would be held to.
Chris
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Infrastructure/NComputing-Spreads-IO-Wealth/
http://weblog.infoworld.com/sustainableit/archives/2008/02/ncomputing_gree.html
In the above article/blog, they reference how the L230 has USB memory device support. This looks like a good solution that is used by many schools. I think the only important thing to understand with this is the Microsoft licensing requirements we would be held to.
Chris
Monday, March 24, 2008
All Saints Technology Committee
3/10/2008 Meeting
Attendees:
Kara Waterman
Hank Caruso
Kathy Thompson
Pam Fox
Steve Diller
St. Monica School visit
Kara, Hank, and Kathy visited St. Monica School and reported the
following:
- St. Monica uses Interwrite Learning tablets, a wireless tablet used by teachers in the classroom to allow them mobility around the classroom.
Reported cost of these is $480, but the lowest price Hank has found is $520.
- St. Monica does not use Smartboards.
- They have a lab with 56 PC's, and have 6 mobile labs with 15 laptops per.
- All teachers have desktop PCs.
- They have a research room with 8 PC's, which are video editing stations (faster, bigger hard drives, etc.)
- All PC's are from Dell. They pay ~$37K for a 3 year lease for all ~100 machines. As machines are upgraded, they trickle down the older machines from labs to teachers to classrooms.
- Kindergarten through 2nd grade use 42" flat screens instead of projection.
- They have 3 computer teachers, 1 full time and 2 part time.
- They also use a mobile cart/package of writers (keyboarding, etc.).
The cost of these is ~$6K for the cart and #? of writers.
- They are testing an iPod program using the iPod Shuffle - Spanish lessons, audio books.
- They are moving their videos to ISO files and putting them on a master server.
Pam attended a technology conference at Fort Worth Christian School.
The conference leader is available to attend one of our meetings.
Alternatives to Smartboard were discussed.
- Mimio - uses sensor array on each end of a regular white board.
- Polyvision - generic version of Smartboard. Less expensive.
It was suggested that we look at www.futurekids.org to investigate grants.
Kathy passed out an example of a Technology Assessment from Jesuit.
Kathy requested a list of inventory and licenses that we currently have from Pam.
The Diocese has a revised curriculum available on their website:
http://cso-dallas.org/instruction.htm.
Other good websites:
SBEC - http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/SBECOnline/default.asp
TEKS - http://www.tea.state.tx.us/teks/
ISTE - http://www.iste.org/
Pam agreed to supply curriculum guidelines at next meeting.
Please check the ASCS Technology Committee Blog for latest meeting notes and info. Hank can set up access if you don't already have it.
Address: http://ascstechcom.blogspot.com/.
Next meetings April 21 and May 19, 6:00PM.
3/10/2008 Meeting
Attendees:
Kara Waterman
Hank Caruso
Kathy Thompson
Pam Fox
Steve Diller
St. Monica School visit
Kara, Hank, and Kathy visited St. Monica School and reported the
following:
- St. Monica uses Interwrite Learning tablets, a wireless tablet used by teachers in the classroom to allow them mobility around the classroom.
Reported cost of these is $480, but the lowest price Hank has found is $520.
- St. Monica does not use Smartboards.
- They have a lab with 56 PC's, and have 6 mobile labs with 15 laptops per.
- All teachers have desktop PCs.
- They have a research room with 8 PC's, which are video editing stations (faster, bigger hard drives, etc.)
- All PC's are from Dell. They pay ~$37K for a 3 year lease for all ~100 machines. As machines are upgraded, they trickle down the older machines from labs to teachers to classrooms.
- Kindergarten through 2nd grade use 42" flat screens instead of projection.
- They have 3 computer teachers, 1 full time and 2 part time.
- They also use a mobile cart/package of writers (keyboarding, etc.).
The cost of these is ~$6K for the cart and #? of writers.
- They are testing an iPod program using the iPod Shuffle - Spanish lessons, audio books.
- They are moving their videos to ISO files and putting them on a master server.
Pam attended a technology conference at Fort Worth Christian School.
The conference leader is available to attend one of our meetings.
Alternatives to Smartboard were discussed.
- Mimio - uses sensor array on each end of a regular white board.
- Polyvision - generic version of Smartboard. Less expensive.
It was suggested that we look at www.futurekids.org to investigate grants.
Kathy passed out an example of a Technology Assessment from Jesuit.
Kathy requested a list of inventory and licenses that we currently have from Pam.
The Diocese has a revised curriculum available on their website:
http://cso-dallas.org/instruction.htm.
Other good websites:
SBEC - http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/SBECOnline/default.asp
TEKS - http://www.tea.state.tx.us/teks/
ISTE - http://www.iste.org/
Pam agreed to supply curriculum guidelines at next meeting.
Please check the ASCS Technology Committee Blog for latest meeting notes and info. Hank can set up access if you don't already have it.
Address: http://ascstechcom.blogspot.com/.
Next meetings April 21 and May 19, 6:00PM.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Technology Committee Meeting Munutes - 25 Feb 2008
Minutes from Meeting: 2/25/08
I. Opening prayer and introductions of neww members: Angela Bowman QZBowman@tx.rr.com
Celine Fynes Celine.Fynes@ps.net
II.Mike Moline explained Star Chart results
III. Dan gave details of his tour of Jesuit: Steve forwarded his results from the visit.
Jesuit expectations for incoming freshman-
navigation of Web, use of MS word, excel(secondary),.
Utilize "moodle" as communications suite
Utilize "Razor's Edge" for school admin.(similar to Renweb)
2 dedicated computer labs with 50 computers each
Library with multiple computer stations and a total of 12 computers for student use(first come first served)
2 full-time technology people:
1 non-teacher(support and service calls)
1 teacher who teaches only 1 math class
1 part-time tech. support as well
*Committee to obatin resumes on tech. positions- ???Needs immediate attention
IV. Rough draft of initial objectives presented and copies disseminated. This will be ongoing.
Multiple discussions about curriculum and professional development needs. Continual ssessment.
Recommend steering Committee as separate entity for curiiculum needs.
V. St Monica visit : Hank, Kara, Kathy scheduled 2/29/08 9:30 am
Ursuline visit: Steve, Angela,Kathy: before 3/10/08 TBD
Closing:
Past agendas and minutes to be forwarded to new members to bring them up to speed.
Thankyou to all who attended.
If I missed anything, please forward it on to all memebers.
Please update your contacts list with the new members.
Kathy
I. Opening prayer and introductions of neww members: Angela Bowman QZBowman@tx.rr.com
Celine Fynes Celine.Fynes@ps.net
II.Mike Moline explained Star Chart results
III. Dan gave details of his tour of Jesuit: Steve forwarded his results from the visit.
Jesuit expectations for incoming freshman-
navigation of Web, use of MS word, excel(secondary),.
Utilize "moodle" as communications suite
Utilize "Razor's Edge" for school admin.(similar to Renweb)
2 dedicated computer labs with 50 computers each
Library with multiple computer stations and a total of 12 computers for student use(first come first served)
2 full-time technology people:
1 non-teacher(support and service calls)
1 teacher who teaches only 1 math class
1 part-time tech. support as well
*Committee to obatin resumes on tech. positions- ???Needs immediate attention
IV. Rough draft of initial objectives presented and copies disseminated. This will be ongoing.
Multiple discussions about curriculum and professional development needs. Continual ssessment.
Recommend steering Committee as separate entity for curiiculum needs.
V. St Monica visit : Hank, Kara, Kathy scheduled 2/29/08 9:30 am
Ursuline visit: Steve, Angela,Kathy: before 3/10/08 TBD
Closing:
Past agendas and minutes to be forwarded to new members to bring them up to speed.
Thankyou to all who attended.
If I missed anything, please forward it on to all memebers.
Please update your contacts list with the new members.
Kathy
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Hi all,
Below are the notes I took at last Monday's meeting. Please feel free to respond with any additions or corrections.
Thanks,
Steve
Attendees:
Kathy Thompson, Dan Lemcke, Sid Steele, Mike Moline, Carol Mayo, Pam Fox, Steve Diller
Statewide public school STAR chart results summary for '06'-07 were distributed by Carol.
School visit plan:
- Ursuline - Kathy and Steve. Kathy to set up with Ursuline for week of 1/28.
- St. Monica - Kathy and Hank.
- Jesuit - Dan and Steve. Steve to set up time for week of 1/28.
- JP II - Dan and Jean Powers (? - SAC member)
- UTD - Decision was made not to visit.
- Irving schools - Steve and Carol
- All visits to be done by 2/19.
IT support personnel
- Will need to have a support person on staff. This is part of the objective/plan.
- St. Rita, St. Monica, St. Mark, St. Thomas Aquinas, PoP all have full time support personnel.
- St. Pius X - teacher is assigned to support.
Inventory list
- All purchased systems are accounted for.
- Current infrastructure:
- CAT5/6 wiring, no fiber
- 24-port, 10/100 Mbps stackable switches
- 124 of 144 ports are in use (10 unused ports in each room)
- IBM server with SonicWALL (standalone)
- Dan, Sid, Mike can generate an immediate "to buy" list for February grant money
Teacher Assessment
- Scheduled for Feb. 12
- 1 week to compile results
- Review results at Feb. 25 meeting
Schedule for Plan completion
- Need to have completed by June
- First goals are computer lab and getting teachers up and running on the currently owned technology tools
- Mike advised the following:
- Region 10 looks for the plan to call for ~10% of budget to go to teacher professional development
- Plan should also include a plan for proper evaluation of progress toward goals
- Self-evaluation is okay for year 1, but year 2 and beyond should include administrative level evaluation of teacher skills
- Plan should include documentation of tech integration
- Teacher instruction/training:
- Free instruction is available (from Region 10, diocese, other)
- Training cost is mainly associated with substitute teachers needed to free up training time
- Incentives or perks are a good idea to encourage teacher training/skill advancement (laptop, digital camera, etc.)
Below are the notes I took at last Monday's meeting. Please feel free to respond with any additions or corrections.
Thanks,
Steve
Attendees:
Kathy Thompson, Dan Lemcke, Sid Steele, Mike Moline, Carol Mayo, Pam Fox, Steve Diller
Statewide public school STAR chart results summary for '06'-07 were distributed by Carol.
School visit plan:
- Ursuline - Kathy and Steve. Kathy to set up with Ursuline for week of 1/28.
- St. Monica - Kathy and Hank.
- Jesuit - Dan and Steve. Steve to set up time for week of 1/28.
- JP II - Dan and Jean Powers (? - SAC member)
- UTD - Decision was made not to visit.
- Irving schools - Steve and Carol
- All visits to be done by 2/19.
IT support personnel
- Will need to have a support person on staff. This is part of the objective/plan.
- St. Rita, St. Monica, St. Mark, St. Thomas Aquinas, PoP all have full time support personnel.
- St. Pius X - teacher is assigned to support.
Inventory list
- All purchased systems are accounted for.
- Current infrastructure:
- CAT5/6 wiring, no fiber
- 24-port, 10/100 Mbps stackable switches
- 124 of 144 ports are in use (10 unused ports in each room)
- IBM server with SonicWALL (standalone)
- Dan, Sid, Mike can generate an immediate "to buy" list for February grant money
Teacher Assessment
- Scheduled for Feb. 12
- 1 week to compile results
- Review results at Feb. 25 meeting
Schedule for Plan completion
- Need to have completed by June
- First goals are computer lab and getting teachers up and running on the currently owned technology tools
- Mike advised the following:
- Region 10 looks for the plan to call for ~10% of budget to go to teacher professional development
- Plan should also include a plan for proper evaluation of progress toward goals
- Self-evaluation is okay for year 1, but year 2 and beyond should include administrative level evaluation of teacher skills
- Plan should include documentation of tech integration
- Teacher instruction/training:
- Free instruction is available (from Region 10, diocese, other)
- Training cost is mainly associated with substitute teachers needed to free up training time
- Incentives or perks are a good idea to encourage teacher training/skill advancement (laptop, digital camera, etc.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)