We have gone through various stages in our IT/computer set up and are
reaching a point where we must do something about it but, of course, don't
have the real funds to do what we would like to do.
We had a laptop program but have phased that out as our laptops became
increasingly antiquated and largely stopped working.
Most of our middle and upper school students have their own laptops, so we
are thinking about how we can go to a 1 on 1 model, using the kids' own
laptops and providing them only for those students for whom this would be a
financial hardship.
We have computers in a computer lab in the upper school building, with
computers that frequently break down. We also have them in the library, in
varying stages of disrepair. And a group in the Children's School building,
all of which are working at this point but are very rudimentary.
Currently our IT person is someone who works for an outside consultant
firm. This has been very unsatisfactory and we have finally gotten the
board to agree to bringing someone into the school (on staff!) to do this
-- but that's for next year. We're stuck with the outside consultant who is
of very little use for the remainder of this school year.
One of the members of our board is talking about rewiring the campus and
upgrading the system, which is sorely needed. And there has been talk about
turning our library into a combined library/media centre, also under the
aegis of the board of trustees.
But there is little or no money to do most of this.
We have formed a faculty committee to make recommendations as far as IT is
concerned. We came to a few major conclusions but are looking for guidance
from people who are more knowledgeable about this. Hence my turning to you.
We want to move to a 1 to 1 laptop model,and we think we can do this with
the laptops that most of the kids already have. But we will have to buy a
decent firewall, which is lacking at this moment. We're already looking
into doing that sooner rather than later.
We need to upgrade the bandwidth of our network.
And we need to think about ways of securing and monitoring the network that
the kids are accessing. Currently, they can bring laptops to classes where
teachers allow their use -- and that's most teachers in the school -- and
kids with ed plans that stipulate computer use can bring them to class and
study halls. But a group of teachers were upset that kids in study halls
were accessing outside programs, playing games, emailing/facebooking their
friends, etc., etc....we all know how that goes (and, yes, there is a block
on direct access to facebook on our school network but you know how easily
that can be circumvented...I do it all the time!). And so the boom was
lowered on laptop use during study halls.
We're coming up with suggestions that will help us deal with some of the
immediate problems as well as lead to a more long term computer/IT policy
and upgrade to our system.
Someone suggested that we create a school "account" set up on all the
laptops at the beginning of the school year (or the beginning of the period
in which we start the universal laptop program) from which all the laptops
can access the school network, one that will have "approved" applications on
it. Some of the computer savvy parents have already done this with their
kids laptops, and we obviously need to bring those parents into the
discussion.
We also want to find out about monitoring computer use -- obviously this can
be done from the school server but are there fixes by which a study hall
monitor can see what the kids are looking at?
What do we do now? We use google mail and are expanding our use within the
faculty of google docs. We have faculty websites on google sites,
rudimentary but acceptable and easy to maneuver. We are talking about
electronic portfolios and have a model on google sites as well. We have
smartboards in many, but not all, classrooms and teachers are becoming
increasingly comfortable with them. Some teachers use laptops in class very
well, for interactive learning. Some just let the kids take notes. But we
know we have to move ahead to keep up with the times.
We are thinking of a three prong process: immediate measures to be taken
with the least expense possible this year (but also including the new
firewall which is obviously NOT a cheap fix); planning for measures to be
implemented in the next school year, including the new wiring, plus other
installations that might be recommended; long term prospects - the wish
list.
We were thinking about an expanded Technology committee consisting of board
members, teachers, parents and savvy students. Has anyone else done
something like this?
As is quite obvious, I am writing from the vantage point of almost complete
ignorance and beg your indulgence. Any advice that you might have will be
gratefully received!
Ellen
--
Ellen Nodelman
Director of College Guidance & Testing
Rockland Country Day School
Tel. (845) 268-6802 NY Office/(860) 767-8014 CT Office
Fax NY: (845) 268-4644/( CT: 860-767-8014 - for CT, please call before
faxing so I can turn on fax receiving in CT)
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