--- TIC-TECH message:
Seattle School District
Technology Forum
1/25/01
Minutes
Announcements
Peggy Yaplee introduced the IT All Star Contest and encouraged school
teams to enroll.
Roberta Johnson announced the handout from Inside.seattleschools.org
that lists the IT Tech Coordinators for each site. It can also be
accessed on the website under departments/instructional technology.
Tech Levy Update - John Rowlands
· BTA Technology Levy blue handout provides status of current activities
and a schedule for all work in schools.
· John drew attention to the Seattle Public Schools Levy Information
document the February 6th ballot. John said that this document
provided useful information so that voters could make an informed
decision.
· BEX levy – The District is trying to set up levies so that technology
will be funded on a continuing basis.
· New technologies are constantly being reviewed for possible
implementation. Some of those technologies are starting to be implement
in the classroom.
· Changes in the technology used by the Tech Levy in the classrooms
will not reduce the functionality but may result in some savings to the
District. One example that is underway involves the installation of 6
data drops in some classrooms versus 8 data drops. This is possible
using new unmanaged switches in the classroom that will support the 5:1
ratio and in fact can support 1:1 ratios on the classroom wiring.
· Wireless networks are running in individual classrooms/schools;
however, there are still some concerns with cost, maintenance and
expandability that are being investigated.
· We are still looking at finishing the WAN/LAN projects two years
early.
Windows 2000 Presentation - John Ferguson and Matt Fraser
Windows 2000 is the natural extension of Windows NT. Windows NT is an
extension of VMS, developed by David Cutler during his tenure at
Digital.
Device drivers have been known to cause some crashing problems in NT.
Device drivers by their nature operate in kernel mode. If a device
driver is poorly written, the kernel can be overwritten, and can
eventually end up in the blue screen of death.
Question: What are the low level problems with NT?
Answer: It is very hard to tell from the outside that problems exist.
Sometimes the problems are hard to detect.
Windows 2000 brings in encryption to the NT environment. Windows 2000
looks at the signature of the driver, and will not let you install it if
the signature process does not match.
Windows 2000 provides increased security. It is possible to
write-protect the area of memory that stores to operating system and
drivers. Windows 2000 detects it when someone tries to modify something
in the write-protected areas. As a result, the administrator now has
the ability to tell what is causing the system failure, and can fix the
problem more readily.
W2K also introduces file protection. WFP service is always running, and
is looking at approx 3000 files that the system needs to function
properly. WFP looks for changes to those files and when it finds that
something has changed, it changes it back.
Windows 2000 has scalability. When Windows NT 4.0 was introduced it was
about 4GB of RAM at the server. Windows 2000 can handle the additional
memory requirement we require.
Windows 2000 uses Active Directory. It is possible to see and control
assets across the entire system. It will provide security and standards
from a central location. The structure is going to allow us to better
manage the resources on the network from a single source. It will allow
us to provide site-based management without impacting other parts of the
network.
It will allow us to have a single domain concept. Every machine and
user will be on the seattleschools.org domain. It means a lower cost of
hardware and membership. There will still be costs; however, it will
not be as expensive.
Windows 2000 Advantages:
· Remote Administration
· Increased Security
· Standardization of technology and delivery of service across the
District.
Question: What are we already doing?
Answer: We already have the DNS running and the backup domain controller
by tomorrow. Configuring DNS, WINS, etc., things that you already look
at to access the network. The Windows 2000 team is moving ahead with
Active Directory.
Question: Is there a limit to the multi-media capability under 2000?
Answer: Not so far, as far as we can tell. There is backward
compatibility.
Question: It there a plan to take this plan to the schools?
Answer: We are trying to make the structure as stable as possible before
taking to the schools.
Question: What will schools need to do to prepare for Windows 2000?
Answer: Every school needs to buy a server that is 2000 compatible at
some point. Domain controllers will probably not be brought up at the
schools for a year.
Question: Can you run a W95 box with a W2K server?
Answer: Yes. Absolutely.
Outlook 2000 and Outlook Web Access – Judy McNamee, Dave Hemmen
10 schools have been completed with the rollout to Outlook Web Access
(OWA). There are 16 schools that are currently being deployed.
Information Services needs the technology coordinators to help with
completing Seattle Public Schools Network Account request forms. Please
emphasize that it is important to complete the forms in a timely
fashion, completely, and accurately, and legibly.
Any OWA request to a teacher is immediately set up. We are not
necessarily giving the accounts out immediately, because there are some
outstanding wiring issues.
What are we providing in email and why are we providing this?
It was decided that the District-wide email system would be MS Exchange
over a year ago. The original plan was that everyone would have the
full desktop client on every machine.
The result is Outlook Web Access for the instructional users. The
administrative offices will have the full Outlook client. If the tech
levy passes, we will be able to revisit upgrading technology and
bringing computers up to speed to install the desktop application on
more machines.
OWA is easier to install because there is no installation required on
the client. It is able to run on browsers (IE, Netscape).
Configuration information is not necessary. You are able to access your
email from anywhere in the world. It leaves your email on the Exchange
server; it does not download to the local client.
There has been a lot of discussion going on – web based email. Since
the email itself is not coming down to the machine, it should be
faster. There should have been significant increase in response time.
We have increased the bandwidth for transmission. It also depends on
what kind of Internet connectivity you have on your computer. Ricochet
is relatively slow, whereas, DSL and WebTV are much faster. OWA should
load at the same speed as any other web page.
The number of applications you have active on your computer will also
impact response time.
What are your other options? Depending on your computer and available
resources, you are able to run Outlook 2000 on your desktop. If you use
it at home, Information Services will provide instructions on how to
configure your machine for use. Outlook does work from outside the
District. We may have to discontinue the option if we find a security
hole.
You can use Outlook Express to read mail, but not send mail. If you run
a POP3 or IMAP client, we are able to provide you connection
instructions. However, support for home machines will be limited.
Once you get an Outlook account, your CKS and VAX accounts will be
forwarded to the Exchange account. We want to provide users the time to
send notification to people that your email address has changed.
The rollout schedule is tied to the BTA levy.
The full Outlook client leaves the mail on the Exchange server. If you
use POP3 or IMAP, you need to be careful so that you don't download to
the machine. You can transfer to personal folders, with security issues.
Using Outlook Express to read the mail is an option currently. Sending
mail is not yet an option.
How long before your building is wired for the Wan do you want the
Network Account forms? Information Services will initiate contact with
the schools when we are ready to convert your school to Exchange.
Librarians were told they were going to move all the librarians. We are
in the process of moving the librarians now. It is anticipated that the
librarians will be going live early next week.
Software Licensing - Michael Gross
Please look at the inside.seattleschools.org. If you have questions,
email Michael at Mkgross@seattleschools.org. Piracy is a big problem.
When you use a product as shareware, you need to pay for it. This whole
issue falls back on copyright laws.
Michael had several handouts available to provide information on
software licensing.
The principals are responsible for what is on the machines. Michael is
available to assist the schools with site-based software licensing
management and inventory.
It is important to retain a copy of what documentation the school has to
support having software license/software running on the machine.
There will be a videotape that can be viewed as part of the
mini-workshop. If software is kept on the server, and you have the
license to prove that you have it, you are ok. If it gets installed on
any machines, then there is a problem, unless there is sufficient
documentation of licensing.
Is there available on the website of software applications that are
available for license under the District. If it is on the machine - do
we have a site-license for it? NO
Most of the things that you hear about having a site license, only
applies to certain schools. Command Anti-Virus is a District-wide
license. There are about 4 MAC software titles that we purchased a
District-wide license for. Les will provide Michael with that
information.
It was suggested that site-license information be posted on the Web.
Teacher Leadership Project - Eric Caldwell
Eric Caldwell announcement: All principals should have gotten the
applications for the Gates Teacher Leadership Project for this year. In
order to fill out those apps to the best of your ability, we will have 2
workshops to assist with the application process. Apps are due during
mid-Winter break. There are a few changes in eligibility this year.
Requirements have changed. Each school will only be allowed one
application per grade band.
Principals are going to have to make the decision on who is going to be
the application.
Question: What is TLP?
Answer: Project sponsored by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – the
idea being the promotion and use of technology in schools.
Les - If you are thinking of applying and don't want to attend the
workshop. Look on Tic-Tech for information on the due date. Do not
attempt to contact the superintendent to get his signature, Jay Iman
will collect them and present them to the Supt for his signature.
January 30th and February 5th at TOPS.
Breakout sessions.
There was not enough time for John Rowlands to review work that is
underway to revise the District's Technology Plan. Any forum attendees
that would like to serve on a review committee should contact John or
Les Foltos.
Note:
All handouts are available online at "inside.seattleschools.org" or
picked up at Information Services.
Mark Ahlness
mahlness@cks.ssd.k12.wa.us
Teacher, grade three at:
Arbor Heights Elementary School
http://www.halcyon.com/arborhts/
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Jan 30 2001 - 18:43:50 PST