--- TIC-TECH message:
A request to schools who have already installed Levy computers. What
process/means did you use to actually place the computers in the classrooms
from the drop-off point? It is my understanding that these are delivered to
one spot, all at once, and that it is up to the building to place them where
they go.
At Hay, we will also have to move some older computers out of the way, so this
is a lot of moving. I am thinking of a parent brigade to help, plus sub-days
for tech commitee staff, because it sounds like a huge job. What has been the
experience? Anything work really well? Thanks for any input.
Greg Doud
John Hay Elementary
gdoud@johnhay.ssd.k12.wa.us
Check out the Hay Website!
"Johnson, Roberta" wrote:
> --- TIC-TECH message:
> Mark. Thank you for sharing the Tech Adventures at Arbor Heights. Schools
> who are yet to reach the point where you are - wired with computers in place
> and connected to the network, with phones in the classrooms yet - can get a
> pretty clear heads up of what is in store for them. Hopefully this will
> help them in their planning.
>
> Roberta A. Johnson
> Instructional Technology, AX-668
> rjohnson@seattleschools.org
> Phone: (206) 366-2612, Fax: (206) 366-7911
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Ahlness [mailto:mlahlness@seattleschools.org]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 10:08 PM
> To: TIC-TECH@tic.ssd.k12.wa.us
> Subject: Tic-Tech: a school getting hooked up
>
> --- TIC-TECH message:
> Hi All,
> I thought this might be interesting, and maybe a little informative, for
> schools who are already "hooked up" - or who will be soon.
>
> Our school was wired this summer. We got six drops per classroom instead of
> the promised eight (budget problems, we were told). We also got a new roof
> on a major part of the building. The roofing finished a couple of weeks
> ago, because of a strike during the summer which pushed the timetable back
> some. No leaks so far :)
>
> Our tech plan was approved last June. Fifty (new) levy computers arrived
> the week before school started, and we all worked hard to get them out to
> classrooms, unpacked, installed, configured, Office set up, etc. These
> machines are wonderful!! But the work continues.... All staff were told
> they had to hook them up, start up their computers (install win98), and then
> install Office (we made extra copies). Hats all to the hard working staff
> at my school! When that was done, they were to let Dave or me know, and we
> came in and plugged them in to the new network, set up tcip, network
> properties, the printer, proxy, sharing, and any shortcuts they wanted. We
> hope to install Command Antivirus via the server soon.... Dave has half the
> building and I have half. We are over halfway through the building. A third
> of the levy computers (21 more) have not yet arrived, as they are the ones
> from the donation program. We are told they will be here soon.
>
> We have had a request in for 25 six-foot tables for classroom computers
> since the week before school started. No sign of or word on the tables, and
> as a result, several of the new computers still sit in boxes or piled up in
> classroom corners.
>
> We hooked up our MDF and IDF with patch cables a month ago, immediately
> after our switches were installed. We were very fortunate to be given
> enough switch ports to activate virtually every jack in the building. Yeah!
>
> Last spring we bought a server, and IS set it up on our network last week.
> It's working well, providing library services and dhcp, but we have a LOT
> more work to do on it to really utilize its potential. We spent over $4,000
> on it, and it's a great machine. We have two people in our building with
> access to the MDF and server (this was not easy), so we are pleased we will
> have some autonomy in this area. Currently we are concerned because of a
> battery failure in a power backup unit, but are assured this will be
> remedied soon.
>
> Two days ago we got phones in all classrooms and offices. You'd have
> thought it was Christmas! A new PA system tied into the phones is running
> 50/50 - worked Friday, not Monday. Enough said.
>
> Internet access is *vastly* improved - mostly due to the move to fiber and a
> switched environment from a "hubbed out" landscape. We've had a T1 for over
> two years, ISDN for two plus years before that. Today Internet access was
> down for an hour and a half during school because of miscommunication
> between Qwest and the district. Somebody cut a line. It's an adventure.
>
> Nobody in our building has any idea of who has what kind of email account.
> "Outlook rollout" is an unknown term in a galaxy far, far away....
>
> Several teachers are VERY excited about the new technology available to
> them. PowerPoint presentations at Open House, kids using a digital camera,
> etc. Staff sharing ideas, successes, informally. Our tech committee has
> met once. Huge agenda, much to do. We have asked our IT person to be in
> our building a half day a week. It's a start.
>
> We are building a computer lab on our own. Our PTSA and last year's
> principal set aside money, so this is really a whole separate topic. I will
> say that we realize the district's anti-lab position, so we have moved ahead
> on our own... Dave's trying to learn how to use "Ghost", a parent is still
> hitting all the refurb. spots for 17" monitors, but we are VERY close to a
> 30 station, win98, office 2000, 64 mb ram, refurb. Pentium II lab (for
> $10,000). The lab has been a very successful environment at Arbor Heights
> since we went Novell in 1992, so there is a strong tradition here. And we
> see it as the only viable training milieu for our geographically isolated
> building.
>
> The hottest tech item in the building is one Sony Mavica digital camera.
> Four teachers went to "Teach the Teacher" training last summer and came back
> enthused! We have "TView Gold" computer to TV converters available for all
> classrooms and the library. About two-thirds of the classrooms have them
> hooked up and ready to use.
>
> We have asked for a UWired student again this year. Last year's student
> left with last year's principal, so we had to start all over again,
> explaining the program to the new principal, figuring out if there is any
> money, etc. As we have much more technology in our building, many more
> staff are aware that we need tech support in our building *every day*. Our
> budget is the same. Our class size is growing. Many realize and verbalize
> with resignation that the district will never provide money at the building
> level for tech support. This is discouraging for many. We will have to cut
> a position and increase class size to get the tech support we need. I will
> never vote for that one.
>
> That was longer than I intended. Once I start talking technology.... ups
> and downs, the story of a school getting hooked up. Are there more stories
> out here in the Emerald City? - Mark
>
> Mark Ahlness
> mlahlness@seattleschools.org
> Arbor Heights Elementary School
> http://www.halcyon.com/arborhts/
>
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