Comments on: Ominous Numbers http://preilly.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/ominous-numbers/ Learning is a journey of the mind, the body, and the heart. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:10:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: pete http://preilly.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/ominous-numbers/#comment-10040 pete Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:53:25 +0000 http://preilly.wordpress.com/?p=281#comment-10040 Jim, KatelynM205, Lori; It seems we are fixated on equipment so we tend to skimp on PD and IT support. We also need to consider some new ways to deploy our networks. There are new strategies (virtualization) that hold some promise and may cut the cost of IT support significantly. pete Jim, KatelynM205, Lori;
It seems we are fixated on equipment so we tend to skimp on PD and IT support. We also need to consider some new ways to deploy our networks. There are new strategies (virtualization) that hold some promise and may cut the cost of IT support significantly.
pete

]]> By: pete http://preilly.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/ominous-numbers/#comment-10039 pete Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:50:36 +0000 http://preilly.wordpress.com/?p=281#comment-10039 shelley, Absolutely! We tend to leave our tech people out, overwhelmed by the day to day calls they need to resolve, with little concern for their own professional growth or training. This leaves every one of these folks out there trying to find their own answers to problems that might have already been resolved by others. Getting together with other IT folks at a training can put a halt to "re-creating the wheel". pete shelley,
Absolutely! We tend to leave our tech people out, overwhelmed by the day to day calls they need to resolve, with little concern for their own professional growth or training. This leaves every one of these folks out there trying to find their own answers to problems that might have already been resolved by others. Getting together with other IT folks at a training can put a halt to “re-creating the wheel”.
pete

]]> By: pete http://preilly.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/ominous-numbers/#comment-10038 pete Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:46:52 +0000 http://preilly.wordpress.com/?p=281#comment-10038 Jody, I think you are right that funding alone won't solve all the IT problems we face. On the other hand, I think we need some basic standards for our technology infrastructures and our technology support structures. I have been places were it takes more than a month to get something fixed and many, many months to get something new (hardware or software) installed. After a while people get so demoralized they just give up on things. That's not the environment we want to create. pete Jody,
I think you are right that funding alone won’t solve all the IT problems we face. On the other hand, I think we need some basic standards for our technology infrastructures and our technology support structures. I have been places were it takes more than a month to get something fixed and many, many months to get something new (hardware or software) installed. After a while people get so demoralized they just give up on things. That’s not the environment we want to create.

pete

]]> By: Lori http://preilly.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/ominous-numbers/#comment-10030 Lori Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:52:51 +0000 http://preilly.wordpress.com/?p=281#comment-10030 I think the funding issue for IT support goes hand in hand with the need for adequate and ongoing professional development for school staff. Schools can invest all of the money in the world in developing and maintaining a technology infrastructure, but without teachers and students accessing the technology to support student learning, that investment is meaningless. So that continued investment in the technology infrastructure is seen as valuable and therefore funded to the necessary level, there needs to be evidence that students and teachers are using that infrastructure. I think the funding issue for IT support goes hand in hand with the need for adequate and ongoing professional development for school staff. Schools can invest all of the money in the world in developing and maintaining a technology infrastructure, but without teachers and students accessing the technology to support student learning, that investment is meaningless. So that continued investment in the technology infrastructure is seen as valuable and therefore funded to the necessary level, there needs to be evidence that students and teachers are using that infrastructure.

]]> By: KatelynM205 http://preilly.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/ominous-numbers/#comment-10027 KatelynM205 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:44:43 +0000 http://preilly.wordpress.com/?p=281#comment-10027 It is unfortunate to see that these numbers are so high. I realize that technology is important in our schools as im sure that everyone else does, but with so many other things happening in a school at the same time i can see how it is easy for technology to be overlooked and put in the background because it is used so often so funding goes to that which is at the forefront of our minds because what is used currently is what most are comfortable with. When things are comfortable, changes are less likely occur. It is unfortunate to see that these numbers are so high. I realize that technology is important in our schools as im sure that everyone else does, but with so many other things happening in a school at the same time i can see how it is easy for technology to be overlooked and put in the background because it is used so often so funding goes to that which is at the forefront of our minds because what is used currently is what most are comfortable with. When things are comfortable, changes are less likely occur.

]]> By: Jim Walsh http://preilly.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/ominous-numbers/#comment-10022 Jim Walsh Thu, 28 Feb 2008 01:04:15 +0000 http://preilly.wordpress.com/?p=281#comment-10022 I am not horribly surprised by these numbers, but yes, they are staggering. I remember being in high school wondering what they teachers and IT people were doing because there always seemed to be network troubles. In reality, it was probably the fault of the school administrators not properly equipping or funding the educational technology department. These numbers should be seen by school administrators becuase something needs to be done to make sure that educators can continue to enhance their students' learning. I am not horribly surprised by these numbers, but yes, they are staggering. I remember being in high school wondering what they teachers and IT people were doing because there always seemed to be network troubles. In reality, it was probably the fault of the school administrators not properly equipping or funding the educational technology department. These numbers should be seen by school administrators becuase something needs to be done to make sure that educators can continue to enhance their students’ learning.

]]> By: These numbers don’t look so good « Pbailey2’s Weblog http://preilly.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/ominous-numbers/#comment-10017 These numbers don’t look so good « Pbailey2’s Weblog Tue, 26 Feb 2008 04:38:12 +0000 http://preilly.wordpress.com/?p=281#comment-10017 [...] numbers don’t look so good In a blog  by Pete Reilly, some figures are presented in regards to the funding and overall concern for the [...] [...] numbers don’t look so good In a blog  by Pete Reilly, some figures are presented in regards to the funding and overall concern for the [...]

]]> By: Shelley Rossitto http://preilly.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/ominous-numbers/#comment-9994 Shelley Rossitto Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:08:53 +0000 http://preilly.wordpress.com/?p=281#comment-9994 Please add staff development for the technical staff. This can be very costly but they need to be kept up with what is out there. They also need time to "network" outside of their listservs. I find that is not always respected. Each training for a good intensive week costs approx. $3,000. I would recommend at least one or two weeks per tech along with collaborative meetings and sharing. I don't think that is ever budgeted. Having adequate staffing is not the only answer - it has to be coupled with quality training. Please add staff development for the technical staff. This can be very costly but they need to be kept up with what is out there. They also need time to “network” outside of their listservs. I find that is not always respected. Each training for a good intensive week costs approx. $3,000. I would recommend at least one or two weeks per tech along with collaborative meetings and sharing. I don’t think that is ever budgeted. Having adequate staffing is not the only answer - it has to be coupled with quality training.

]]> By: Jody Hayes http://preilly.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/ominous-numbers/#comment-9985 Jody Hayes Sat, 09 Feb 2008 07:33:25 +0000 http://preilly.wordpress.com/?p=281#comment-9985 Well I am the IT person at my school. We have 7 teachers. I teach fulltime, all day and in between times try to solve problems etc. I have no IT training and just try to figure it out as I go along. Luckily for me until this year the IT person in my school was not me and the person who it was thought learning by doing was good. It is so important to have people you can exchange ideas with and nut things out together. Funding is one issue but not the whole issue I think ... if you want to make it happen you 'learn by doing' so when the system falls over you can try a few things. I actually would be funding was the real barrier ... hidden fear to change maybe as well as funding. Part of an authentic learning cycle is experiencing difficulties and frustrations .... real learning for us all who are trying to integrate changing and alternative ideas into real classrooms with real children. OK that is a really LONG ramble but I think do what you can, try a few new things, reflect, lead where needed, support where needed, question yourself and most of all be honest.... would funding solve the issues or just ease some? Well I am the IT person at my school. We have 7 teachers. I teach fulltime, all day and in between times try to solve problems etc. I have no IT training and just try to figure it out as I go along. Luckily for me until this year the IT person in my school was not me and the person who it was thought learning by doing was good. It is so important to have people you can exchange ideas with and nut things out together.

Funding is one issue but not the whole issue I think … if you want to make it happen you ‘learn by doing’ so when the system falls over you can try a few things. I actually would be funding was the real barrier … hidden fear to change maybe as well as funding.

Part of an authentic learning cycle is experiencing difficulties and frustrations …. real learning for us all who are trying to integrate changing and alternative ideas into real classrooms with real children.

OK that is a really LONG ramble but I think do what you can, try a few new things, reflect, lead where needed, support where needed, question yourself and most of all be honest…. would funding solve the issues or just ease some?

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