Sorry this post if off topic, but I couldn’t find any contact info for you on the site. I wanted to suggest an article for you: Engrade.com - it’s a free, safe online social network for teachers and students with lots of great teacher tools. Take a look.

Lemon Grove is a good example of what is possible in this new scenario. More reliability, more access (low cost machines), more mobility (from home, etc), and better tech support, at a much lower cost.

Your comment pretty much outlines what I want to explore in my next post.

thanks,
pete

The catch for smaller districts is that the expertise, hardware and software required to create this kind of infrastructure is cost prohibitive on a smaller scale. So I think small districts have a couple of options:
1) partner with other small districts to pool the back-end, support resources; or
2) get creative!

Not sure if you’re familiar with Lemon Grove School District? They’ve launched a customized tablet computer to all of their middle schoolers - it’s called the e-Pad. See it here:
http://lemongroveschools1.net/13411012137296360/site/default.asp

It has no hard drive, so the support on the device is limited to replacement, if something goes wrong (no local data, no local programs). They District has included internet access for all homes as well - I believe it might be through a customized channel wireless. The devices can connect to the District’s network from school or home - so that every child, regardless of family income, can have access to the technology. They haven’t had issues with theft - since the e-Pads will only work on the District network, they have little value to anyone else.

The tablets basically run terminal server sessions to get all of their apps and access to data. I think they are provided with text books on memory cards as well - so all they’re carrying to & from school is their e-Pad.

There’s a news clip here: mms://209.242.130.169/epad.wmv

So, here’s a District that got really creative, designed their own hardware, customized wireless access and even provided access from home.

The user device is virtually maintenance free, so no support time goes into updating software, troubleshooting software problems, etc…

All of the programs, the user accounts, the data - it’s all running in one central server room that can be maintained by a limited technical support staff.

And, instead of putting time & resources into more technical support, they’ve been putting it into teacher pro-d - so that the devices are being used effectively and true integration is the first priority!

I think it’s something to look at!
Heidi

I do believe that as helpful as this is, it is still tinkering around the edges. We need a totally new approach to network design. The “Best Practices” we have adopted over the last 10 years will be difficult to sustain going forward.

In fact, when (not if) we eventually go to 1 to 1 computing, we absolutely need a new approach. Imagine the district in this post managing 1,500 hard drives and physical devices. Even with kids helping it would be a ‘bear’.

pete