Network Operations

Does the educational system that you are affiliated with offer a shared storage area on the network for students or faculty?------Do you find this beneficial?
Yes, faculty and students do have access to a shared network storage device.  I used to use it more than I do now.  I pretty much have all my most important resources saved there, on my laptop, and on an external hard drive.  

What type of Email System does your educational system implement? Do you use this mail system at school?.......from home? explain.....
We used to use Microsoft Outlook.  Over the past year, we've begun using Google Apps for education.  Our email is now conducted through Google as well as shared documents, etc.  I've emailed the Director of Technology numerous times this year already about getting our students accounts for shared apps as well.  They should have them any day now.  Also, I access email and shared docs from any computer with Internet access.

Overall, from this chapter, the most important thing that I learned is that the technology coordinator of a district can "do everything right" but still unexpected problems are going to arise.  Perhaps the best way to avoid resource abuse is by educating all students and district employees on the proper use of those resources.

Software Selection Form

Does the current district/educational institute that you work for use Software Selection Forms to gather information before purchasing software? 

Our district does currently have software selection forms, but that's not what they refer to them as.  They consider software a curriculum resource and have established procedures for reviewing and adopting curriculum resources.  The process is beneficial to all b/c the first priority is to determine what the standard programs will be for all district users.  This core set of programs will serve as the basis for incorporating technology into the district.  Everything else is above and beyond.  My district just switched over to Google Aps for Education this year, and so far the transition has been good.  I'm going to be completing my internship with the tech dept. this spring at which time I'm sure I'll learn more about it, but until then all I know is that my email has been working fine...but I've used Google Aps extensively in the past.  During the software selection process, our text explains the need to consider: communications, word processins, reference, administration, computation, presentation/multimedia, and the ever present need for SECURITY.

Challenges of a Technology Leader and How to Become Successful

The main challenge in being the Director of Technology is the dilemma of "wearing many hats," to quote our text.  A technology leader for an organization has to deal with: Teaching and Learning, Desktop Support, Network Operations, Administrative Computing, and Budgeting/Planning.  Each of these alone may be a daunting task, but juggling all of them at once could become down right overwhelming.

Like Ty mentioned in class the first night, he is an all around problem solver.  He explained, exactly as our text does in chapter one, that a technology coordinator has to be able to discuss multi-million dollar budget issues with the superintendent first thing in the morning, fix someone's faulty printer just before lunch, and figure out why the network is running so slowly before going home for the day. 

The text suggests qualifications that will help any tech coordinator to become successful.  Education is paramount.  So is an understanding of educational technology.  A former teacher with experience integrating technology is usually a good candidate for the job.  The tech coordinator needs to be patient, an effective communicator, and needs to have great leadership and organizational skills.