Finishing up hours in IT

This week I am finishing up my practicum hours in IT.  I have been given another item to work on and am interested in learning more about it.  Barbara needs to give this information to the Central Office Curriculum staff and the Board of Ed when they meet so, once again, I feel like I am using my degree!  The current push in K-12 education is for 1:1 student to digital device ratios.  I am going to be researching and completing a compare/contrast document of laptops and tablets (both iPads and others).  I'll be turning this in on Thursday for Barbara to review and have it ready for her meeting in August.

I chose to "interview" everyone in the technology department, including the secretary, for lack of a better word since Tammy is the person who determines the cost for all technology items purchased in the county and she also maintains records on eRate besides being Barbara's right hand gal.  Nathan and Matt are the "gurus" who collaborate hardware and infrastructure requirements with software and personnel needs.  Whew!  That's a full-time and then some job... 

Haven't talked with all of the technicians yet (rotating vacation time is preventing me from seeing everyone), but they are some fun guys.  These are the folks "in the trenches" at the various school and administration sites making the customers happy.  They tend to be the ones who catch the most crap regarding breakdowns, etc., but are the same ones who'll repair and keep things running with the bare minimum supplies (this is public education after all!)! 

I've asked each of them why they choose to stay here in education when much better income is available in the private sector.  Lots of interesting answers... 1)Less constant stress other than the beginning and ending of school years  2)Enjoyable working environment  3)Nice benefits including insurance and retirement.  And here I thought I was in the minority for giving those reasons:)

Gonna miss not seeing these folks as often, but, according to Barbara, I will be pulled in to work on projects now that she'll have bargaining power for participating in my practicum!!

Finally getting some experience with the tech department!

Gosh! After a long drought during more vacation time and Mega Conference, the technology department is operating with a fairly full staff and I've been spending time here.  Have continued working on the professional development for the fall for middle schools in the county, but have had to put that on a back burner due to issues from the central office and the curriculum department.  Like everything else, must get all communicating before anything is accomplished!  Some of the sessions have to be delayed/rescheduled/cancelled due to changes from the state department and delays there as well. 

I talked with Barbara and learned quite a bit about the new technology plan that was supposed to go into effect last year, but the State department is just this summer finishing the "Okay" to implement.  Unfortunately, changes will have to be made due to financial considerations in our district now and technology needs for the students and employees.  What a merry-go-round...

While we're waiting on the above to get hashed out, Barbara has asked me to work on student quizzes that can be given following lessons on the Acceptable Use Policy/Technology Policy for our district.  This is necessary for CIPA compliance and our eRate funding.  She was going to need a working copy done by August and has provided me with several resources with which to create them.  Because the National standards are broken down into grade levels of K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12, I am creating 4 quizzes.  This can be difficult for a secondary teacher to make sure and word questions for a young audience!

Regardless of the above setbacks, I am excited to be doing meaningful work with people that are like-minded about the technology field and education.  Looking forward to MORE!

This week, I am working somewhat independently on descriptions for all of the grade level sessions that we have already identified for the fall p.d.  I am supposed to meet with 2 school coordinators later in the week to begin finalizing some of the plans for the middle school.  Gotta love summer, but it's a booger to coordinate with others!

Starting my hours

Ahh! Success:)
Last week and this week, I have worked with local school technology coordinators to begin plans for the fall professional development related to increasing technology integration in classrooms.  The title of the PD is Tech Connects.  I have been put in charge of coordinating all middle school professional development.  This involves determining sessions needed for middle school teachers, administrators and other professionals.  Also, I must work through the logistics of 250 adults in PD sessions for 6 hours.  Talk about sink or swim...

I'm working with a variety of professionals here at the technology department and have already learned a lot of the nuts and bolts that I, as a classroom teacher, am never privy to, such as the eRate policies and coordinating technology with curriculum needs (never an easy thing apparently from an administrative view).  These are things that I've learned I will come into contact with in classes, but am so glad that I'm getting the work experience to go with it.

Working around others' summer vacations is a difficulty that I knew I would face, but it's still frustrating.  Looking forward to next week when most everyone will be back in town and we can get some things done!  Until then...

My beginnings

This summer I'll be using skills I've learned in the Instructional Technology program.  I will be collaborating with the Elmore County Technology Coordinator in creating a professional development program for the county's Fall 2013 inservice.  I'm also hoping to work with the distance learning coordinator for Central Alabama Community College.  I'll know this week if that will be possible.  Really excited to use all of these ideas and skills in work situations!