Ackerman Curriculum Repository Proposal

Special Use IT in Schools

In addition to the fleets of computers maintained for populations such as students and teachers, schools are places where special purpose computers and peripherals are found. In makerspaces, science laboratories, studios, workshops, and other special teaching spaces, there are computing devices necessary for specialized educational activities. Examples include: 

Ackerman Curriculum Repository Proposal

On Micromanaging

Micromanaging is not unique to educational settings, but I have worked primarily in schools, so that is where I have experienced it. It is a familiar phenomenon: leaders give excessive direction to workers. They specify details of how direct reports are to complete their work and they pay excessive attention to the processes workers follow. Read More

Ackerman Curriculum Repository Proposal

How Malware Protection Works

Because it is installed through stealth methods, one usually does not know their computer is infected, or even that a file which appears benign is in fact malware. Both IT professionals who manage enterprise networks and the individuals who manage desktop and laptop computers for their own use have options for installing and configuring software Read More

Ackerman Curriculum Repository Proposal

IT Tradeoffs in Schools

School users are also well-known for trading reliability for functionality and ease. IT professionals know that systems can be configured to perform many more functions than are typically used. Further, many users will use only a fraction of the tools and features available in the applications they use. Of course, using these tools and features Read More

Ackerman Curriculum Repository Proposal

Edtech for IT: Learning Management Systems

Virtual classrooms took on particular importance to teachers and students with the quick pivot to remote teaching necessitated by the COVID pandemic. Even before that, however, virtual classrooms were being managed by school IT professionals and teachers were using them to extend their classrooms and enhance information sharing and interaction. Like other cloud-based infrastructure in Read More

Ackerman Curriculum Repository Proposal

Secure Browsing

Web browsers allow users to select from one of three levels of safe browsing. Each level uses tools to help reduce the potential for risky web browsing. At the standard level, the web browser warns if you are going to site known to contain malware, phish for credentials, or otherwise risk security. Those protection can Read More