IT systems fail. All IT professionals (and all IT users) know this. The reality is that the “to do” list for IT professionals in schools is often too long to allow immediate resolution of failed system. Further adding to the reality is that not all failed systems can or even should be resolved. IT professionals Read More
Category: Technology
Yet Another Digital Divide
Digital divides in educational technology have been recognized for decades. While the details have changed, the reality that not all populations have the same technology tools has been a consistent characteristic of information technology. We were first aware that some schools did not have access to enough desktop computers. We have become aware that not Read More
Locking Your Computer
One of the most basic things we can do to protect our data when we are using computers is to make sure no one else can use your computer after you have logged on. To this end, get into the habit of locking your screen whenever you leave a computer. The process is simple: On Read More
On Customer Service and IT
“Difficult” interactions between IT users and IT professionals are not unique to schools. The difficulties can arise from users’ frustrations that IT is interfering with their abilities to do their work, the perceptions that their priorities are not receiving proper attention, and other factors. In many cases, the IT professionals contribute to the difficulties by Read More
Proper Configuration of #edtech
What emerges from the appropriate design process is a collection of IT tools and features the educators deem necessary for the IT to meet the intended educational goals. It is the role of the IT professionals to ensure that technology is properly configured to both provide that need, plus reflect the responsible configuration of the Read More
On IT and Learning
In almost all organizations, IT is a support function. Workers use IT to perform business-critical functions and improve efficiency and effectiveness, but—while being critical for business operations—IT rarely is an income center for any business. In schools, this is especially true in schools, as computers are a relatively recent tool in schools, and much effective Read More
Teachers as IT Users
Teachers are the second largest number of school IT users, and they are the users who have the most diverse IT needs. In addition to using computers for instructional purposes, teachers use their devices to create materials, manage student data, and complete school operations tasks. In addition to their work-related tasks, most school acceptable use Read More
Technology Problems vs. Education Problems
My career has been spent in the space between different populations and translating the language of one population into the language of another. The differences in language are largely the result of different types of problems and situations technologists and educators are prepared to manage and spend their time managing. Compared to the social milieu Read More
On Technology-Rich Schools
Schools have always been information technology-rich places. That makes sense as one of the fundamental purposes of school is to prepare students to use the technology common in the systems they will enter when they leave. When print was the dominant information technology, we used books and other paper-based media in schools and prepared students Read More
Reasonable Implementation of #edtech
School boards hire superintendents and other high-level administrators to make the ultimate decisions about what happens in the school. These leaders are charged with ensuring all decisions, including those related to appropriate design and proper configuration of IT systems are reasonable. Reasonableness is defined by: Budgets—All decisions must fall within the available budgets and the Read More