What are the most important things you want to convey to future technology directors?
What was hardest for you to understand?
Maybe that will be hardest to make clear to a reader.
What should be covered in depth and what should not be covered in depth?
What knowledge would most help you in a Technology Director position?
Response:
As a technology director in a school district, there are many limitations on how the business of budgeting, funding and purchasing takes place. My strongest recommendation to anyone entering the role of a technology director is to seek help when walking down an unknown path. There are numerous people in your organization, or others that are able to help you. Experience has taught me that a good director will ask for help when needed and not try to figure it out, especially whn it comes to district finances. I have found that the business office or even tech directors of other neighboring districts can be a tremendous help.
Personally, I have had experience with these topics prior to this class. When I first started working on our technology budget, I found the purchasing process was difficult. WHen dealing with technology, many purchases are over the bid limit of $10,000. What I found was I did not have a good understanding of PEPPM and COSTARS. I found that once I had a thourough understanding if these contracts, life became much easier. COSTARS has now become my best friend. Almost every purchase I make is now through a COSTARS vendor. I have the ability to vendor shop and get a better price while not needing to worry about going to bid. I do still always get three competiung bids on alomost everything I purchase.
I think the entire budget -> funding -> and purchasing process needs to be covered in detail. No director wants to find himself breaking regulations when dealing with taxpayer money. School Districts are audited frequently and technology purchases are always looked at. I wouldn't want to end up worrying that I did something wrong.
Having a thorough knowledge of this process BEFORE beginning to work on budgets would have been ideal. The majority of our class will have the benefit of knowing more about this process before needing it than I did.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
TP#3
Directions:
1. Describe the project, its purpose, its intended participants and its expected goals/objectives
2. Explain the division of funding sources you would like among budget, e-rate and grants
3. Find a suitable grant agency and describe why that agency would be interested in funding your project
Response:
My project is to install a foriegn language lab in my district's middle school. The purpose of this project is to allow students to learn foriegn languages faster and easier than is presently possible. Our district installed a language lab in our high school six years ago. Since it's deployment, we have doubled the amount of students taking AP language classes and the foriegn language program has prospered. With this project, middles school students would be able to benefit from the available technology while learning new languages. The lab would be installed in an extension of the library.
This project has several intended goals:
1. To further develop the ability to understand and communicate in the target language.
2. To supplement older textbooks with international television broadcasts and other up-to-the-minute language samples.
3. To expand opportunities for oral testing.
4. To increase the amount of time a student spends listening to spoken language.
This project has several funding sources:
1. The district will budget for converting part of the library into a lab, including the cost of air conditioning and proper furniture for a language lab.
2. The district is seeking grant funds for the purchase of 15 desktop computers, with headsets and microphones.
3. The district will also plan on installing network cabling in this new lab. The district will apply for an e-rate discount for the cost of connecting this new area to the rest of the building network.
For this project, the district will apply to the Colonial Foundation for Educational Innovation. The mission of the Colonial Foundation for Educational Innovation is to enhance the quality of education and educational opportunities and generate and distribute financial and other resources to and for the students of Colonial School District.
1. Describe the project, its purpose, its intended participants and its expected goals/objectives
2. Explain the division of funding sources you would like among budget, e-rate and grants
3. Find a suitable grant agency and describe why that agency would be interested in funding your project
Response:
My project is to install a foriegn language lab in my district's middle school. The purpose of this project is to allow students to learn foriegn languages faster and easier than is presently possible. Our district installed a language lab in our high school six years ago. Since it's deployment, we have doubled the amount of students taking AP language classes and the foriegn language program has prospered. With this project, middles school students would be able to benefit from the available technology while learning new languages. The lab would be installed in an extension of the library.
This project has several intended goals:
1. To further develop the ability to understand and communicate in the target language.
2. To supplement older textbooks with international television broadcasts and other up-to-the-minute language samples.
3. To expand opportunities for oral testing.
4. To increase the amount of time a student spends listening to spoken language.
This project has several funding sources:
1. The district will budget for converting part of the library into a lab, including the cost of air conditioning and proper furniture for a language lab.
2. The district is seeking grant funds for the purchase of 15 desktop computers, with headsets and microphones.
3. The district will also plan on installing network cabling in this new lab. The district will apply for an e-rate discount for the cost of connecting this new area to the rest of the building network.
For this project, the district will apply to the Colonial Foundation for Educational Innovation. The mission of the Colonial Foundation for Educational Innovation is to enhance the quality of education and educational opportunities and generate and distribute financial and other resources to and for the students of Colonial School District.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Thoughtful Problem #1
In college, I was a Computer Science major. My intention was to become a Computer Science teacher at the high school level. Having taken over 10 years to get my degree, that never materialized. I ended up getting technical training and started working as a computer technician. Eventually, I ended up working for a school district in the IT department. It seems my two different career paths intersected. I was working in education as a technology professional. Ultimately, I want to be a Chief Information Officer or a Technology Director.
One of the most interesting things to me is to be able to build systems from the ground up. Technology is always changing and with those changes come new ideas and products. In the eight years I've been with Colonial School District, I have been personally responsible for the planning and deployment of at least three separate systems. I want to eventually be the individual that is able to choose what systems get built rather than just be the one doing the work.
I have a very technical background. I have had years of training including several industry certifications (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Cisco Certified Network Professional, Novell Certified Administrator) and a BS in Computer Science. I have been in this industry for over 10 years, eight of which were in education. I started as a basic technician and have progress to an acting Technology Coordinator. I have seen the various aspects of educational technology from many different perspectives.
The biggest challenge I have found is a lack of understanding about what is required to keep technology running. We are a hands on district that does not outsource any of our work. In the last three years our PC count has increased by nearly 900 units. Our servers have increased from about 15 to almost 40. In this time, we have only increased staff by one person, a Technology Staff Developer. I have found that many administrators don't account properly for maintaining the equipment we have and the effects of adding more.
One of the most interesting things to me is to be able to build systems from the ground up. Technology is always changing and with those changes come new ideas and products. In the eight years I've been with Colonial School District, I have been personally responsible for the planning and deployment of at least three separate systems. I want to eventually be the individual that is able to choose what systems get built rather than just be the one doing the work.
I have a very technical background. I have had years of training including several industry certifications (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Cisco Certified Network Professional, Novell Certified Administrator) and a BS in Computer Science. I have been in this industry for over 10 years, eight of which were in education. I started as a basic technician and have progress to an acting Technology Coordinator. I have seen the various aspects of educational technology from many different perspectives.
The biggest challenge I have found is a lack of understanding about what is required to keep technology running. We are a hands on district that does not outsource any of our work. In the last three years our PC count has increased by nearly 900 units. Our servers have increased from about 15 to almost 40. In this time, we have only increased staff by one person, a Technology Staff Developer. I have found that many administrators don't account properly for maintaining the equipment we have and the effects of adding more.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)