District Administration - February 2009 - (Page 22)

SUPERVISOR’S OPINION the school. is will help teachers spend their time teaching content, not software applications. At my school, we developed an image that included standard software suites and protocols for logging on to the network and printing. 3. Identify research-based software that can support learning in math and reading. It is critical that this software be compatible with the operating system on student laptops and be able to be supported by technical staﬀ. 4. Decide how much access students will have to the network. For example, will they be able to print to any computer in the school? Will student ﬁles be shared centrally on a server, or should students save ﬁles to their individual laptops or USB drives? Will students have access to the school server from home? 5. Decide how you will handle the inevitable upgrades to operating systems, as well as computers that use diﬀerent versions of the operating systems. 6. Plan for obsolescence of software and hardware. It is critical to have a plan to replace or update computers and software as they age. is plan should include the development of a way to assign ﬁnancial and technical resources. 7. Develop a plan to repair and replace broken laptops, batteries and printers. It is the small details that can scupper the best lessons. How will you replace damaged keyboards, missing keys, broken monitors, ﬂat batteries, damaged or missing cables, etc.? Plan on additional printer expenses. ese items are a constant drain on the school budget. 8. Provide other technology to supplement the laptop program, including presentation devices such as LCD projectors. 9. Plan for a robust network. You must assume that all computers will be on the network at the same time. 10. Most important, have on-site technical support. A lack of support will be the biggest gripe of teachers and will negatively impact the learning program. Computers will continue to oﬀer enticing opportunities for learning in our classrooms. e concept of “right now” learning is particularly powerful, as students ﬁnd information as they need or request it. As computers decline in price and improve in functionality, laptop programs will continue to deliver on the promise of “anywhere, anytime learning.” Our students will certainly enter a workplace that will be unrecognizable to us, and we will need to equip them with the skills to embrace and manage change in how information is produced, delivered and received. In the end, the key elements in a laptop program at school will continue to be the teacherstudent relationship and the integration of technology, curriculum content, and school culture. DA www.DistrictAdministration.com Access one-to-one laptop resources that Eamonn O’Donovan recommends. Eamonn O’Donovan is assistant superintendent of special education services in Capistrano Uniﬁed School District in California. 22 February 2009 District Administration http://www.DistrictAdministration.com

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District Administration - February 2009 Contents Advertiser Index Editor's Letter News Update Security Curriculum Crisis Response Supervisor's Opinion The Rise of the Virtual Teacher Speaking Their Language Alternate Transportation Routes Opinion The Aftermath of the New 403(b) Regulations How Well Does This Web Site Work? Problem Solution New Products Product Focus Professional Opinion

District Administration - February 2009

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