Question: You have been hired as a technology director for a school district that uses an operating system that is not your main area of expertise. Research the topic "imaging" or "cloning" to see how you might rapidly clone a new shipment of 500 laptops. Pay attention to cost, time and expertise. In three-to-five paragraphs, describe your options, why you chose the option you did, and what problems you may expect with that choice.
Side Bar: This particular TP touched home (more like work) with me because today my supervisor and I just completed a roll out of 600 laptop computers to the 8th grade class at one of the schools I am currently supporting. The entire process was new to me and I learned a lot. I was not present during the re-imaging process (these computers had been used prior and were re-imaged over the summer before I was in my position) for most of the computers but observed some being imaged for students. Very shortly I will participate in the roll out of 1,400 new computers to the 6th and 7th graders of this school. Doing research on this topic was very interesting and will be applicable in my understanding of the processes behind imaging/cloning and for planning.
Response:
First lets start with the act of imaging: basically we want to create a copy (file) of the operating system, applications, user settings and any data we want to place on the computers. The reason for doing this is to save time in setting up new machines by eliminating the installation of the operating system and each individual application.
Not just anyone can make an image of a computer OS and applications and place it onto other computers. In order to do this you need the rights/permission/license to copy and redistribute the software. There are different ways to acquire an image file of a computer. For home use there is software that allows you to make an exact replica of your computer hard drive in case of loss or crash. This software can also be used to capture and image file of a school computer. Some software applications for capturing an image file are Norton Ghost®, Partition Image or Clonesilla. These programs will all allow you to create an image file of a computer but dependent on how you wish to then place the image on other computers may or may not work for you.
Back the problem at hand:
In our case I would recommend using a professional group such as (Apples technical services consultants) to create a reliable image for us to use during the distribution. Since we are going to be imaging 500 computers I feel it would be best to have a good and reliable image as well as one that is licensed for distribution and customized to our school. Groups Like Apples technical services consultants can be hired to oversee the entire roll of the new computers but the service is very costly. In our case we will save on cost by only using their services for the creation of the image file.
My recommendation for the best way (considering cost, time, and expertise) to place the images onto the 500 laptops is to hire or use a trained staff member to multi-cast the images over a network to the new computers. Multi-casting will save a significant amount of time and resources. Basically with multi-casting a server will be used to send the image file over a network to the computers. The benefit of multi-casting is that it allows for multiple computers to be imaged at the same time. A network switch can be connected to the server and with good management support 24 computers can be imaging at the same time. Using this method, the 500 laptops could be imaged in less than 1 week. (Estimate 25 computers every 2-3 hours (imaging process 40 min-1hour, organization, connection and disconnection of the 25 laptops 1-1.5 hours, .5-hour cushion in case of problems).
The other option would be to place images onto the new computers using portable hard drives. The image file would be copied off the portable drive on the new hard drive. This process is less complicated as a whole and can be conducted by many helpers after only a short amount of training. This may not serve as the most effective way to image 500 computers because it will take a large amount of organization, space, and workers. I also believe, on the negative side that the option of using portable drives opens the door for issues relating to human error.
Conclusion:
There are several options in how to image a large number of computers. The option that is right for you is very dependent on your resources and needs. Don’t forget that getting images onto the computers is only one step in preparing the computers for educational use. You will also need to plan and calculate the time and resources it will take to assign, identify, secure, store, etc… each of these new computers.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
WikiBook Update (9/27)
It is not time to get started, its time to put the car in drive..... My group is each working on gathering resources for the chapter. We will be meeting on Monday (Oct 1) to formally collaborate and organize our chapter. At this point we have a few additions to the wiki pages but not much.
Personal Goals:
research our topic (printing and bookmarking relevant materials)
continue to practice protocols for manipulating information added to the wikibook
Personal Goals:
research our topic (printing and bookmarking relevant materials)
continue to practice protocols for manipulating information added to the wikibook
Thursday, September 20, 2007
TP#4: Wikibook Thinking and Planning
Topic: So far we've discussed technology budgeting, funding and purchasing. 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: In synopsis of these 3 separate yet very intertwined topics I believe there are a number of individual concepts and general ideas that I would wish to emphasize to future technology directors. I think most importantly would be to provide new tech directors with concrete resources for them to reference as they actually budget, fund, and purchase technology. It can be difficult to understand much of this information because of its shear volume and the numerous complicated procedures needed to successfully navigate budgeting, funding and purchasing technology. Much of this information is best learned in context and application. New tech directors would benefit from being provided with reliable grant evaluation, e-rate, and purchasing sites. In addition to reliable resources they should be provided with overviews and history of each topic as well as highlights of pitfalls, bureaucratic idiosyncrasies, and process steps. A significant emphasis should be placed on the long range planning steps associated with these three areas of a tech director’s job.
I believe out of the topics of budgeting, funding, and purchasing technology the hardest concept to grasp relates to finding funding options for technology. I find funding especially grants, establishment of grant opportunities, and grant writing to be very difficult to understand. I also believe it to be the most difficult concept of the three to present and for all levels of technology directors (not just novice) to understand. The topic is so diverse and overwhelming especially for new directors. To combat this difficult topic, funding resources should focus on providing tech directors with funding opportunities they can achieve without immense backgrounds in grant writing. Examples of this would be funding resources like non-competitive grant, popular grants (ex: classroom of the future), e-rate, funding foundations, etc…
Response: In synopsis of these 3 separate yet very intertwined topics I believe there are a number of individual concepts and general ideas that I would wish to emphasize to future technology directors. I think most importantly would be to provide new tech directors with concrete resources for them to reference as they actually budget, fund, and purchase technology. It can be difficult to understand much of this information because of its shear volume and the numerous complicated procedures needed to successfully navigate budgeting, funding and purchasing technology. Much of this information is best learned in context and application. New tech directors would benefit from being provided with reliable grant evaluation, e-rate, and purchasing sites. In addition to reliable resources they should be provided with overviews and history of each topic as well as highlights of pitfalls, bureaucratic idiosyncrasies, and process steps. A significant emphasis should be placed on the long range planning steps associated with these three areas of a tech director’s job.
I believe out of the topics of budgeting, funding, and purchasing technology the hardest concept to grasp relates to finding funding options for technology. I find funding especially grants, establishment of grant opportunities, and grant writing to be very difficult to understand. I also believe it to be the most difficult concept of the three to present and for all levels of technology directors (not just novice) to understand. The topic is so diverse and overwhelming especially for new directors. To combat this difficult topic, funding resources should focus on providing tech directors with funding opportunities they can achieve without immense backgrounds in grant writing. Examples of this would be funding resources like non-competitive grant, popular grants (ex: classroom of the future), e-rate, funding foundations, etc…
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
TP#3: Grant Writing Exercise
Topic: Grant Writing Exercise
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:
CHESSE Project (Choices for a Healthy Environment Student Service Education)
CHESSE project is an environmental initiative for the Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) system, Maryland. The Project will include all of the 200 countywide schools: Elementary (preK-5): 130, Middle (6-8): 38, High (9-12): 25, and Special or Alternative: 7. MCPS servers a 2006-07 enrolled population of 137,798 students.
Project CHESSE will extend the county and state commitment to environmental education by establishing a network of school based research facilities for students to evaluate and compile student-generated data relating to the local environment. Each school will be provided with a dedicated technology and the environment Hub. Each hub will consist of one computer providing dedicated access to a countywide research and environmental activity database and include GIS equipment and water/air-monitoring devises. One teacher from each school will be provided with professional development on how to use and integrate the equipment. The overall goal of the project is to connect and establish a deeper understanding between the MCPS students/local community and their personal connection to local/and greater environment. The goal of this project is linked and supports the State of Maryland’s 2000 Chesapeake agreement.
The objectives for this project link to the state and local education standards and help to reinforce and extend the concepts students are learning in their classrooms. Objective A- Complete students service learning hours with the CHESSE project. Objective B- Increase awareness about how our personal habits/decisions have a positive and negative effect our local environment.
This project will be funded by a variety of sources including MCPS and the Federal Government. The e-rate program will provide additional support for the infrastructure and utility of the technological hubs. The CHESSE program will continue to work to establish funding donations from local businesses and foundations.
The Federal grant or grants that will support this project are funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and are FY 2006 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education & Training Program, and Bay Watershed Education & Training Program.
Both of these grant opportunities align with the overall goal of the CHESSE project significantly the Stewardship and Community Engagement goals of the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement.
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:
CHESSE Project (Choices for a Healthy Environment Student Service Education)
CHESSE project is an environmental initiative for the Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) system, Maryland. The Project will include all of the 200 countywide schools: Elementary (preK-5): 130, Middle (6-8): 38, High (9-12): 25, and Special or Alternative: 7. MCPS servers a 2006-07 enrolled population of 137,798 students.
Project CHESSE will extend the county and state commitment to environmental education by establishing a network of school based research facilities for students to evaluate and compile student-generated data relating to the local environment. Each school will be provided with a dedicated technology and the environment Hub. Each hub will consist of one computer providing dedicated access to a countywide research and environmental activity database and include GIS equipment and water/air-monitoring devises. One teacher from each school will be provided with professional development on how to use and integrate the equipment. The overall goal of the project is to connect and establish a deeper understanding between the MCPS students/local community and their personal connection to local/and greater environment. The goal of this project is linked and supports the State of Maryland’s 2000 Chesapeake agreement.
The objectives for this project link to the state and local education standards and help to reinforce and extend the concepts students are learning in their classrooms. Objective A- Complete students service learning hours with the CHESSE project. Objective B- Increase awareness about how our personal habits/decisions have a positive and negative effect our local environment.
This project will be funded by a variety of sources including MCPS and the Federal Government. The e-rate program will provide additional support for the infrastructure and utility of the technological hubs. The CHESSE program will continue to work to establish funding donations from local businesses and foundations.
The Federal grant or grants that will support this project are funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and are FY 2006 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education & Training Program, and Bay Watershed Education & Training Program.
Both of these grant opportunities align with the overall goal of the CHESSE project significantly the Stewardship and Community Engagement goals of the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Thoughtful Problem #1
Thoughtful Problem #1
Briefly describe what attracts you to educational technology. What do you think will be the most interesting part of the kind of position you desire? What personal quality, interest or expertise best qualifies you for this position? What do you see as your biggest challenge in such a position (in terms of your personal qualities)?
I believe my attraction to educational technology can be linked to two overlapping and significant spheres of my life, my personal and my professional interests. First, personally I have been attracted to the benefits technology affords me in my day-to-day life (for example the numerous outlets available to me as I peruse my passion for the process of life long learning). In many ways I have made a personal commitment to embrace technology into my life. I feel it is important to learn from the historical perspective of technology growth, invention, and integration. As technology becomes further ingrained into our society either by choice or by demand society must make a conscious decision, either to embrace or be left behind. From my perspective embracing technology is the only true way to step forward and guarantee that new technologies will be integrated and developed for my personal needs, interests, goals, and benefit. This perspective molds into my second reason/interest related to technology specifically for the benefits of my profession, education. Through my past experiences as an educator I have been granted the opportunity and perspective to attempt comprehension of how truly behind many of our school aged children are in the US. With those experiences I have come to a realization that our teaching approaches/philosophy in today’s schools need to be focus on inspiring students to work and granting them outlets for motivation and construction of knowledge. Changing the mentality on how we teach, especially for our low achieving students moving away from direct instruction to outlets like technology, which through proper integrated can support inquiry-based learning.
My beliefs in the way technology should be embraced and integrated into modern day life and education has influenced my career path. I have begun to think about educational technology integration on a larger scale. I have become more interested in not only using technology in my classroom but also helping others adopt technology as they teach and learn. Supporting an overall goal of helping others see first hand the benefits and growth students can make with proper integration of technology. Within my career path this overarching goal can be fulfilled through multiple levels of positions or specific jobs.
As I evaluate different job positions and professional roles I feel that my best qualification for technology integration is the time and experiences I gained as a classroom teacher. I have learned a great deal about the two most important constituencies in the successful development and use of educational technology. The students and the teachers need to be the main focus and I have experienced their true needs and the demands that influence teaching and learning in today’s classrooms.
Although I do feel qualified from my background knowledge for a leadership position as related to educational technology. I do feel that I would learn and personally grow from experiencing leadership on a larger scale then what I have previously experienced. I feel that in leading a large group of people my biggest challenge may come from my personal quality/flaw of wanting to please everyone. In a large group I may not have the opportunity to explain to all parties involved my reasoning for a decision but instead need to deal with doing what I feel is the best decision even if does not please everyone.
Briefly describe what attracts you to educational technology. What do you think will be the most interesting part of the kind of position you desire? What personal quality, interest or expertise best qualifies you for this position? What do you see as your biggest challenge in such a position (in terms of your personal qualities)?
I believe my attraction to educational technology can be linked to two overlapping and significant spheres of my life, my personal and my professional interests. First, personally I have been attracted to the benefits technology affords me in my day-to-day life (for example the numerous outlets available to me as I peruse my passion for the process of life long learning). In many ways I have made a personal commitment to embrace technology into my life. I feel it is important to learn from the historical perspective of technology growth, invention, and integration. As technology becomes further ingrained into our society either by choice or by demand society must make a conscious decision, either to embrace or be left behind. From my perspective embracing technology is the only true way to step forward and guarantee that new technologies will be integrated and developed for my personal needs, interests, goals, and benefit. This perspective molds into my second reason/interest related to technology specifically for the benefits of my profession, education. Through my past experiences as an educator I have been granted the opportunity and perspective to attempt comprehension of how truly behind many of our school aged children are in the US. With those experiences I have come to a realization that our teaching approaches/philosophy in today’s schools need to be focus on inspiring students to work and granting them outlets for motivation and construction of knowledge. Changing the mentality on how we teach, especially for our low achieving students moving away from direct instruction to outlets like technology, which through proper integrated can support inquiry-based learning.
My beliefs in the way technology should be embraced and integrated into modern day life and education has influenced my career path. I have begun to think about educational technology integration on a larger scale. I have become more interested in not only using technology in my classroom but also helping others adopt technology as they teach and learn. Supporting an overall goal of helping others see first hand the benefits and growth students can make with proper integration of technology. Within my career path this overarching goal can be fulfilled through multiple levels of positions or specific jobs.
As I evaluate different job positions and professional roles I feel that my best qualification for technology integration is the time and experiences I gained as a classroom teacher. I have learned a great deal about the two most important constituencies in the successful development and use of educational technology. The students and the teachers need to be the main focus and I have experienced their true needs and the demands that influence teaching and learning in today’s classrooms.
Although I do feel qualified from my background knowledge for a leadership position as related to educational technology. I do feel that I would learn and personally grow from experiencing leadership on a larger scale then what I have previously experienced. I feel that in leading a large group of people my biggest challenge may come from my personal quality/flaw of wanting to please everyone. In a large group I may not have the opportunity to explain to all parties involved my reasoning for a decision but instead need to deal with doing what I feel is the best decision even if does not please everyone.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Welcome!!
Welcome to my Budgeting, Managing & Evaluating School Technology EDUC 491 personal blog. Feel free to visit and review my personal thoughts, understandings, and comments as they develop during this Fall 2007 class.
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