TF-VII A.

5 (installation, maintenance, inventory)

TF-VII A. 6(Troubleshooting techniques)
TF-VII A.7 (Operate the network)
TH-VII A. 8 (Maximize the use of tech by teachers)
TF-VII B. 3 (Procedures for troubleshooting & preventative maintenance)

Technology Procedures, Planning, & Budgeting

Todd Alexander, W520 Planning for Technology: Technology Interview

INTERVIEWEE Identify the parties that have been interviewed

NAME

JOB TITLE

Director of Information Technology

3 years at Salem Community

Schools as the Director of
Information Technology

Erin Humphrey, pictured fifth from the left

She started at Salem Middle School as a technology support staff member. She then
became director of technology for the corporation. As technology coordinator, she
serves as the project manager for all technology implementations. She oversaw the
wireless network installation in 2013, manages software updates, new product
purchases, coordinates technology discussions, technology management, manages
the PowerSchool database, enters new enrollments, orders new technology,
coordinates product demonstrations, helps write grants for technology, compiles state
reports for the department of education, coordinates continuing education for
educational technology, cares for the technology needs at the administration building,
and serves as a backup for all tech personnel in the corporation.

Questions to ask:
1. Explain your procedures for technology inventory maintenance. (How do you
take inventory? When and how often do you take inventory? With whom do you
share the data? How is the data used for future technology decisions?)
a. Inventory is kept by the building technology representative. Most
teachers report technology equipment as part of their yearly inventory
spreadsheets. Each building level tech representative keeps a tally of all
tech equipment in use as well as future purchases and needs. Upgrades
to current technology are dependent upon funds available. Student
computer upgrades typically take place on a three year rotation.
Teacher computer upgrades take place between three and five years.
Replacements are made as needed. Most big expenses (replacements)
take place during the summer when more time is available to work on the
projects and more money is available.

TF-VII A.5 (installation, maintenance, inventory)

TF-VII A. 6(Troubleshooting techniques)
TF-VII A.7 (Operate the network)
TH-VII A. 8 (Maximize the use of tech by teachers)
TF-VII B. 3 (Procedures for troubleshooting & preventative maintenance)

2. Explain the procedures and guidelines that are used in planning and purchasing
technology resources for the school.
a. First, we look at what we have and see if we can make do with what we
have. We always upgrade before we buy new. We are constantly
looking at what is new and what the new trends in technology are.
Currently, we are looking at upgrading to Windows 10. We always test the
new products or software before we make it official in the technology
labs. Another initiative we are looking at adopting is the 1:1 initiative. We
would like to see at least three years pass before we were to implement a
full roll out of the initiative. WE would test or pilot the 1:1 initiative in a few
classes: maybe a class or grade level at the elementary, a grade level at
the middle school, and a specific department at the high school. We will
make sure technology professional development is provided for all tech
personnel, teachers, and administrators before the full rollout takes place.
We are also looking at potential future replacements of the SmartBoard.
Most educators use the Smart Board as a glorified white board rather
than taking it to the next level. For the future, we are looking at the option
of a flat screen mobile wall that has the computer built into it.
3. What techniques are used to maintain your current technology? (How often do
you update software? What techniques are used to keep older computers
running properly? )
a. Technology personnel maintain their own buildings technology needs.
They take care of their buildings technology updates. Overall, once
Windows updates are released the updates will occur overnight
automatically. Once they see or have an error reported, they examine
whats gone wrong by asking the user about the error and then try to
recreate the problem to see how best to correct the issue. We always
make sure we are able to repair the technology we have before we look
at buying new. We have spare parts available and try our best to duct
tape the computer until we are able to get new products. The tech
personnel take care of general maintenance and do best with what we
have available.
4. How do you manage software installation for all of the computers in the
building? (Do you manually install software on each machine? Do you have
individual staff members install software? Is software installed remotely?)
a. Software updates are all done by the building tech representatives. Most
computers are running off of Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows XP.
Software updates are done using web-based downloads. These are
taken care of on a building by building manner. Almost all computers
have Office programs. Additionally, special education departments have
Mind Play remediation software and the business departments have their
own sets of software they use (coding, programming, etc.). For future use,
we are looking at Google Docs as an option.

TF-VII A.5 (installation, maintenance, inventory)

TF-VII A. 6(Troubleshooting techniques)
TF-VII A.7 (Operate the network)
TH-VII A. 8 (Maximize the use of tech by teachers)
TF-VII B. 3 (Procedures for troubleshooting & preventative maintenance)

5. Describe some of your troubleshooting techniques when working with the

technology issues in the building? (Do you use technology forums? Do you
reinstall software or reimage the computers? Do you obtain advise from
colleagues?)
a. Building tech representatives take care of troubleshooting issues on an as
needed basis. Once they receive an error, they ask the user what they
were doing when the error occurred. They try to recreate the problem
and see what went wrong. If that doesnt work, then they go back
through other channels to see what is wrong. Programs and hardware
can be tested and see which part is failing. If the problems occur after
hours, then the tech personnel has access to the remote desktop so they
can get in and see whats wrong.
6. Describe your schools network? (How does it operate?)
a. The school system gets its internet through ENA (the internet service
provider for most of IN schools). It goes through the High School through
privatively owned fiber. Switches send that directly to each building. All
networks for the computers themselves are manual networks are
computer by computer. If we do implement a 1:1 initiative, there will be
one central management system. We do also have wireless available.
However, it covers only about 50% of the school district. The wireless has
limited access due to its limited bandwidth. Wireless is not available to
tech resources on the computers in our labs or teacher computers.
Administrators and the media directors in each building have access to
Wi-Fi as they have devices which require it.
7. What strategies are employed to maximize the use of technology by the
teachers? (Do you offer PD? Has the admin set technology goals for the staff?
Do the teacher have access to the latest in technology?)
a. As we gain new technology, we do provide adequate professional
development. However, as new teachers come in this becomes an issue
as for training them. We provide at the new teacher training session a
demonstration on how to access their email and gradebook. Some more
established teachers serve as teacher leaders for their own buildings.
This is not mandatory, but these teachers provide guidance to new staff
on how to use our current technology. New staff members are
introduced to the tech personnel. They know they can contact them for
any assistance needed. I would like to see set up a more fluid system for
instructing new staff on how to use our technology.
b. As far as old technology, the Smart Board technology seems to be
becoming out of date. Smart Boards are not being used to their fullest
potential. As far as being able to use the Smart Boards, only the
elementary school has been trained on using the Smart Board and all of
the Smart technologies that comes with it. This is due to the Title I grant
received to be used at the middle school. We do have some Title II funds
available for some staff to receive the training if desired. To improve the

TF-VII A.5 (installation, maintenance, inventory)

TF-VII A. 6(Troubleshooting techniques)
TF-VII A.7 (Operate the network)
TH-VII A. 8 (Maximize the use of tech by teachers)
TF-VII B. 3 (Procedures for troubleshooting & preventative maintenance)

technology that teachers use to project information, we are looking into

for future use a flat panel TV with a roll around screen. This is an
interactive panel called Clear Touch. We would like to apply for grant
money for this and test one in a classroom and see what kind of results we
get.
c. In the future, our ultimate goal is to get our corporation closer and closer
to a 1:1 initiative. At the High School level, all English computer labs are
1:1. Our computer labs will also hold a typical class size. The high school
could use more computers to reduce the lab computer to student ratio,
but funding is an issue. Also for the future, we need more training when
we make new technologies available. We need to make sure that all
teachers and staff are comfortable to use and instruct from the new
technology.