Please view the above video for my most important point blog, as gathered from an interview with my school's technology integration specialist. Please excuse the date of this posting, as my interview was scheduled for earlier in the week and was postponed until today. Thanks!
M. Walsh, personal communication, November 1, 2013.
Hi Tai,
ReplyDeleteAs we look at the current trends in technology, without funding, schools would have to be very creative in embracing many forms of technology. It is great that your school receives funds for your technology program. Since the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) movement is a fairly new concept in schools, many schools are wise to study its effects on equipment and services prior to implementation. Your views only reinforced my view that schools should have a plan in place prior to implementing a BYOD program and this seems to me, this seems to be the muddiest point in the BYOD movement. Hopefully, after graduation my ability to help with a technology implementation plan will benefit my agency. You also mentioned team teaching in your post. One positive point with team teaching is that instructors can optimize each other’s strengths and weaknesses to their benefit, especially when it comes to using multiple forms of technology in the classroom.
Many Blessings,
Denise
Hi Denise—Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate your support on the idea of studying technology before implementing it. Before my interview, I focused on mainstream technology and felt that if it was what is typically used, we should use it in school. However, it is really important to study different devices, networks, and other programs and services before implementing a program.
DeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts—Tai
Hey Tai,
ReplyDeleteI would like to share some experiences our school has experienced in the BYOD police implemented this school year. The Wi-Fi has been a problem and unable to function correctly with so many students using computers at the same time. Several upgrades have been completed to try to eliminate the drop of signal experienced by the devices. The last one helped but it is still a problem. The biggest technology problem has been with the new MacBook Computers installed in the media center. The computers freeze all the time. Our high school is only five years old and our serve has been replaced twice. I have backup lesson plans any day I have computers and internet use integrated into my lesson plans. I would say a technology plan for a school needs to include equipment to support the export of technology use. It sounds like your TIS person does a great job for your school. Hopefully our tech people will fix all of our bugs soon.
Thanks Beverly
Beverly,
DeleteI have actually recently read a lot about wifi and internet with respect to BYOD and how significantly important it is to get a vendor who is willing to change and meet your needs as you implement a BYOD program. Your point about equipment is really significant, too. We get support for all of our school provided devices (laptops, projectors), and for things we (our PTA) provide (iPads, SMARTBoards). It sounds like your tech department needs to provide support for the MacBook computers you have! That is definitely frustrating writing two sets of lesson plans--I am rolling my eyes just thinking about it!
Thanks for the feedback--Tai