Monday - Met with heating/air guy about board room. turned out to be low freon in heat pump. Emailed Belinda Kittrell. She said notices will be mailed out today regarding tech plans. Hopefully I will get one. :-)
Tuesday - Answered several phone calls/emails regarding tech plans. Worked on new web filter. Other normal daily tasks, as evident through email.
Wednesday - Attended Prescott Technology Committee Meeting. Received Tech Plan Revision notice in mail. Made changes to tech plan, submitted. System gives a relay error. Known issue, but updates still went through.
Thursday - Held area tech meeting. Notes are as follows:
1. Updates from State Level
---- State is rolling out a new, single sign-on system for the various data sources from one web site. An area tech asked, "Why do have all these different data sources?" Since I did not know the answer, I promised to write Cody Decker and Jim Boardman. I followed up with an email to those individuals.
---- As of last week, the state had only NINE respondents to the IT Readiness Survey for Common Core. I asked that the techs work with their Superintendents to get the information entered. The survey, though optional, will provide critical baseline information as the CCSS assessments are created and rolled out.
---- IDEAS/iTunesU/Sandbox - Arkansas is rolling out iTunesU to the district levels in an effort and attempt to get more local content produced and uploaded. Several techs reported that their teachers were using IDEAS for professional development.
2. Disaster Recovery Testing
---- Discussion regarding DRP testing.
---- Two tests are required per year. They do *NOT* have to be technology-related. I suggest that at least one be tech-related, however.
---- One of the two required tests can be a serious round-table discussion in a "What If..." scenario. Offsite backups can be brought to the co-op for storage and/or for recovery/restoration testing.
---- Some techs asked for information regarding enterprise level cloud-based backup. I will see what I can find out and share it with the group.
3. Tech Plan Updates/Info
---- All the schools reported they had received notification of revisions.
---- Statewide issue regarding submission - system gives a "Relay Error." I suggested techs send email to Belinda, including the LEA and date of submission.
---- Clarification: New signature pages are *NOT* required! As long as ADE has signatures on assurance pages already.
---- Discussion regarding the methods in which revisions are communicated to districts. We would prefer electronic communication (email, ideally).
4. Etherscope Update
---- A new grant to get EVERY co-op in the state an Etherscope is underway.
---- Techs were excited about that prospect.
5. Impero Demo showing updated/new features (approx 30 minutes)
---- New power management features
---- Enhanced remote desktop features
---- BYOD discussion ensued, Impero suggests policies for use of teh software on campus network, then automatic removal once machine leaves campus.
6. Working lunch included demo from Chad Brinkley with eInstruction
---- eInstruction has a new Mobi-based app
---- App works with ANY editable format (word, ppt, pages, google docs, etc)
---- Right now, app only works as a teacher program; working on student-side app
---- Works in conjunction with Mobi classroom clickers/pads.
---- New case holds iPad2, comes with stylus. Rugged. $59
---- Classroom, Building, and Site Licenses available
7. E-rate
---- PIA requests received by some districts
8. Asked if techs would like a PowerShell workshop this summer. Many said yes, so I will arrange that.
9. Group discussion reagrding a variety of topics including, but not limited to:
---- Lightspeed firewall
---- Fortigate firewall
---- Hot Springs Technical Institute
---- Job descriptions, employment openings at various districts
---- Other various topics
Friday - Revised Technology section of the SWAEC annual report. Worked on filtering issues, contacted Fortigate for support. Worked with Blevins tech staff on their tech plan revisions. Other duties and communication as evident via email.
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