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.
Showing posts with label prescott. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prescott. Show all posts
Monday, April 23, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
March 26, 2012 - March 30, 2012 and catching up
Monday - Office
Tuesday - Texarkana, Etherscope
Wednesday - Texarkana, Etherscope if needed
Thursday - Office
Friday - Office
Last week (March 19-23) was Spring Break. I was out of the office the whole week, though I worked during that time on a couple server issues. I also worked on moving TIE modules from the "old" PDF format to the new Moodle format.
March 5 - Visited with Prescott regarding NETS/ISTE Tech Support Index.
March 6 - Arch Ford Co-op for state section meetings, tech coordinator meeting
March 7-9 - Work on network security and monitoring.
March 12-15 - Continue network security and monitoring, meet with staff.
During that week, I also made two trips to Lafayette ECH to work on computer issues.
Tuesday - Texarkana, Etherscope
Wednesday - Texarkana, Etherscope if needed
Thursday - Office
Friday - Office
Last week (March 19-23) was Spring Break. I was out of the office the whole week, though I worked during that time on a couple server issues. I also worked on moving TIE modules from the "old" PDF format to the new Moodle format.
March 5 - Visited with Prescott regarding NETS/ISTE Tech Support Index.
March 6 - Arch Ford Co-op for state section meetings, tech coordinator meeting
March 7-9 - Work on network security and monitoring.
March 12-15 - Continue network security and monitoring, meet with staff.
During that week, I also made two trips to Lafayette ECH to work on computer issues.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Recapping... 10/19-10/26 and 10/31-11/13
In addition to daily duties, these are the highlights of days gone by:
*Note: At various times during this period, I was out sick. I have emails confirming this, as well as emails detailing some tasks not specifically outlined here. i will happily share any of that information with personnel in authority as needed/requested.
10/19 - Participated in the Prescott Schools Technology Committee Meeting.
10/24 - Worked with Blevins to get printers working at the district. Turned out to be an issue with wireless access points handing out "bad" addresses on the network. Resolved all but one a/p issue, but that a/p could not actually be physically located. Resolved issue in software, rebooted workstations. Set up reservations in dhcp. Then traveled to Fouke to work on various Server 2008 issues, tech plan items, and other issues.
10/31 - out sick
11/02 - Went to Txk ECH to work on laptop. Ended up bringing laptop back for complete factory restore.
11/03 - Lewisville ECH and Bradley Schools - Went to Lewisville to troubleshoot computer problems. Resolved settings in Adobe in order to make SEAS work via web browser. Also installed/set-up SmartBoard. From there, went to Bradley in order to resolve connectivity issues. Like Blevins (above), we found wireless access points handing out "bad" ip addresses. Evidently, a power surge over the previous night had reset the access points to hand out ip addresses. in one case, we resolved an ongoing issue (thought it had been an infected machine, but turned out to be an access point handing out ips). We also looked at other server issues, worked on e-rate (specifically BEAR form info), and took care of local work orders.
11/04 - Returned the Txk ECH laptop to the classroom, reinstalled the printer and tested everything. Looks great.
11/08 - Talked with Paul Glen, CEO of LeadingGeeks regarding communication differences between "techies" and "non-techies" for a book he is writing with a partner. The interview/conversation lasted about an hour. I also evaluated Xirrus and AeroHive for enterprise wireless solutions in our main building. Evaluated a couple quotes for Crestron installation of a control panel system for our conference rooms.
11/09 - Met with Lindy and Phoebe regarding several tech issues and topics. Ultimately decided to table the Crestron/automation project and move forward with AeroHive.
11/10 - Monthly Board meeting. Presented "app of the month." Covered FlipBoard and "This Day in History."
11/11 - Met with Lindy, Phoebe and Trish regarding TIE schedules and meeting agendas. Installed CWT on iPad and iPod for workshop. Worked on Operations Guides for various presentation rooms at co-op. Ordered parts to help clean up the wiring in the main conference center.
*Note: At various times during this period, I was out sick. I have emails confirming this, as well as emails detailing some tasks not specifically outlined here. i will happily share any of that information with personnel in authority as needed/requested.
10/19 - Participated in the Prescott Schools Technology Committee Meeting.
10/24 - Worked with Blevins to get printers working at the district. Turned out to be an issue with wireless access points handing out "bad" addresses on the network. Resolved all but one a/p issue, but that a/p could not actually be physically located. Resolved issue in software, rebooted workstations. Set up reservations in dhcp. Then traveled to Fouke to work on various Server 2008 issues, tech plan items, and other issues.
10/31 - out sick
11/02 - Went to Txk ECH to work on laptop. Ended up bringing laptop back for complete factory restore.
11/03 - Lewisville ECH and Bradley Schools - Went to Lewisville to troubleshoot computer problems. Resolved settings in Adobe in order to make SEAS work via web browser. Also installed/set-up SmartBoard. From there, went to Bradley in order to resolve connectivity issues. Like Blevins (above), we found wireless access points handing out "bad" ip addresses. Evidently, a power surge over the previous night had reset the access points to hand out ip addresses. in one case, we resolved an ongoing issue (thought it had been an infected machine, but turned out to be an access point handing out ips). We also looked at other server issues, worked on e-rate (specifically BEAR form info), and took care of local work orders.
11/04 - Returned the Txk ECH laptop to the classroom, reinstalled the printer and tested everything. Looks great.
11/08 - Talked with Paul Glen, CEO of LeadingGeeks regarding communication differences between "techies" and "non-techies" for a book he is writing with a partner. The interview/conversation lasted about an hour. I also evaluated Xirrus and AeroHive for enterprise wireless solutions in our main building. Evaluated a couple quotes for Crestron installation of a control panel system for our conference rooms.
11/09 - Met with Lindy and Phoebe regarding several tech issues and topics. Ultimately decided to table the Crestron/automation project and move forward with AeroHive.
11/10 - Monthly Board meeting. Presented "app of the month." Covered FlipBoard and "This Day in History."
11/11 - Met with Lindy, Phoebe and Trish regarding TIE schedules and meeting agendas. Installed CWT on iPad and iPod for workshop. Worked on Operations Guides for various presentation rooms at co-op. Ordered parts to help clean up the wiring in the main conference center.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
10/07/11 - 10/18/11
10/7 - Had an aerohive demo for possible wireless solution at the co-op main building. Took care of general troubleshooting and other daily tasks.
10/10/11 - Installed new CIV systems at Blevins as part of RUS Grant.
10/11/11 - Installed new CIV systems at Prescott as part of RUS Grant. Also worked with Doug on a couple Sharepoint issues that seem to center on a webpart for slideshows. The java script used evidently clashes in some systems with the code for rich-text editing. Working to find another slideshow solution.
10/12/11 - Met with the Business, Technology, and Education Advisory Council for UACCH. Had a very open, frank conversation regarding skills needed, classes and topics to be taught. Met with Curtis Stout Company to evaluate a possible Crestron solution for the co-ops main conference center.
10/13/11 - Met with various staff and performed daily tech activities, troubleshooting etc.
10/14/11 - Went to Bradley to help with various issues: SmartBoard, graphics issues, wireless, and other areas of needed assistance.
10/17/11 - Performed daily tech activites, upgraded iPad to iOS5, worked on two laptops and replaced a desktop. Checked one of the smartphones for problems. Temporary solution was to disable shortcut keys. Phone is eligible for upgrade/replacement.
10/18/11 - Replaced a bulb in Hope ECH classroom, present to the board the "App of the Month" - AudioNote, examined an older laptop for possible replacement.
10/10/11 - Installed new CIV systems at Blevins as part of RUS Grant.
10/11/11 - Installed new CIV systems at Prescott as part of RUS Grant. Also worked with Doug on a couple Sharepoint issues that seem to center on a webpart for slideshows. The java script used evidently clashes in some systems with the code for rich-text editing. Working to find another slideshow solution.
10/12/11 - Met with the Business, Technology, and Education Advisory Council for UACCH. Had a very open, frank conversation regarding skills needed, classes and topics to be taught. Met with Curtis Stout Company to evaluate a possible Crestron solution for the co-ops main conference center.
10/13/11 - Met with various staff and performed daily tech activities, troubleshooting etc.
10/14/11 - Went to Bradley to help with various issues: SmartBoard, graphics issues, wireless, and other areas of needed assistance.
10/17/11 - Performed daily tech activites, upgraded iPad to iOS5, worked on two laptops and replaced a desktop. Checked one of the smartphones for problems. Temporary solution was to disable shortcut keys. Phone is eligible for upgrade/replacement.
10/18/11 - Replaced a bulb in Hope ECH classroom, present to the board the "App of the Month" - AudioNote, examined an older laptop for possible replacement.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Monday and Tuesday, September 12-13, 2011
Monday, I spent the day troubleshooting via phone and email while getting caught up on some office things that needed to get done. I also ran a few local network tests in preparation for DIS to come on Tuesday. I also reminded the Supts and school techs about the September 15 deadline for the website requirements signature page to be signed and posted online. This triggered a discussion about the signature form and pertinent Commissioner's Memos. After some digging, I came up with a form for schools to use based on sample forms provided by Hope and Nevada. I am thankful to those schools for helping me out - helping us ALL out!
Tuesday, worked with DIS on troubleshooting our local network problems. The issues boiled down to folks streaming radio stations and video. We also had an inordinate amount of software updates running all at the same time, clogging the network. We also checked for loopbacks, and spent quite a bit of time on trying to get 1-to-1 NAT working on ISA 2006. We think we have a solution, but I will have to test it after hours.
Tuesday afternoon, I spent time with Prescott Schools, working on various Sharepoint issues - one regarding group permissions and site settings, and the other regarding the use of SSL for intranet access.
Tuesday, worked with DIS on troubleshooting our local network problems. The issues boiled down to folks streaming radio stations and video. We also had an inordinate amount of software updates running all at the same time, clogging the network. We also checked for loopbacks, and spent quite a bit of time on trying to get 1-to-1 NAT working on ISA 2006. We think we have a solution, but I will have to test it after hours.
Tuesday afternoon, I spent time with Prescott Schools, working on various Sharepoint issues - one regarding group permissions and site settings, and the other regarding the use of SSL for intranet access.
Friday, August 26, 2011
8-26-2011
Started the morning by meeting with our workforce ed coordinator at prescott schools. We will meet with the tech next week regarding wireless access in the business lab so the teacher/students can use the ipads provided through workforce ed.
drove to office. met with fire extinguisher tech, who checked our equipment and verified operation.
talked on the phone with harry dickens regarding a grant and app development. also discussed his book - 40 ipod/ipad apps for high school.
spent a couple hours helping a new contractor with our air filters.
worked on target testing documents for the testing web site hosted here at swsc.
took care of regular daily duties and activities.
drove to office. met with fire extinguisher tech, who checked our equipment and verified operation.
talked on the phone with harry dickens regarding a grant and app development. also discussed his book - 40 ipod/ipad apps for high school.
spent a couple hours helping a new contractor with our air filters.
worked on target testing documents for the testing web site hosted here at swsc.
took care of regular daily duties and activities.
Monday, July 25, 2011
07/25/2011
Drove straight to McRae Middle School to deliver several boxes of binders and books for a workshop taking place there today.
At the office, I talked with the presenter for a pocket camera workshop and we needed to update the software on the cameras being used. So, me and the DL coordinator and the presenter fired up Windows in Parallels and installed the correct software.
After that, Trish (DL Coordinator) and I headed to Bradley. in Bradley, we connected a new swicth and media converters to the video network in preparation for new equipment coming through an RUS grant. Once that was done, we went to the closet where the fiber terminated to install another media converter and switch. This allows for the video system to come online and for 24 computers to be installed in the new dl room.
After that, we went to an extsing dl room in order to disassemble a video system in order to reconfigure the hardware arrangement. The remote for the system would not work because the equipment had been installed backward in the podium. We fixed that, ran a couple test calls, and tied up loose wires, etc.
In the next dl room, we tied up loose wires and verified that things were working. The touch panel is having issues and we may need to update the software in both the codec and the touch panel this year.
There were three netbooks giving the local tech fits, so I helped get those situated and joined them to the domain.
I am scheduled to return on Tuesday with a Windows 7 DVD to reinstall software on a laptop and to run cabling for the new dl room.
At the office, I talked with the presenter for a pocket camera workshop and we needed to update the software on the cameras being used. So, me and the DL coordinator and the presenter fired up Windows in Parallels and installed the correct software.
After that, Trish (DL Coordinator) and I headed to Bradley. in Bradley, we connected a new swicth and media converters to the video network in preparation for new equipment coming through an RUS grant. Once that was done, we went to the closet where the fiber terminated to install another media converter and switch. This allows for the video system to come online and for 24 computers to be installed in the new dl room.
After that, we went to an extsing dl room in order to disassemble a video system in order to reconfigure the hardware arrangement. The remote for the system would not work because the equipment had been installed backward in the podium. We fixed that, ran a couple test calls, and tied up loose wires, etc.
In the next dl room, we tied up loose wires and verified that things were working. The touch panel is having issues and we may need to update the software in both the codec and the touch panel this year.
There were three netbooks giving the local tech fits, so I helped get those situated and joined them to the domain.
I am scheduled to return on Tuesday with a Windows 7 DVD to reinstall software on a laptop and to run cabling for the new dl room.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Troubleshooting Plato and Ironport
Was at a school on Wednesday that had trouble with Plato. Students could not pull up the assessments from the program, but teachers and IT could. The local tech ruled out permissions and was able to narrow the problem down to the Ironport firewall. That's when I walked in. The tech created a new Identity and Access Policy and used an IP address not currently associated with anything in the system. I sat at a workstation and logged in as an admin user and as a student alternately, as we tried to figure things out. With the IP settings wide open, I could go anywhere in Plato I wanted. We started locking things down. I would wait for the tech to make a change, then kill IE and try to get it. The first set of changes allowed me through. We made more changes. Log off/Log on, got through. We did this for a couple hours as we enable each of the settings already in the Student Access Policy. In every case, I was able to get through as a student. Something wasn't right here. At 11 o'clock, Cisco called and we got into a WebEx with them for troubleshooting. On a different machine, Cisco captured packets during a session where the system would not allow a student to take assessments. Then, I suggested we capture packets from a session using the admin account since that WOULD work. Cisco agreed. They said they would look at the data and get back to the tech. After lunch, we thought we had a solution: Windows 7 and IE9. The machine I was using to test had those. The machines in the lab have XP and IE7. We upgraded to IE8 and that did not fix it. We took a couple netbooks with Win7/IE9 and they didn't work either! UGH! Back to the drawing board. Then, as we were talking, the conversation came up about session cookies and the filter. I knew that was part of the key. you see, if the filter was using keys, then my key would still have been active on the test computer (where it worked). Sure enough, we logged in as a DIFFERENT student, and that account couldn't take assessments. Okay, now we were getting somewhere. After some more troubleshooting, we knew we would have to run the tests again. We also surmised that the cookies were being held for about 20 minutes. Surely we would not have to wait 20 minutes between tests, right? Right. Each USER got a cookie! So, the plan was to make a change, log in as a student. Test. If it did not work, make another change and log in as a DIFFERENT student then test. Repeat until it started working. (or vice versa. I think we started with the most open and worked our way to most restrictive in the plan). By the time we came up with the plan, it was 4:15pm and I had to head to the house. The tech and his assistant would work on it the next day (Thursday). I receive a text on Thursday mid-morning, letting me know that they had figured out the issue! The culprit? Bandwidth restrictions! Since the bandwidth was locked down for students, the program (java/flash based) couldn't run! Problem solved! Wahoo!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
08/10/2010
8:30a - 9:45a - Worked with Prescott schools during their Pinnacle software update. The update was performed via remote desktop session from tech support with Pinnacle. Ran into a couple snags during the configuration phase, but between the three of us, figured everything out and the software is ready for the 2010 school year rollover!
10:00a-12noon - Taught teachers how to access their new classroom portals, including posting announcement, events, photos, etc. Also discussed adding students and creating groups based on class periods, dropping students into those groups, then setting permissions so students could only participate in their assigned period discussions, etc.
12:00-12:15p - Talked to AT&T about moving the T1 connections. He had mistakenly been told to move the lines TODAY! Whoa! I am glad he called me! He said he would put everything in place and then we would be able to "flip the switch" on Friday to get connectivity to our new building.
1:00p-2:00p - Helped user recover distribution list that had been mistakenly deleted. Talked with Phoebe about the upcoming move, the convo with AT&T, and other issues related to the new building.
2:00p-2:20p - Talked with Bradley administrative assistant regarding her limited access to perform certain functions on her computer. Walked her through the process of adding her to the local admins group. Once done, she had access to all the software she needed to run (signage, Office, etc).
2:40-3:45p - Worked with Bob Cochenour at Western Co-op regarding a business-facing Facebook page. We set up the page then spent a considerable amount of time trying to lock down the page to meet their needs. Evidently, there is some 'super-secret' to getting Facebook to "let" you do that. Apparently, there is a "whitelisting" process that can provide this. Of course, actually getting support from facebook is impossible to find. It amazes me that we, as a society, allow ourselves to post and host personal information on a site that provides no easy means for contacting the people that run the show. There is something not right about that, I think.
During this process, I also helped one of our users with her login and password. I anticipate several folks needing that help as they return to schools after being off in the summer (and not checking email).
3:45p-4:00p - Called Bradley schools to talk with HS Principal regarding the IP addresses for their video systems. Apparently, DLC had to cancel a few of their classes at the last minute. Luckily, ASMSA stepped in and will provide the needed classes. I also gave her the phone number to ArkansasIDEAS because she has a teacher that could not log in. I tried to locate the teacher with the STIN lookup tool that state techs have access to, but she did not appear in the database.
10:00a-12noon - Taught teachers how to access their new classroom portals, including posting announcement, events, photos, etc. Also discussed adding students and creating groups based on class periods, dropping students into those groups, then setting permissions so students could only participate in their assigned period discussions, etc.
12:00-12:15p - Talked to AT&T about moving the T1 connections. He had mistakenly been told to move the lines TODAY! Whoa! I am glad he called me! He said he would put everything in place and then we would be able to "flip the switch" on Friday to get connectivity to our new building.
1:00p-2:00p - Helped user recover distribution list that had been mistakenly deleted. Talked with Phoebe about the upcoming move, the convo with AT&T, and other issues related to the new building.
2:00p-2:20p - Talked with Bradley administrative assistant regarding her limited access to perform certain functions on her computer. Walked her through the process of adding her to the local admins group. Once done, she had access to all the software she needed to run (signage, Office, etc).
2:40-3:45p - Worked with Bob Cochenour at Western Co-op regarding a business-facing Facebook page. We set up the page then spent a considerable amount of time trying to lock down the page to meet their needs. Evidently, there is some 'super-secret' to getting Facebook to "let" you do that. Apparently, there is a "whitelisting" process that can provide this. Of course, actually getting support from facebook is impossible to find. It amazes me that we, as a society, allow ourselves to post and host personal information on a site that provides no easy means for contacting the people that run the show. There is something not right about that, I think.
During this process, I also helped one of our users with her login and password. I anticipate several folks needing that help as they return to schools after being off in the summer (and not checking email).
3:45p-4:00p - Called Bradley schools to talk with HS Principal regarding the IP addresses for their video systems. Apparently, DLC had to cancel a few of their classes at the last minute. Luckily, ASMSA stepped in and will provide the needed classes. I also gave her the phone number to ArkansasIDEAS because she has a teacher that could not log in. I tried to locate the teacher with the STIN lookup tool that state techs have access to, but she did not appear in the database.
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