Other than daily routine, here are some of the things I have been doing lately:
On january 6, 2011, the state techs met at The Ranch in Little Rock.
On the 10-11, our offices were closed to due the massive snow storm that hit our area. On the 12th, I took a personal day off because the offices were opened but I could not get my car out of the yard in order to get to work - still was snowed in!
On the 18th, I installed a new computer for the Prescott Early Childhood program. While there, I set up a local printer to print to a student computer they have. After that, I went to the office, set up the Bradley Early Childhood computer and then delivered that computer to Bradley. While at Bradley, I helped the teacher install various software programs on the student computers. I also had to fix the resolution of one of the monitors. The monitor and the video card were out of refresh-rate sync, so I eventually got them to talk to each other by using the advanced settings for the graphics adapter.
On the 19th, I worked with Blevins schools: We installed shared printers to various laptops (using the path-name method - \\computername\printer\ ) When installing a shared printer onto another computer, you'll know if something isn't working correctly because as soon as you type "\\computername\" the name of the shared printer should automagically fill in. If it doesn't, the most likely reason is that the computername has been mistyped. Double-check spelling to be sure. The other reason is the name of the workgroup or domain being used. be sure they match on both computers.
Blevins also had a SmartBoard with the "psychadelic" color wheel problem. After a bit, we figured out how to access the bulb (on the 455, er I think that is the model number), the access panel is on the bottom (that is, facing the floor) and you simply pull it off. Once that's done, use a small screwdrive to loosen the two BLACK screws. Lift the U-clamp and drop the lamp out of the socket (not onto the floor! Just slowly pull the lamp out). Use canned air to blow out the bulb and the entire cavity, making sure to blow off the fan at the back and the color wheel up inside. Put everything back together and fire it up!
We also talked about installing some video cameras for a basketball tournament they have coming up. Ultimately, we decided on two cameras to be routed outside to another building for viewing. I will get pricing for a couple different setups and let them pick the one they want based on features and pricing.
On the 20th, I went to Genoa to help them set up a VPN on one of their switches. As it turns out, we were talking about two different kinds of VPN. I was thinking segregated netowrks; she was thinking remote access. haha.. Well, once that was out of the way, we explored different ideas and ultimately decided to try one of the 'free for non-commerical use' programs to see how they like it.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Back to work!
It's back to work after a two-week break!
I got to the office, grabbed the Math Resources hard drive and headed to Fouke. There, I trained about 15-20 users on how to access the information (over 4GBs!) and then I let them explore the drive on their own.
After I got back to the office, I worked with Trish Brown (DL Coordinator) to get a CIV scheduled for Tuesday.
I also installed a new MFP for my boss, among other general duties.
I got to the office, grabbed the Math Resources hard drive and headed to Fouke. There, I trained about 15-20 users on how to access the information (over 4GBs!) and then I let them explore the drive on their own.
After I got back to the office, I worked with Trish Brown (DL Coordinator) to get a CIV scheduled for Tuesday.
I also installed a new MFP for my boss, among other general duties.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Week of December 13-17, 2010
Over the weekend, I worked with a district to help them pull video from one of their security cameras. The original plan was for me to head to their district on Monday. I called them ahead of time, and they had recovered all the video they needed. I spent the day cleaning the tech office closet - a feat of great undertaking, considering it was a mess from the move back in August!
I also worked on (and submitted) my grant evaluation for my program. We are required to submit a grant evaluation of how we (the state techs) are doing. there are a series of questions we have to answer, then upload the finished form to the wiki developed specifically for this purpose. Hopefully, everything is in place and I will continue to be employed following the legislative budget meetings in the Spring.
Tuesday - met with my area techs. Discussed IDEAS, tech integration, budgeting, e-rate
Wednesday - Worked on several issues, most of which were located on one machine:
I took several phone calls for tech support (Blevins, Harry Dickens)
I performed other regular duties throughout the day.
Looking ahead for the week: Thursday will be more office cleaning and general tech duties as usual. Friday is the company's Christmas party, then we are off for two weeks during the holiday break.
I also worked on (and submitted) my grant evaluation for my program. We are required to submit a grant evaluation of how we (the state techs) are doing. there are a series of questions we have to answer, then upload the finished form to the wiki developed specifically for this purpose. Hopefully, everything is in place and I will continue to be employed following the legislative budget meetings in the Spring.
Tuesday - met with my area techs. Discussed IDEAS, tech integration, budgeting, e-rate
Wednesday - Worked on several issues, most of which were located on one machine:
- Anti-virus would not update. Turns out the public SOPHOS server is offline or had a url change or something. It is a known issue experienced by users all over the US, evidently.
- Livescribe pen would not sync with desktop. This is also a known issue. I solved it by moving the existing data and running the program as if it had never had a pen. The new data transferred and I removed it from the pen after the transfer. Since there is not an easy way (or any way that I have found) to bring the old data back into the program, I found an application that allows the user to switch data locations. Now, when the user needs the information, they switch data locations. Not pretty but it worked.
- Printer was acting up. After swapping printers, i determined the printer was the culprit and ordered the user a new printer.
I took several phone calls for tech support (Blevins, Harry Dickens)
I performed other regular duties throughout the day.
Looking ahead for the week: Thursday will be more office cleaning and general tech duties as usual. Friday is the company's Christmas party, then we are off for two weeks during the holiday break.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Monday and Tuesday
Monday, I spent the morning working on several projects at once. We had a demo of a very cool Okidata LED printer that prints banners, thermal transfers, etc. To top it off, the demo model was being offered up for a quite attractive price, and we snagged it up! I think this will create a wonderful opportunity to add services in the Teacher Center!
While the demo was going on, I spent time running back and forth to meet with the heat/air guy. Evidently, a heating strip (whatever that is) came loose, was knocked loose, something - and it was shorting out the heating unit in one of our offices. The heat/air guy was able to fix the problem and now the heat and air work perfectly!
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I am taking a training for Windows Server 2008 along with other state tech coordinators. We are learning a lot and having a good time in the process. I love trainings that allow for free conversation and examination of our various situations. We can then bounce ideas off each other and the instructor can help try to solve the problems or offer suggestions!
While the demo was going on, I spent time running back and forth to meet with the heat/air guy. Evidently, a heating strip (whatever that is) came loose, was knocked loose, something - and it was shorting out the heating unit in one of our offices. The heat/air guy was able to fix the problem and now the heat and air work perfectly!
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I am taking a training for Windows Server 2008 along with other state tech coordinators. We are learning a lot and having a good time in the process. I love trainings that allow for free conversation and examination of our various situations. We can then bounce ideas off each other and the instructor can help try to solve the problems or offer suggestions!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Wednesday and Thursday
Wednesday, I had to duplicate 24 usb-hard drives with the TIA Math resources application. That program is 5GB of incredible math resources discovered by various folks around the state and then culminated into a user-friendly format for (mostly) offline use - just plug in the drive and go! Very cool.
While doing that (I can copy two master drives to five empty drives in just over an hour or so), I took time to add a phone to the APSCN Mini Lab, as per a work order request. I also booted all the Dell computers in the lab and updated/scanned them for malware etc.
Other regular office activites took place as well. Oh, I also did some extensive troubleshooting on one of the locks to an outside door. It would lock, but then not let anyone back in! Sure, that's great for security, but not so great for folks standing in the cold and rain trying to get in.
I also created a one-stop resource page for my area techs, thanks to Christy Trantina's sharing of HER page. I tailored mine for my folks: http://etsp.k12.ar.us/technology/
On Thursday, the state techs met with Dr. Bobbie Davis regarding budgeting, E-rate, and school web site requirements.
We then met with Debbie Coffman regarding Common Core Standards and other related topics.
After a lunch break, we met with Cathi Swan regarding various distance learning issues and then conducted our regular monthly meeting.
The official notes for the day will be made available once they are approved by the state technology coordinators.
Handouts and notes will be shared with my area techs at our next meeting.
While doing that (I can copy two master drives to five empty drives in just over an hour or so), I took time to add a phone to the APSCN Mini Lab, as per a work order request. I also booted all the Dell computers in the lab and updated/scanned them for malware etc.
Other regular office activites took place as well. Oh, I also did some extensive troubleshooting on one of the locks to an outside door. It would lock, but then not let anyone back in! Sure, that's great for security, but not so great for folks standing in the cold and rain trying to get in.
I also created a one-stop resource page for my area techs, thanks to Christy Trantina's sharing of HER page. I tailored mine for my folks: http://etsp.k12.ar.us/technology/
On Thursday, the state techs met with Dr. Bobbie Davis regarding budgeting, E-rate, and school web site requirements.
We then met with Debbie Coffman regarding Common Core Standards and other related topics.
After a lunch break, we met with Cathi Swan regarding various distance learning issues and then conducted our regular monthly meeting.
The official notes for the day will be made available once they are approved by the state technology coordinators.
Handouts and notes will be shared with my area techs at our next meeting.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday and Tuesday
Monday, I spent the morning teaching Principals and Instructional Facilitators how to use their new 4th Gen iPod Touches. They all had or created accounts and downloaded a couple free apps. We also played with the cameras, then they were turned over to the other presenters for Classroom Walk Through training (Teachscape).
The rest of Monday was spent catching up on things left since I had taken off the entire previous week.
Tuesday, I worked at Bradley schools. We had several things to take care of.
First, here is a repost of an article I wrote for TechBlog:
Inadvertent Email Rules
The rest of Monday was spent catching up on things left since I had taken off the entire previous week.
Tuesday, I worked at Bradley schools. We had several things to take care of.
First, here is a repost of an article I wrote for TechBlog:
Inadvertent Email Rules
Came across a user that was receiving intermittent emails. Some messages would come through and others would be directed to her "Junk Mail" folder.
The first place I looked (In Exchange) was under "Junk Mail Settings" and I looked through her Blocked Senders list. The only one out of the ordinary was her own email address. I removed that from the blocked list.
The next place I looked was her rules. She had several set up to direct certain messages to junk, and for the most part, these were correct. However, there was one rule that said "Any mail sent only to me, move to the Junk Mail folder." There was the culprit (or one, anyway). That rule essenatially said that if anyone sent a message to her and ONLY her, it was to be tossed aside. Since many of the messages had been sent to multiple people, she would receive those. Direct, one-to-one communications, however, did not make it to her inbox.
I deleted the errant rule. I scrolled through the other rules, and found one more that might have been causing trouble, though the exact nature escapes me now.
When a user says that legitimate email is going to SPAM, JUNK, DELETED ITEMS, that is a good sign that the use has a rule being enforced that he/she did not actually want happening. A little sluething, though, and hopefully you will uncover the bullying rule (and then delete that rule!).
After that, the Superintendent asked me to provide testing for their Continuity of Operations Plan. As it turns out, the tech and I had done an 'inadvertent' test last May, in which we realized the backup we were doing was corrupt. We had a failing test, monitored the situation and adjusted.
So, today, I ran a "loss of data" test, and the backup data was restored perfectly! Excellent!
Next on the list, I ran the Data Doctor on the locally installed Accelerated Reader program in order to prep the data for the move to the cloud. The district is moving their AR to the online version. One less thing to manage and worry about. We hit a couple snags, but eventually zipped up the data and uploaded it to their site. Now, we just wait for the good word.
While uploading the data, the tech and I took some RAM over to the business lab in order to install it in a couple of computers that gone awry.
The last item on the agenda was to download and install Vexira antivirus. They have a very cool central management system and once we figured out what we needed to do in order to get things rolling, it was actually FUN to watch the software getting pushed out to the workstations on the network.
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