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<font face="Calibri">Thanks Robert,<br>
<br>
For years I jumped up and down, banged my head against a brick wall,
screamed insults, ranted and raved to anyone who would listen, in
private (and to my very understanding hubby) I cried because I knew
there was so much more that could be achieved for the students, if only
the powers that be would see my point of view. I used the line "the
tail is wagging the dog" to my principal early in 2007 when we had a
moodle site running but the AV tech controlled it and would not let
anyone create their own courses, and if I wanted to put a file on my
course I would have to take the file to him on a USB so he could upload
it, and also our moodle would only work within the school, not from
home. The principal did not see an issue with this and refused to
change the status quo, so moodle died in my school. But I could do
nothing to make the principal and techs understand that the curriculum
and the needs of the students should come first, not budgets and issues
of "locking the system down". I had no privileges on the network, the
website was cr@p (and still is until I get a new one uploaded), the
intranet was cr@p. I was sick of PT nights where parents would come to
me and complain about the website and the "extranet/intranet" I fought
against "the system", against educache, against the rip off fees
students were charged for internet access, I investigated alternative
ISPs, but who was I?? a mere woman, to undermine the decision making
power of the principal and tech who had the power. My only agenda was
to improve the educational outcomes of our students, yet that seemed to
be the lowest priority on everyone else's list. </font><font
face="Calibri">So I privately paid for a web site and server so I
could deliver an online curriculum to my students, but the need for
them to have internet credit to access the site eventually killed this
idea too. </font><font face="Calibri">My enthusiasm for "we could do
this, we can set this up" etc was always met with answers of "it can't
be done, they would hack into the system, it would cost more money"
etc.... Eventually in April of this year I broke down completely. Yes,
I went totally ga ga. I lost it completely and have had the year from
hell. <br>
<br>
What has kept me going over the last 7 months was:<br>
</font>
<ol>
<li>the fact that I am totally passionate about not only ICT, but
it's
potential to increase the learning outcomes of all students, in all
subjects<br>
</li>
<li>the fact that I was on the VITTA Committee of Management (if any
of you read this thank you guys for your support), and the opportunity
it has given me to meet such wonderful people who share my passion for
ICT education<br>
</li>
<li>People like Paula, Roland and Maggie who have given me confidence
in my ability as an ICT educator. Thank You<br>
</li>
</ol>
So when you feel like it is a them (ie techs) vs "me/us" thing - don't
give up, fight back with Robert's words "The curriculum, the education
and needs of the students are paramount"<br>
<br>
Don't let the tail wag the dog!!!!<br>
<br>
Ros M<br>
Bentleigh SC<br>
<br>
Robert wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:D55691CE0D4549AF8BC6F8074D93FC44@RobertPC"
type="cite">
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<div><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="2">Thanks Ros.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="2">The curriculum, the
education and needs of the students are paramount.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="2">There may well be
some things we "cannot do" on a school network. But the whole technical
"tail" needs to put its best efforts into supporting the curriculum and
make sure that the dog wags the tail.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="2">Robert Hind
(Semi-retired)<br>
Ashwood and Traralgon<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:robert@yinnar.com">robert@yinnar.com</a></font></div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
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<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">-----
Original Message ----- </div>
<div
style="background: rgb(228, 228, 228) none repeat scroll 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>From:</b>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" title="ros.meadows@gmail.com"
href="mailto:ros.meadows@gmail.com">Ros Meadows</a> </div>
<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>To:</b>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" title="itapps@edulists.com.au"
href="mailto:itapps@edulists.com.au">Year 12 IT Applications Teachers'
Mailing List</a> </div>
<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>Sent:</b>
Saturday, December 06, 2008 9:19 AM</div>
<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>Subject:</b>
Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] RE: Google docs issue</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<font face="Calibri">Once again a case of the tail (ie the techs)
wagging the dog (ie the curriculum)!!<br>
<br>
There is NO sound reason why you can't have firefox and google images,
sometimes I wonder if it is just plain laziness, lack of ability or
just a hunger for power on the part of techs.<br>
<br>
Cheers<br>
Ros<br>
BentleighSC<br>
</font><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:murch@tpg.com.au">murch@tpg.com.au</a> wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:1228420498.493835924d13f@postoffice.tpg.com.au" type="cite">
<pre wrap="">We have some issues with google docs as well. Google images are blocked at our school so this presents problems with the appearance of google
docs. I also want firefox on our computer network but was told we cant have it. We are supposed to be a leading 21st century school!!! I love using
google docs and use them extensively both with staff and schools in other countries etc. Means it is difficult to use them with my students. It is most
annoying.
Anne Mirtschin
Hawkesdale P12 College
_______________________________________________
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href="http://www.edulists.com.au">http://www.edulists.com.au</a> - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe
IT Applications Mailing List kindly supported by
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href="http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/itapplications3-4.html">http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/itapplications3-4.html</a> - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
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</style> <span class="style1"><span class="style2">Roslyn Meadows <br>
<span class="style5">TONS</span><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:ros.meadows@gmail.com"><span
class="style4">ros.meadows@gmail.com</span></a> <br>
<span class="style3">Bentleigh Secondary College <br>
Vivien Street, East Bentleigh, 3165 <br>
Phone 9579 1044<br>
Mobile 0412 614 062</span></span></span> </div>
_______________________________________________ <br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.edulists.com.au">http://www.edulists.com.au
</a>- FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe <br>
IT Applications Mailing List kindly supported by <br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/itapplications3-4.html%20">http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/infotechindex.html
</a>- Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and <br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.vitta.org.au">http://www.vitta.org.au
</a>- VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association
Inc </blockquote>
_______________________________________________
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.edulists.com.au">
http://www.edulists.com.au </a> - FAQ, resources, subscribe,
unsubscribe <br>
IT Applications Mailing List kindly supported by <br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/itapplications3-4.html%20">
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/infotechindex.html </a>
- Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.vitta.org.au">
http://www.vitta.org.au </a> - VITTA Victorian Information Technology
Teachers Association Inc</blockquote>
<br>
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<span class="style1"><span class="style2">Roslyn Meadows
<br>
<span class="style5">TONS</span><br>
<a href="mailto:ros.meadows@gmail.com"><span class="style4">ros.meadows@gmail.com</span></a>
<br>
<span class="style3">Bentleigh Secondary College
<br>
Vivien Street,
East Bentleigh, 3165
<br>
Phone 9579 1044<br>
Mobile 0412 614 062</span></span></span>
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