Difficult techs has been raised in this thread<br><br>My other bit of unsolicited advice is to involve techs in the discussion rather than expecting them to jump to teachers demands. I feel that to get the best from people, they need to be involved in the decisions and they need to be given a chance to identify with the dream. If they identify with the shared dream they are empowered to use initiative and I find that we get more than I thought we would because of that. Achieving this is easier with some people than others, never the less, it is a better way to go.<br>
<br>Techs often think of an ideal network as something that they don't have to touch and so lock things down so tight that no one can do anything but the prescribed tasks. This may be the ideal in what is often, and falsely, referred to as the 'real world'. The Education part of the real world, on the other hand, is dependant upon people being able to try things out, experience alternatives, and making and learning from mistakes. This can even effect learning computer apps as there are times where you need to turn the clock back to validate a date dependent query.<br>
<br>So from my perspective the ideal educational system is minimally locked down but the recovery systems are very good. Backups and re-imaging are probably the two key systems to focus on. There are other alternatives like that that return registry etc back to origin after someone uses a puta.<br>
<br>Cheers<br>Peter<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">2008/12/8 Davies, Brett <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:bdavies@woodleigh.vic.edu.au">bdavies@woodleigh.vic.edu.au</a>></span><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Peter,<br>
<br>
exactly what I wanted to say but you put it far more tactfully than I would have!<br>
<br>
Firefox is a far superior product, if we are teaching web standards at any level this browser is a must, as are the many plug ins available to assist with achieving this. Google docs is an excellent office substitute and a great way to share documents between home, school, other schools and even other countries.<br>
<br>
I am lucky where I am, the head tech we have revels in solving problems and coming up with solutions to requests from staff. No complaints, he just thinks about what issues could arise, solves them and gets on with it.<br>
<br>
He doesn't wear a hat, it would just fall off because he has his head down and bum up working to provide a safe, secure, flexible and practical environment for teachers and students to work in.<br>
<br>
Royce, perhaps you should "divert some of your technological resources" and organise a spell checker! :)<br>
<br>
Brett Davies<br>
(ITA & SofDev Teacher<br>
Woodleigh School<br>
<a href="http://www.woodleigh.vic.edu.au" target="_blank">www.woodleigh.vic.edu.au</a>)<br>
________________________________________<br>
From: <a href="mailto:itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au">itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au</a> [<a href="mailto:itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au">itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au</a>] On Behalf Of Peter Ruwoldt [<a href="mailto:ruwoldtp@gmail.com">ruwoldtp@gmail.com</a>]<br>
<div class="Ih2E3d">Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 4:02 PM<br>
</div><div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c">To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List<br>
Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] RE: Google docs issue<br>
<br>
Have you given any thought to the implications re the creation of a<br>
mono culture around MS?<br>
What about the idea that one of the key roles of education is provide<br>
students and our communities with choice and options?<br>
The fact that Firefox is the superior product because of its<br>
flexibility through the miriad of plug ins.<br>
That the IT world is heading in a direction where we will probably be<br>
accessing many of our applications online and in a more flexible and<br>
shared way.<br>
That the online applications are free and so access at home is<br>
possible with being encumbered by cost.<br>
That the Google apps export to both MS and OO.org<br>
That the student work is freely available at both home and school<br>
facilitating learning beyond the school environment.<br>
Think about changing gears instead of changing hats.<br>
Peter<br>
<br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br>-- <br>Free and Open education for all<br><br>Peter Ruwoldt<br>Grant High School<br>Hosking Avenue<br>MOUNT GAMBIER SA 5290<br><br>P. 08 87263128<br>F. 08 87250173<br><br><a href="mailto:ruwoldtp@granths.sa.edu.au">ruwoldtp@granths.sa.edu.au</a><br>
<a href="http://www.watiwara.com">http://www.watiwara.com</a><br>