Monthly review, February 20, 2008

The past month in IT:

• The IT department has closed 393 helpdesk tickets.
• We weathered our longest power outage of the year (seventeen minutes) and kept all systems running at the schools that retained power.
• Developed a plan to migrate all servers off VLAN 1.
• Procured two new HP DL380G5 servers to replace six aging DL380G2 servers. How will two servers replace six? Ah, the wonders of virtualization.
• Completed install of Magellan, the host machine for MAP server. (MAP, Magellan... get it?)
• Completed new online registration system for summer school.
• Began an assessment of our packetshaping device and possible alternatives to consolidate and reduce the cost of network management devices.
• Refined the parent mass-mailer system to streamline approval process.
• Developed an improved backup and disaster recovery plan.
• Evaluated several software packages for use as a shared online facility reservation system.
• Tested a subnotebook/UMPC device, the Asus EeePC, as a possible classroom research/word processing device.
• Identified computers to be replaced in summer 2008 as part of the ongoing five-year computer replacement plan
  

The past month of the Information and Technology Literacy Team:

Developed a NETS*A assessment tool for administrators.

Implemented the NETS*T assessment for OHS and RCI. The OHS data included 100% of the teaching staff, and shows us some amazing things. For example, only 3% of the staff are below one standard deviation from the mean in the area of Technology Operations and Concepts. This correlates to an average score of 1.5 on the assessment tool. The majority of the staff (84%) are within one standard deviation, and 13% are above. This correlates to greater than 3.5 on the assessment tool.
This indicates that professional development in the area of technology operation has been effective, and that we can move on to the real goal of improving instruction.

Participants in the Technology Integration Program finished their curriculum units and developed equipment proposals to enable them to implement. The proposals are being reviewed.

Completed the strategic ITL professional development plan.

How Jon kept busy:

• worked with Jeri and the 8O team at OMS to apply for a grant sponsored by HP and ISTE worth $40,000
• worked with Dave and the math department at OHS to apply for the same grant
• assisted with the A-team Tier 1 Indicator culture subcommittee
• participated in planning the WiscNet Future Technologies Conference
• consulted with EEN staff on best computer for a special needs student
• assisted with design of school culture survey for parents
• revised Board policies on web publication and Internet/email acceptable use
• shoveled tons of snow