|
Email Update Sent - 11/03/2004
Several critical updates are shared in this email. While we will explore
them in depth at the next CTR Meeting, you need some of this information
to make appropriate planning decisions in light of the November 5th Campus
Enhancement Program deadline. Most of the information in this update is
technical. Unfortunately, we've reached a point that understanding these
technical issues is critical to using technology in SAISD.
CAMPUS STAR CHART
Please don't forget that the Campus STaR Chart needs to be submitted by November
30th. The STaR Chart is used for assessment submitted Should you need someone
to work with your Campus Leadership Team, or the technology subcommittee, please
do not hesitate to send email to Miguel Guhlin (mguhlin@saisd.net) or call 527-1400.
STaR Chart can be submitted online at http://itls.saisd.net/ctr
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER INITIATIVE
Please be aware that the purchase of Kidspiration and Inspiration graphic organizer
software was approved. More details on how you can take advantage of this fantastic
opportunity to put age-appropriate, graphic organizer software in the hands
of students and colleagues will be made available online at http://itls.saisd.net/go
by the November 16th CTR Meeting. Note that the web site will be enhanced between
now and then.
CTR REGISTRATIONS FOR TCEA 2005 STATE CONFERENCE
Please note that Instructional Technology will register all CTRs, or the alternates
you have sent us, Friday 11/5/2004 at 11:00 AM for the TCEA 2005 Conference.
If you have not yet made me aware that you have an alternate person going in
your place, then do so at your earliest convenience. Otherwise, making changes
later will be problematic. You can find more details online at http://itls.saisd.net/tcea2005
CAMPUS ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
Please note that the Campus Technology Enhancement Program deadline is November
5th. Please make sure you have completed the Campus Access Survey. Elementary
Campuses using Palm Handheld Assessments should read the information further
below that is specifically for them regarding SyncStations. Click on the little
computer at http://itls.saisd.net
SPYWARE AND AD-WARE
Over the last few months, the District has seen an increase in spyware and adware
software. Fortunately, SAISD is not alone. Other districts, small and large,
are experiencing the exact same problems I'm describing to you. The time has
come to deal with these and we can only do that together.
Spyware/adware are programs that infiltrate computers, filling the screen with
pop-up windows and advertising. In some cases, they record the keys you press
on the keyboard and send private information out over the Internet to persons
unknown. In short, they are a menace, not only because of their annoying features,
but because multiple computers with spyware can use up precious bandwidth. Simply
put, they clog the Internet pipeline and result in increasingly slower speeds
for legitimate uses of the Internet, including GradeSpeed, EduSoft, Digital
Video, etc.
Network Services has been researching a hardware solution--very costly, unfortunately--that
will stop future spyware/adware from even entering the SAISD network. However,
it is not enough to implement just a hardware solution (and funding is limited
as well).
Every Windows computer must be either immunized against spyware and/or cleaned
out. To accomplish this, Instructional Technology and Network Services have
proposed a 2 step software intervention. This approach will be shared with you
at the next Campus Tech Rep meeting on November 16th. Essentially, the strategy
is to install--at minimum--two programs (Spybot and Lavasoft Ad-Aware Plus)
onto every campus-based, Windows 98/2000/XP computer in the District, as well
as perform (for Windows XP computers) an installation of the Windows XP Service
Pack 2. This will affect computers on all campuses, PreK-12. We anticipate 20,000
computer systems.
FOR ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES ONLY - SYNCSTATION ROADBLOCKS AND DETOURS
Over the last few weeks, a team of SAISD Technology Department staff and Wireless
Generation folks have been working hard to identify issues that caused SyncStations
for Handheld Reading Assessments to work slowly or fail. What was discovered
is shared below:
ROADBLOCK #1 - SyncStations have special software that communicate via the
Network with the Wireless Generation servers. This software controls the exchange
of information from Palm to SyncStation then passes it on to the Wireless Generation
web site. This software needed a critical update that was not applied. As a
result, SyncStations with the "old" software--essentially, last year's
software--ran as much as 20-30 minutes slower than they could have with the
update. SAISD was not made aware of this change until after testing had occurred.
Wireless Generation has offered their apologies for lost time and effort.
DETOUR: While procedures are being put in place to prevent this from re-occurring,
all Windows XP computers will have to be upgraded. This will not be a simple
upgrade but instead require updating the computer to Windows XP, installing
critical Service Packs, anti-spyware, anti-virus, and more. Updates could take
as long as 3 hours per SyncStation.
ROADBLOCK #2 - Macintosh Computers, which worked well last year as SyncStations,
will not work well due to changes in required SyncStation software. Last year,
we were only running 3 assessments (TPRI/Tejas Lee/mClass:Reading). This year,
we are running 5 different assessments through SyncStations (including TPRI/Tejas
Lee, Dibels/IDEL, and Circle). There will be a math handheld assessment being
piloted in the Spring 2005, and the Macintoshes will not work.
DETOUR: To address this, campuses with Macintosh computers serving as SyncStations
are STRONGLY encouraged to switch to Windows XP computers to ensure that January
administration of TPRI/Tejas Lee does not go as poorly as it did in Fall of
2003. It is also recommended, although not required, that older Windows operating
systems, including Windows 98 and 2000, be replaced with Windows XP computers
in time.
Since Windows XP computers are now the preferred computer for SuccessMaker
labs, EduSoft stations, as well as SyncStations, it is recommended that your
Campus Leadership Team consider allocating Campus Enhancement Program funds
specifically for SyncStations. Note that SyncStations can be used for other
purposes when not being used as SyncStation, such as library research stations,
etc.
UPDATING THE CAMPUS ACCESS SURVEY
In the last email update, elementary campuses were asked to update Section 5
of the Campus Access Survey by 11/2/2004. Only a few campuses responded. If
I am busy, I know you must be doubly as busy, especially since being a CTR is
not a full-time position. Please realize that without this information, the
Technology Department will not be able to coordinate the update of SyncStation
software in time for January administration. And, with over 200+ SyncStations
in operating at 64 campuses, this is a massive job that will require campus
support. It is mission-critical that Section 5 of the Campus Access Survey be
updated as soon as possible.
The support will involve--at minimum--installing Windows XP Service Pack 2
(which contains a variety of security updates for Windows XP computers), installing
anti-spyware software, updating Palm Desktop software as well as the mClass
SyncStation software. To accomplish all the changes, it may take as long as
3 hours per SyncStation. As such, specific support will be offered at the Campus
Technology Representative (CTR) Meeting on November 16th.
Finally, in reviewing the requests made of you over the last 3 months, I'm
shocked at how quickly we must move to ensure successful use of technology-based
initiatives. While planning ahead has saved us much trouble, it has generated
an inordinate amount of work, not only at the campus level, but at the District
level. Yet, protecting the network and the computers that connect to the network
grants us access to resources and ways of communicating we have all come to
rely upon. Once these updates and changes are in place, we will be better able
to deal with malicious attacks on the integrity of computers and the SAISD network,
focusing less on the technical issues and more on realizing the benefits that
technology affords us.
In the meantime, I want you to know that I appreciate your work on behalf of
your campus.
Wishing you well,
Miguel Guhlin
Director, Instructional Technology
San Antonio ISD, Texas
http://itls.saisd.net
Email: mguhlin@saisd.net
Phone: 210-527-1400 ; Fax: 210-281-0257
*******************************************
"Ask not what computers can do with
students,but rather, what students can do
with computers."
*******************************************
|
