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Email sent to Select Campuses (listed below)
on 11/9/2004
Campuses below have reported Macintosh SyncStations
in use.
- Franklin Elementary School
- Huppertz Elementary School
- Madison Elementary School
- Schenck Elementary School
- Brewer Elementary School
- Graebner Elementary School
- Green Elementary School
- Highland Park Elementary School
- Japhet Elementary School
- Kelly Elementary School
- Knox Elementary School
- Riverside Park Elementary School
- Storm Elementary School
Please be aware that the following email was sent to your principal. This is
a courtesy copy.
Thank you for your help in facilitating understanding of the issues involved.
Best wishes,
Miguel Guhlin
P.S. Just a reminder that Campus STaR Charts are due by November 30th.
Thank you for communicating this information to your Campus Leadership
Team. Currently, your status shows a "Yes/No" [depending
on completion, a YES or NO appeared here] as regards to completion.
To: Principal
Re: SyncStations for Handheld Assessments
Date: 11/8/2004
Over the last few months, a problem with TPRI administration has made itself
known to Instructional Technology. While we became aware of the problems since
they were reported by campuses, the causes of the problems were more difficult
to ascertain. Below are the two primary problems--aside from lack of training--that
campuses like your's experienced:
1) Slow synchronization of data between Palm Handheld Computer and the Web-based
system used for reporting the data.
2) Macintosh computers serving as Synchronization Stations (a.k.a. SyncStations)
were failing to send and receive test data properly via the Internet.
For teachers, synchronizing data means taking their Palm handheld to a central
computer, putting the handheld in a cradle, then pushing a button. The process
should take approximately 3-5 minutes. Instead, on central computers that were
Macintosh, the process was taking 4-5 times that. In some cases, synchronization
failed altogether. This is not acceptable, especially since 5 handheld assessments
are now being used in SAISD with a 6th one from the Math Department set for
deployment in the Spring, 2005.
WHAT WAS DONE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM
To identify the source of the problem, Instructional Technology brought the
makers of the handheld assessments in--Wireless Generation--and sent them out
with technicians to campuses. After much reflection and research, the reasons
for the problems teachers encountered were discovered:
1) New SyncStation software had not been loaded on computers. This new software
was a critical upgrade from last year because of the increase in handheld assessments
required by the Curriculum & Instruction Department. Furthermore, changes
in the handheld assessments resulted in a significant upgrade to the software.
In fact, the upgrade was so significant that Macintosh computers--even though
previously working in 2002-2003--were found to not be acceptable as SyncStations.
2) Macintosh computers were found to fail more often than Windows XP computers.
3) Windows 98/2000/XP computers were infested with spyware software that greatly
diminished their ability to send and receive data via the Internet.
WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN
Based on these findings, Instructional Technology is STRONGLY recommending that
all Macintosh computers be replaced with Windows XP computers so as to ensure
successful, future handheld assessments. Failure to follow this recommendation
will result in very slow synchronization times at campuses, or worse, failure.
This means TPRI assessment data could go untransmitted, as well as result in
wasted time on the part of campus staff (e.g. CIC).
This recommendation has been communicated to your Campus Technology Representatives
(CTRs). While CTRs will receive more specific information at the November 16th
meeting, it is critical that you designate Windows XP computers now to replace
Macintosh SyncStations you now have in place at [campus]. Also recommended--but
not critical at this time--is replacing Windows 98/2000 computers with Windows
XP computers.
You can find information communicated to CTRs online at:
http://itls.saisd.net/ctr/email/email11032004.htm
WHAT DO I HAVE AT MY CAMPUS?
In collaboration with your Campus Technology Representatives, Instructional
Technology has gathered a list of SyncStation Operating Systems (e.g. Mac OS
9) along with the location of each. Below is a list of SyncStations--some of
them Macintosh, some Windows-- you have at your campus as reported by your Campus
Technology Representatives. Note that not all SyncStations 1-7 may have information
available for them and not all may be Macintosh. This is simply a list of what
you have at your campus.
(information below was customized with each campuses information. You can see
this information online in Section 5 at http://lms.saisd.net/sql/cat/campus/results.php
SyncStation 1: [Sync1OS]
Location: [Sync1Location]
SyncStation 2: [Sync2OS]
Location: [Sync2Location]
SyncStation 3: [Sync3OS]
Location: [Sync3Location]
SyncStation 4: [Sync4OS]
Location: [Sync4Location]
SyncStation 5: [Sync5OS]
Location: [Sync5Location]
SyncStation 6: [Sync6OS]
Location: [Sync6Location]
SyncStation 7: [Sync7OS]
Location: [Sync7Location]
Remember, you are strongly urged to take steps NOW to replace any Macintosh
SyncStations PRIOR to November 16th. Your CTRs will receive more detailed instructions
at the November 16th meeting on how to ensure your Windows XP computers are
ready to go for January administration of TPRI/Tejas Lee, Dibels/IDEL, and/or
CIRCLE handheld assessments, as well as protected from Spyware.
QUESTIONS?
Should you need clarification, please do not hesitate to contact either Claude
Ascolese (cascolese@saisd.net) or Miguel Guhlin (mguhlin@saisd.net) at 527-1400
or via email.
Best wishes,
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
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"Ask not what computers can do with
students,but rather, what students can do
with computers."
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