2005 Conference - IT Unplugged: Just when you thought you had IT wired!
Session Descriptions
Thursday, 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
SQL Server
The leap from SQL Server 2000 to 2005 is a long time coming and promises to bring both delight and horror. Find out what architecture and feature changes are in SQL Server 2005: What will work better? What will break? Also, updates to the SQL Server licensing model will be discussed.
Evergreen Follow-up
One school district deployed a specific technology plan for all elementary schools. What was it and one year later, what do we know? And... The middle school plan is now being deployed. A review of this plan will be provided.
New Buildings/Renovations
A panel of district personnel with experience in construction and/or renovation of facilities will discuss the chronology of the school construction process and provide a checklist of critical factors to be considered. The panel will include technology and facility staff.
David Thornburg Follow-up
Join Dr. Thornburg in this follow-up session to his thought-provoking keynote presentation.
Thursday, 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.
Data Quality
A walk through of the NCES Guidelines for Data Quality: Creating a of Culture of Data Quality will help you identify strategies and guidelines to improve data collection for state report cards and adequate yearly progress ratings.
Network Management Tools
Learn how OpManager 5 is used to monitor networks, servers and network devices and about its outstanding built-in reports. Also get information on an open source solution for e-mail filtration, currently in use at 17 districts and the NW Regional ESD, with an average of about 1.9 million messages per month through this load-balanced filter system.
Web Development/Standards
The World Wide Web's power comes when web developers can customize sites, on demand, to interactively post and present information through hypertext links, templates and databases. However, many of your users may not be able to access the full range of resources. Learn how web developers can overcome shortcomings through the application of "universal design" principles that empower the end user to create content as well as access it.
Tech Supports Instructional Practice (A)
Effective classroom practices integrating technology. The current accountability climate in education has caused teachers to reexamine their classroom strategies and to ask--Can technology make a difference, is there research to support its use? See how technology can support effective, research-based classroom practices and provide you with strategies to effectively use technology for learning and teaching.
David Thornburg Follow-up
Join Dr. Thornburg in this follow-up session to his thought-provoking keynote presentation.
Thursday, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Roundtables
Our popular round table session will feature topics of interest to computer professionals and give you the opportunity to talk to your peers about common issues.
Data Analysis
IT departments are now confronted with the need to extract, analyze, interpret and communicate sophisticated data sets for decision makers to evaluate effectiveness of teaching and learning. This session will explore the skills and the tools necessary to help IT staff meet this change in role and expectations.
Web Portals
Web pages that build bridges between web accessible content are commonly referred to as portals. Learn how your IT department can facilitate and expand the use and functionality of email, search engines, instructional content, library automation, student information systems and more by designing and/or building your own portals as intuitive web-based navigation devices for your staff and students.
Friday Keynote Presenter, Jennifer James: Thinking in the Future Tense
Rapid change, driven by communications technology, has forced all of us to expand our adaptive capabilities. We are increasing our skills as we become portfolio professionals working in diverse empowered teams in a multicultural environment. Thinking in the future tense requires perspective, intuitive skills, awareness of patterns and myths, strategic thinking, fast response time and diversity intelligence. This presentation will describe our current social and cultural environment and the skills essential to successful adaptation.
Friday, 10:45 - 12:00 p.m.
Remote Management of Desktops
We all know and understand the equation: computers in place are greater than the sum of support staff. One partial answer is to manage desktops by using electronic tools for imaging and updating computers and for providing user support. This session will be a panel presentation by staff from districts using different strategies for desktop deployment. Learn about the tools they use for remote management, their successes and challenges.
CyberSecurity for the Digital District
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and the Mass Networks Education Partnership have developed a program and set of tools to enable schools and districts to assess and improve technology systems security. This presentation, by one of the developers, will help you understand how these tools and information can by used by superintendents, board members, and technology leaders (http://securedistrict.cosn.org).
Tech Supports Instructional Practice (B)
The second half of discussion regarding effective classroom practices integrating technology.
Tech In & Out (A) (Two part session)
Here Comes Johnny - And He's Carrying His Laptop to School. As student to computer ratios increase, more personally owned computing equipment will be carried to school. This presents a huge security challenge and demands full wireless access in schools. A task force has been working to understand the issues and evaluate needed changes in policy, practice and equipment. This session will feature the recommendations of the task force.
Cultural Intelligence;
The Human Face of Technological Change
One of the most difficult aspects of change, particularly when it is accompanied by complex technology and multiplying data sources, is the ability to develop a new cultural perspective. We are becoming "cyborgs," part technician and part sophisticated citizen. Our assignment is the re-making of our staff and our organizations into more civilized and productive cyber forms. This session will provide a new understanding of the direction our life and our business is taking and what our organization's place in the global market is likely to be.
Presenter: Jennifer James
Friday, 1:15 - 2:30 p.m.
Equipping 101
Author, John C. Maxwell wrote the book, Equipping 101, to provide a framework for developing leaders in your midst. In Good to Great, Jim Collins identified the need to get the right people on the bus and how to create BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals). Maxwell helps us understand how to get the right people on the bus and develop leadership. Learn how this has made a difference at one ESD.
School Server Management
This session will look at current issues of managing school servers including multi-O/S environments, server consolidation into central server farms, SANS and NAS strategies, zone integration servers, etc. Issues of student portfolios, roaming profiles, along with the need to streamline network operations and reduce costs associated with providing services to schools will be discussed.
Tech In & Out (B)
The second session of Tech In and Out will be a discussion of hardware and software solutions that can be used to implement the recommendations of the task force.
Redundancy/Disaster Recovery
SANS, NAS, XXX - what do these mean? Creating an environment that builds storage capacity, ensures redundancy, addresses communications alternatives, provides for electrical power and protects for service interruptions or disasters. How is a school district environment different when it comes to disaster recovery or redundant systems? Discuss what's doable, what to protect and costs.
Cultural Intelligence (Repeat);
The Human Face of Technological Change
Presenter: Jennifer James