Tech Team - Technology Activities 2009-10
From SJS Wiki
2009-10 was an interesting year for the Technology Team, dealing with etc. Below is a brief overview of everything that happened in technology at St. John's in 2009-2010.
Contents
Infrastructure
- Implemented a new spam filter
- Installed a new firewall
- The new firewall allows increased VPN access and we have begun training teachers to use this new tool
Hardware
- Replaced all faculty laptops and tablets
- Replaced the laptops in one of the LS cart.
- Made the changeover during the school year with positive results
- 20 teachers wanted a tablet
- Finished installing AV setups in all of the remaining instructional spaces
- All classrooms on campus now have a projector, DVD/VCR, and sound system
- 8 Activboards installed
- 3 in the LS and one AB2
- 2 in the MS
- 1 in the US
- 1 in Fine Arts
- 4 Activotes purchased for the LS & US
- Purchased 90 new laptops to upgrade present laptop cart machines
- Continued to work with yearbook staff on photography archiving
- Updated the carts used to hold laptops in the US Science
- Updated All Laptop Carts for Biology, Chemistry & Physics
- Integrated a cart of Tablet PCs into Dr. Raulston's Math classes
- Upgraded the computers in Study Halls S105 & W205 and in the Debate Team room
Software
- Investigation of best video-editing software to use (plans to implement use of VideoSpin in 2010-2011 school year)
- AlertNow for Emergency Contact
- 7 successful calls made during Hurricane Ike and 2 made during the spring flood
Training
- Integration Institute, Two Groups (Choose Your Own Adventure, Pandemic Prep)
- Session for Breakthrough Houston student faculty members about technology integration in research projects
- Extensive training sessions for new Activboard software, ActivInspire
- Several training session on OneNote 2007 (use of the software for English grammar curriculum alignment meetings)
- Summer sessions on Flip cameras and VideoSpin software
Website
- Began using the Scheduling module to take US advisory attendance through the website and facilitate ease of distribution of attendance information to athletics and fine arts personnel
- Began using the Learning Profile system in the US to track students who need instructional modifications
- Transitioned LS, MS Grades & Comments along with report cards to the website
- Facilitated use of new media gallery for groups outside of Communications (Fine Arts, Athletics)
- Continued to require parents to make all contact changes through the website
- Critical now that information from their profile is fed in to AlertNow to be used in emergency situations
- Implemented Mentor Groups to facilitate alums communicating with each other
- Continued to use the website for events
- Sold tickets to Kinkaid game
- All summercamp registrations
Curriculum Initiatives
- Increased use of SJS Forum and SJS Wiki in MS and US for instruction and student collaboration
- Began use of new Activboard software, ActivInspire
- Tested ActivExpression devices for use in 2010-2011
- Involved with creation of Storytelling 2.0, an interdisciplinary 8th grade FA elective integrating English, History, Fine Arts and Technology to be offered in the Fall, 2010
Presentations
- Participated in the 21st Century Classroom of the Future at NAIS
- Facilitated a Round Table Discussion on Technology in Troubling Times
- One of the founding bloggers for the NAIS discussion on Technology in Troubling Times
- Hosted the SPC Technology Directors Meeting
- Hosted multiple public and private schools to investigate Activboards and other technology integration tools
- Led a Parent Book Discussion on Daniel Pink's A Whole New Mind
- Presented the keynote speech on technology integration at the ISAS BTI 2009 conference
- Hosted the Region IV Educational Technology Network May, 2010 meeting
- Presentations with SJS Counseling staff on Internet citizenship and cybersafety