Grant Elementary School Technology falls into four major areas based on location, purpose and district support.  The last section discusses work that results as part of the efforts in these four sections.

 

Specific Task Summary List Grant Lab Equipment Servers Classroom Equipment District Maintained Systems Software and Files System Setup Equipment Recycle

This page describes "resetting" the school equipment for use for the new school year.

 

Specific Task Summary List

A summary of the various areas/equipment and their timelines are presented in the following table.  Table is sortable by column heading, just click on heading to sort a-z for that item (Status, Priority, Project Point Person, Work Performed By make sense for sorting).

 

Item #	Status (C=Complete, O=Ongoing, W=Waiting, S=Scheduled)	Priority	Equipment Area	Project Point Person	Approximate Time Period	Work Performed by...	Dependency	Steps/Requirements
1	C 6/24/2011	1	Equipment Recycle	Catina	NOW		Lab cannot be cleaned until equipment is removed.	Could not arrange for pickup by end of time in lab from Goodwill Petaluma.  Will take it all though if Grant willing to drop off.  There are approximately 10 PCs, 1 laptops, 4-5 alphasmarts, keyboard, mice, 1 thin client, 3 inkjet printers, 4 laser printers, 1 CRT and 2 lcd monitors among cords, 2 UPS units, cables, adapters, etc. Michele and Alice have offered to help get the equipment over to Goodwill.  Email sent.  6/24 - Alice took last of 3 trips.
2	W	?	Lab Projector Lamp	Catina	End of June			Follow up with InFocus on Projector Lamp Replacement program.  Submitted; received post card to follow up at end of June 2011. Call customer service at 1-800-417-1843. Customer service hours are 7:30AM to 5PM Central Time, Monday through Friday.
3	S	1	Domain Controllers (2) Terminal Servers (2)	Catina	End of June	Server Contractor	All work in lab PCs complete.	STP Arranged for week of June 20 to do STP Tasks - June list
4		1	Domain Controllers (2) Terminal Servers (2)	Catina	Early August	Server Contractor	First item to be done as all PCs on campus require DCs for DHCP.	Arrange STP access first in early August STP Tasks - August List
5		1	Staff Room Edusoft Printer on Network	Catina	1st Report Card period or when teacher systems are touched	Server Contractor	Printer setup on network. Print server setup on DCs.	Replace Staff Room Laserjet4 with Brother DCP-8080 as network printer (lower tray configured for duplex, legal paper for report cards.) STP Tasks - August List Add printer definition change to Support Tech Issues August 2011 issues to be done as teacher systems are touched (or train to find printer and define for use through server-easiest.)
6		2	Classroom Teacher PCs	Catina	Early/Mid August after Item 1	District Technician	Server Work: Item 1 Domain Controller required	New Teacher Usernames/beginning password on DC  Deploying Systems on Campus for user names and checklist Submit tickets/arrange w/DO - Support Tech Issues August 2011
7		2	Wiki and Shared Drive Cleanup	Catina	Mid-August	Classroom Teachers	Domain Controller up.	Wiki (Junk) and specific teacher/grade pages require cleanup.  Teachers may not have access to delete pages, but should specify. Shared drive files under teacher names should be cleared out. Required for students use of drive.
8		3	Classroom Student Systems	Catina	Mid August or later	District Technician	Domain Controller required	Submit tickets/arrange w/DO - Support Tech Issues August 2011 for any non-working classroom systems
9	O	3	SCC Laptop	Catina	Unknown	District Technician	Printer drivers for HP Laserjet 4050; HP Laserjet 5000 and Brother DCP-8080	Submited ticked in June for printer drivers; requires configuration after downloads.  PC at DO - See Support Tech Issues August 2011
10		3	Computer Lab Setup	Catina	First Day of School+	District Technician or STP Technician	Domain Controller required	See Deploying Systems on Campus and the PC System Checklist.doc and the list in the section below.  Also check on any issues and results from the end of year shutdown: Computer Lab Notes - June 2011.
11		1	Renew Premium Upgrade from PBWorks	Catina	September 7, 2011			See Wiki Documentation for cost, method and license information.
12	O	5	Mobile Cart(s) Configuration	Catina			SCC laptop	Equipment needs to be secured to cart, add VCR Support Tech Issues August 2011 for SCC laptop Timeline depends on how quickly equipment is needed.
13		2	Onsite Trouble Ticket Systems	Catina	September		DO Trouble ticket system STP issues	Staff need a single place to fill out issue. Multiple people need access to keep system managed so that issues get triaged quickly, district tickets get forwarded promptly and STP issues get batched in addition to being able to document the types of issues for training purposes and planning (equipment, personnel and budgets).  Suggest Google Form/Spreadsheet with multiple people receiving notifications when the tickets are generated; possible script for forwarding information to DO and filtering for STP work.
14		2	D1	Catina/Lori	August 2011	District Technician		Follow-up with Lori/Janine.  Did Panda every get installed on D1 Teacher computer?
15		5	Wireless Networks	Catina	August 2011			Plug in and test wireless networks (GRANTW2 (grant200b)) was not unplugged and should be working, but system should be mounted to wall.  GRANTW1 (grant200) needs to be plugged in in the lab and tested w/timer.  See Wireless Network for information.)
16		4	Lab Projector Configuration, Setup and Training	Catina /??	August 2011			Projector needs configuration for full feature set (display 4 systems); inefrared pen,, teacher login and training.
17		3	Renaisance Place District Migration	Catina /Lori	August and November 2011	Ren Place (maybe system administrator)	District deal with Ren Place	Username/password issue to be resolved before school starts so if change happens, it can happen at the beginning of year. Export all 6th graders (and older) for import into District server at beginning for incoming 7th and older students if the data is still there.  Inactive 6th graders, do not delete work until usernames/longevity data is resolved.
18		3	Software Setup		August	??	List of students	Ren Place, enVision setup, Social Studies, Type2Learn, wiki clean-up, file server setup, keypass setup, TuxPaint, SumDog, setup.  Many of these are documented on pages in Software and Web or Curriculum section under Technology.
19		6	Dell Network Color Printer		??	??	Method for charging back classrooms for printing	TLC model: Printer cartridges (4 pack): $900+; Black only ($150) - may be good alternative for legal, two sided printing for report cards so the HP could be turned back to 8-1/2 by 11 so paper doesn't run out as fast without someone in the lab all the time. Otherwise, should find alternative to donate printer to.
20		6	Classroom PC Replacement/Expansion Possibilities	Catina / Tech Committee	TBD	District Technician or		Project includes discussion and potential deployment of Surplus Equipment.
21	W	6	iTunes and School iPod for Assemblies & Plays	Catina	August	??	CD for Ripping	Lab 31 now has iTunes installed on it.  It should be configured for school use and the BEST assembly music added.
22				Alice	August			Order new AV System
23				Alice	August			Return Sound Configuration back to normal in Multi (leave mic cords and order new ones for stand mics?)
24		Varies	Deferred Projects	Catina	Varies	Varies	District Standard + Other items	See 2011 End of Year Tech Projects Summary.

 

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The following section identifies equipment, general tasks to be accomplished, targeted responsible organization for maintaining the equipment.  The list is not exhaustive nor is it completely up to date.  As responsibilities and equipment change, the list should be updated for clarity.

 

Grant Lab Equipment

All equipment is this section is the responsibility of all staff members to start and shutdown equipment, add paper, fix printer jams and report issues for district orch contracted technician.

 

Check the PC System Checklist. for specific tasks, a checklist and more information. Lists below are general.

 

Student Systems

All student systems are desktops.

2011-2012 Year - See item in Summary table at top of page as well as Computer Lab Notes - June 2011 and Deploying Systems on Campus  

1. Run Operating System Updates, Plug-in Updates and Microsoft Office updates on all existing 32 systems.
2. Install any identified new software 
3. Repair identified problems at the end of the last year. 
4. Sterilize cups and re-distribute
5. Re-distribute headphones to all systems.
6. Clean screens/screen covers. 

 

Administrator System

The Lab Administrator system was replaced after 6 years with one of the new refurbished systems.  Unlike previous configurations, the lab administrator system is not a "test system" for the terminal servers.  It will now be used (provided we permanently mount the projector) as the demonstration machine with sound support.  It requires clean up, new project software setup, training and documentation with an "instructional" user for teachers.

 

Lab Peripherals

Peripherals, or supporting equipment, are any equipment that is broadly used by all systems or specifically for teaching or special projects.

 

Printers

The lab has one black and white laserprinter. printer.  One black & white printer and one color laser printers (two inkjet colored printers as well which we should use up before deploying the Dell Color Laser Printers)

 

HP Laserjet 4050

Maintenance performed in fall 2009.   If Kyocera copier becomes network-enabled, the bottom drawer will be reconfigured for letter size paper rather than legal.  Likewise, with the Edusoft Printer Tray 2 configured for legal and network enables, the second tray on the laserjet could be returned to 8-1/2 x 11.

 

Document Camera

An extra HoverCam T3 is configured for the Lab Admin 2 machine.  It could be moved to another room and only brought in for training for use by a classroom that has the doc cam.

 

Projectors

inFOCUS Short throw

1. Requires Project demonstration software install
2. Wireless mouse
3. Cable management
4. Instruction user
5. Training for teachers. 

 

Sound

Front Row Sembio + Pyle Amplifier

1. Pendant + Student mic; no charging station 
2. Charging microphone batteries
3. Replace batteries in spring each year - store outside systems in summer.  

 

Servers

The servers come in two flavors.  Some work is done by the lab coordinator; other work is done by the contractor.  All work must be coordinated before it is completed and contractor work is best performed a week or two before users show up on campus and expect to use the equipment.

 

File Servers

Lab Coordinator Responsibilities

Duties left here as these need to be picked up by someone.  Most of these items should be done by the Server Contractor (SC), but some should be assumed by a site representive (SR) are in ():  

Lab Coordinator responsibilities are generally related to the data and  user accounts.

1. Archive (if possible) all files from previous years to CD - (SC for files backup; future backups - online?  SR)
2. Clean up all folders and check permissions of folders for shared drive, apps drive (and teachers drive?) - are the permissions okay? Do we need adjustments in pofiles/group policies?  Server issue. Clean up - Teachers; Setup - Contractor/could be SC or Technician
3. Create any new teacher or staff accounts and set permissions accordingly. (SC)
4. Remove any staff members who are no longer part of Grant school (SC)
5. Verify weekly backups - strategy might change, SR/SA combined

 

Timeline: First week of school

 

Server Contractor Responsibilities

The Server contractors provide the following "yearly setup" functions on each of the file servers.

1. Open machines and vacuum out systems. (Probably not necessary given age and future changes - June 2011)
2. Process all necessary Microsoft Updates for Operating Systems, Microsoft Office products, Add-ons and Default templates, directories and other user setups.
3. Fix any reported problems with active directory, permissions, group policies, Microsoft office, plug-ins, etc. (Disconnected Drives, T:\ (teachers drive), MS Office Issue, Clip Art) 
4. Process all necessary plug-in updates on servers
5. Install any identified new products or updates on servers(Firefox, others?)
6. Clean out active directory (based on activity logs/lab coordinator information)
7. Clean out system logs and other information that is no longer necesary
8. Clean up, as neccesary and possible, any active directory leftovers, etc.
9. Defragment paging memory, hard drive as possible. - automatic version failing occasionally.
10. Create a system state backup of the entire system
11. Schedule weekly backups according to lab coordinator requirements - changing?
12. Set beginning of year backup - new strategy?
13. Set automatic "shutdown" after a period of time for all workstations (pending funding from Energy Savings Specialist)
14. Adjust group policy for Energy Savings versus Access needs (pending funding from Energy Savings Specialist)

 

Timeline: Early August

 

Additional Explorations

• Nightly backup to s:\ drive - changes only - online and easy restore by teachers?
• New Terminal Server - deferred
• Switch Replacement; changes in switch wiring - deferred

 

Terminal Servers

Grant has two terminal servers.  These need annual clean out.

 

Lab Coordinator Responsibilities

1. Identify any applications/plug-ins or updates to existing products that need to be addressed by contractor - based on supported applications.
2. Identify any changes to the default profile (how are these cleaned out and reset with changes?)

 

Timeline: Early August

 

Server Contractor Responsibilities

1. Open machines and vacuum out systems (same as File Servers)
2. Process all necessary Microsoft Updates for Operating Systems
3. Process all necessary plug-ins on servers
4. Clean out system logs and other information that is no longer necesary
5. Create a system state backup of the entire system
6. Clean out any terminal sessions/left over accounts remnants and other orphans
7. Check default profile definition and update according to Lab Coordinator requirements and plug-in requirements.
8. Test all plug-ins for operation in terminal sessions
9. Set automatic "shutdown" after a period of time for all terminals/remote desktops

 

Timeline: Early August

 

Classroom Equipment

Classroom equipment is divided into student systems, teacher PCs and peripherals.  The support strategy for the systems is based on what the district supports versus what we contract with a district employee to perform for the school outside of his district hours and responsibilities.

 

Teacher Systems

In 2010-2011, we deployed refurbished equipment--one per classroom and support staff (reading, staff room, rsp, and speech).  GOLDMASTER is now out of date for antivirus and supporting tools.

 

Student Systems

Student systems are a combination of thin clients using the terminal servers and donated PCs from SCOE using remote desktop.  Although most of the PCs, could be used as standard PCs (no remote desktop), without a consistent method to clean them up each year, perform updates and deploy new applications, they are best used as "thin clients". 

 

Some of the student systems have an alternative shell to provide four options for the user while others were deployed before this capability and remain a "hybrid" system where IE7 is used to access the internet and remote desktop is used to access Microsoft Office products.  With the adoption of IE8 and Firefox in the lab in 2009-2010 along with the move to Web 2.0 applications, an open question remains on how best to deploy these systems along with the how best to continue support with our terminal servers.

 

Student systems are now supported by the District.

 

Peripherals

Classroom Peripherals

Each classroom has a network connected printer with either a built-in print server or an external print server.  Some classrooms have 5-port switches to enable all student, teacher and printers (mostly D-wing) as well as Accelerated Math Scanners.  Additionally, some classrooms have flip video cameras, installed projectors, and FrontRow sound systems connected to teacher PCs.  Once classroom has NEO2 using an IR scanner for uploads (but is no longer installed).  Classrooms are currently adopting HoverCam Document Cameras as well.

 

Classroom peripherals are installed and maintained by the district technician.

 

Staff Room Peripherals

There are currently two printers in the staff room.  One is configured by the District as it supports Edusoft (see below).  The other is an additional printers since the Edusoft printer has given us much more problems.  This year, we acquired a Mopier 5 from SCOE, that may function both as a scanner and have the printing capacity needed for the staff room.  We need to explore its use this year.

 

Mobile Projector Carts

Mobile Projector carts are used outside of the lab, and, therefore, are lumped into the classroom equipment section.  At the moment, there is one mobile cart with a laptop computer, a DVD player and projector (speakers for 

 

Mobile carts are outfitted and maintained by the contracted classroom technician.

 

Wireless Network

The school has three "home" wireless routers.  Current state is...Most notably, the wireless router would be use by:

1. Mobile Carts in rooms where these are  used
2. Kindergarten K2 Room with old laptops used by students in centers
3. Multipurpose Room for all school or large projections
4. Library
5. RSP

Wireless Networks fall under either the system contractor or the classroom contractor.

FrontRow Systems

Remaining rooms without FrontRow equipment:

• K2, B1 and A6 (if used as regular primary classroom)

FrontRow systems are installed and configured by outside vendors.

 

District Maintained Systems

The following systems are maintained exclusively by the District IT Business Services department.

 

Administrators & Support Staff

Principal, Admin Assistant, Attendance Clerk, Nurse, Psychologist, Guidance Counselor & their associated peripherals.

 

Classroom Systems (Teachers and Student Systems and Printers)

New in 2011-2012, coordination to get larger update projects, roll-outs and specific issues fixed is a challenge with lab being maintained by outside vendor.

 

Staff Room Printers

Located in the staff room.  The Brother DCP-8080 is a network enabled/duplex printer.  A second tray was purchased to handle legal paper.  Requires configuration on the network, drivers installed on teacher systems.

 

Brother CDP-8080 (Edusoft Printer/Scanner)

See Campus Printers for more information.  At the end of the 2010-2011 school year, a second tray was purchased and configured for legal sized paper.  Once this system is put on the network and configured, it could be used for printing report cards.

Kyocera Copier

Last year, the school looked into replacing the existing copier with one that had a network card with network access.  This would alleviate the need for an additional printer in the staff room and allow the standardized report cards to be printed to the copier room rather than to the lab.  This is still and option that should be explored.

 

Software and Files System Setup

Lists below are general and should be checked each year for changes.

 

Annual Startup Tasks

• Make a list of standard applications by grade and test; distribute list to teachers
• Establish opening day, assessment weeks, work weeks, training weeks
• Update all systems for plug-ins (Adobe Reader, Quicktime, Shockwave, Flash, RLPrint, Java)
• Update student bookmarks
• Setup "Shared" drive
• Load student ids for: Renaissance Place, Math & Social Studies and Type To Learn (grades 2-6)
• Setup Keypass and TuxPaint for the year
• Review all subscription tools.  

Annual Shutdown Tasks

• Shared Drive
• Archive all TuxPaint Images to:
• Compress Teacher folders to:
• Delete all projects/files under teacher folders
• Setup New Teacher folders & TuxPaint links
• Lab Machines, Student PCs, Teacher PCs.
• Check system for unwanted files/folders (Desktop, My Documents, My Computer, etc.) and delete
• Run Disk Cleanup/CCleaner for each user on lab machines & classroom machines
• Run Disk Defragmentation for each machine
• Run through checklist 

 

Equipment Recycle

All donated equipment (printers + SCOE systems) need :

1. Removal of licensed software (Microsoft Office + CA Associates)
2. Domain accounts removed with all associated files
3. User/Organization replaced
4. Administrator password changed

 

This is tech committee responsibility and location and storage of the equipment until the time that it can be dealt with as a group is an issue!