As a Microcomputer specialist I can relate to Ed Norman. When I first started my job a couple years ago I felt the same way. I thought I was hired to keep the computers in good shape. As I started working with students and teachers, I started to get the feeling that I needed to restrict privileges because I believed they were messing up the computers. I started on that track, but I learned new ways to restrict privileges without restricting usage. I found ways to restrict students from "messing" with the computers without restricting their usage. For example, I restrict them from setting up printers and the control panels, which I set up for every computer, this way they can't mess with the computers and they have access to the computers. With Macs it is a lot easier to control, I think.
Now that I have experience and I have set-up a school full of computers that I don't have the problems of restriction for students or teacher. Sorry, I lied, some teachers don't have problems with this, but some do because I have some teachers who "think" they know what they are doing when they go into their computer preferences. What they end up doing is messing up their computer so much that I have to go repair it! Anyways, I have started working at another school where there is a BIG Ed Norman syndrome problem. I have walked into this school and found issues. Most computers at this site do not have a printer hooked up to it because the previous tech wanted to control printing to save paper and ink and didn't want the students printing out anything they wanted to. Another issue is the fact that the wireless has so many different passwords, that no one knows what they are anymore. He was the only one to know, but now he doesn't remember them. He did this to restrict anyone who came onto campus from using it. Now no one knows the passwords and no one is able to use the wireless until I am able to repair them.
As a technological educational leader one thing I am doing is going through the computers and setting them up to be able to print to the nearest printer. This way teachers and students are able to print out their work. I set up the printers and this way they are restricted to the preferences, but doesn't restrict their usage of the computer. To make the wireless easier for the teachers to use, I am making the passwords easier to remember for the teachers to use. This way they are able to use their laptops wireless with ease.
I think most who are in charge of computers in a school setting start off like Ed Norman because they are told by "the powers that be" that they want these computers to last. So they put the restrictions on the computers that they believe are necessary to keep the computers "in good shape." As soon as these people work with the teachers and students and find out what programs they need and what they don't have access to, then they change their ideas and change settings based on what is necessary for the students and teachers to have in order to access what they need. Unfortunately, some do not change because they do believe if they are keeping the computers in working order and doing their jobs, even if the teachers and students are restricted from certain things like printing. It's sad, but true.
Activity Log
2/23/09- Downloaded podcast, wrote blog, finished project one.
2/26/09- After two days of trying to remember how to put something on a website, I finally posted my project one and project two (Hooray for me).
3/1/09- Responded to three fellow student's blogs.
Most administrations see technology as an end, and not a means to an end. They want to preserve the vehicle, not the system. So much of this is training. Teaching those teachers who want to have flexibility how to use the system, and protect the system, seems a better way than simply restricting use. The entire technology view of a school is driven by what they can use, not what they could use.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there are teachers out there who want to "change" their computer settings and end up doing more harm than good and thus making more work for you. Maybe a solution would be to send out a list of actions teachers can take if they want certain settings changed. Maybe the things that you are most requested to fix? I dont feel a training would be beneficial because there would be teachers who feel it is a waste of time because they already know it (and they might!) and those who need to go most likely wouldnt.. Unfortunately I dont know if there is a happy medium for the Ed Norman Syndrome.
ReplyDeleteWow, you are sure facing a challenge at the new school. It's a good thing they are not relying on me, they'd be waiting forever. I have programed computers with proxy addresses and linked laptops to printers but that's about it. If its anything more complicated than that I either call the district tech office and when that doesn't work, I wait for our visiting technician to come and fix it. Right now my laptop and I are going to have to schedule some sort of one on one counseling because it keeps not doing things that it is supposed to do easily. Like this post, I tried earlier today and it wouldn't post. I tried to post this right now in internet explorer with no luck. I'm using mozilla firefox now so keep your fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have your work cut out for you. Was is it difficult to restrict privileges without restricting usage? I think I would have a difficult time accomplishing that. I have a encounter a couple of people who think they know what they are doing, and the next day someone will call crying because they have totally wreck something.
ReplyDeleteHi Bill, I wish we had one of you at my site. Our Ed has put several restrictions on usage and hasn't taken the time you have to find other ways to protect the resources. They should have a term for someone who is the opposite of Ed Norman (such as yourself), like the Bill Vaccine -- working title, of course.
ReplyDelete