Technology Department News

Bond Update

We are hard at work implementing the bond plan. Here is a quick update and some tips:

  • We are rolling out laptops to buildings.
  • Chromebooks will be rolled to each and every building. However, these will not be delivered to buildings until the new wireless system is in place.
  • We are updating edge switches in all of the buildings. So far, we have updated Lowery, McCollough/Unis, and Oakman so far.

Chromebooks

Chromebooks need a solid wireless connection in order to work. Thus, we will be sending out the Chromebooks to buildings after we have the wireless in place. This should reduce frustration of having a computer in front of a user that won’t “work”. Once the new wireless is in place in a building, and we have verified the strength and capacity of the wireless signal, we’ll get the Chromebooks into the hands of users.

Chromebooks work really, really well with Google Apps for Education. Please remember that all students have access to Google Drive (this replaces MicroSoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). There are several advantages to Google Drive. Students do not need to purchase any software. They can just use Google Drive. Google Drive also stays up to date. There are no worries about different file formats or being able to use the same documents from home or school.

Chromebooks are a terrific option for most of the work that staff and students do. These work well for creating documents, creating spreadsheets, creating presentations, for using iLearn, for most web sites, for assessment and more. However, there are a few things that the Chromebooks can’t do.

  • Windows
  • Study Island (Though the company is working on it)
  • Everyday Math

Conversely, here are some popular things that Chromebooks CAN do:

  • Stages
  • READ180
  • MobyMax
  • TumbleBooks
  • iLearn
  • NWEA
  • Statewide assessments

Switches

Switches are needed to make our network work. These are working really well when no body talks or thinks about them. However, they are important. We have started the process of installing and verifying the switches. In order to change out the switches, we must interrupt network access. Thus, we complete this installation after school hours.