[Year 12 IT Apps] RE: Google docs issue

[Peter Ruwoldt]

Difficult techs has been raised in this thread

My other bit of unsolicited advice is to involve techs in the discussion
rather than expecting them to jump to teachers demands.  I feel that to get
the best from people, they need to be involved in the decisions and they
need to be given a chance to identify with the dream. If they identify with
the shared dream they are empowered to use initiative and I find that we get
more than I thought we would because of that. Achieving this is easier with
some people than others, never the less, it is a better way to go.

Techs often think of an ideal network as something that they don't have to
touch and so lock things down so tight that no one can do anything but the
prescribed tasks.  This may be the ideal in what is often, and falsely,
referred to as the 'real world'.  The Education part of the real world, on
the other hand, is dependant upon people being able to try things out,
experience alternatives, and making and learning from mistakes. This can
even effect learning computer apps as there are times where you need to turn
the clock back to validate a date dependent query.

So from my perspective the ideal educational system is minimally locked down
but the recovery systems are very good.  Backups and re-imaging are probably
the two key systems to focus on. There are other alternatives like that that
return registry etc back to origin after someone uses a puta.

Cheers
Peter

2008/12/8 Davies, Brett <bdavies at woodleigh.vic.edu.au>

> Peter,
>
> exactly what I wanted to say but you put it far more tactfully than I would
> have!
>
> Firefox is a far superior product, if we are teaching web standards at any
> level this browser is a must, as are the many plug ins available to assist
> with achieving this. Google docs is an excellent office substitute and a
> great way to share documents between home, school, other schools and even
> other countries.
>
> I am lucky where I am, the head tech we have revels in solving problems and
> coming up with solutions to requests from staff. No complaints, he  just
> thinks about what issues could arise, solves them and gets on with it.
>
> He doesn't wear a hat, it would just fall off because he has his head down
> and bum up working to provide a safe, secure, flexible and practical
> environment for teachers and students to work in.
>
> Royce, perhaps you should "divert some of your technological resources" and
> organise a spell checker! :)
>
> Brett Davies
> (ITA &  SofDev Teacher
> Woodleigh School
> www.woodleigh.vic.edu.au)
> ________________________________________
> From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au [itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] On
> Behalf Of Peter Ruwoldt [ruwoldtp at gmail.com]
> Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 4:02 PM
> To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] RE: Google docs issue
>
> Have you given any thought to the implications re the creation of a
> mono culture around MS?
> What about the idea that one of the key roles of education is provide
> students and our communities with choice and options?
> The fact that Firefox is the superior product because of its
> flexibility through the miriad of plug ins.
> That the IT world is heading in a direction where we will probably be
> accessing many of our applications online and in a more flexible and
> shared way.
> That the online applications are free and so access at home is
> possible with being encumbered by cost.
> That the Google apps export to both MS and OO.org
> That the student work is freely available at both home and school
> facilitating learning beyond the school environment.
> Think about changing gears instead of changing hats.
> Peter
>
>
-- 
Free and Open education for all

Peter Ruwoldt
Grant High School
Hosking Avenue
MOUNT GAMBIER  SA  5290

P. 08 87263128
F. 08 87250173

ruwoldtp at granths.sa.edu.au
http://www.watiwara.com
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