The Importance of Information Technology in Education

Education has many different topics and areas which can cause huge debates on why this or that happens. Working in education, just over three years now, I frequently get asked the question "but why do schools need such fancy technology and all these devices? They are just distractions for students to take away from school." This is one of the most challenging questions to answer, but one I frequently LOVE answering.

The role of education is changing alongside information technology. The biggest thing in my mindset is within education we have to determine the "needs" from the "desires" of technology. There are numerous ways in which schools can demonstrate how technology benefits education. 

• Learning can be made available anywhere
• Studies can be completed anytime
• Collaboration
• Instant availability of information
• Ability to connect long-distance
• Availability of multiple learning platforms (video, IM, forums, etc)
• The ability to connect with learning-impared students
• Reduction in time consuming tasks

The ability to make learning available anywhere is a huge boundary leap in education. Remember the days where the class went to the creek to learn about water flows and water depth? Now teachers can take an iPad, access a USGS website and click on the feature they want to share information on and have it right at their finger tips. 

Studying and the time spent on homework can add up quickly. Maybe the basketball teams have a long road-trip on Tuesday night. Students used to take their books with them on the bus and try to complete homework or study while on the bus. Today, schools are installing wireless internet on school buses allowing students access to online materials so they can complete their work while they travel. Another huge step forward in technology within education. 

However, my biggest accolade for technology in education is that technology challenges education daily. Information is available at the touch of a button. How we education students to gather, develop, and present that information is the challenge in education. Students must understand digital citizenship while understanding the gained knowledge they acquire. 

Sometimes that flashy laptop isn't a "toy" or a "personal entertainment device" but more the key to a super highway of information available out there in the world. Now we just have to bring those highways of information to the classroom. "Students, please pull up a browser on your laptops....the world is at your availability, what will you do with it?"

PodStock 2015 Purple Kool-Aid (Oh Yea!)

If you haven't attended PodStock (an educational learning conference) in Wichita, KS, you are missing out. This is a conference of over 300 educators, technology directors, and administrators who have dove head first into making education better than it ever has been!

How crazy and excited are these 300 people? They for lack of better words have "drank the Kool-Aid and are running around screaming "OH - YEEAAAA!"" while interacting with each other and having a good time.

This year I had several sessions I wanted to attend as well as the Pre-Con (day before conference where a makerspace was going on).

The Makerspace Day at Pre-Con was all about creating, being creative, and how to bring out creativeness in students. I chose to upgrade an old laptop from my district. I also checkerboarded the keys making it both black and white. I've labeled the MacBook as my "FrankenMAC".




















Day two of PodStock is the actual start of the conference. Beginning after the opening keynote delivered by Ginger Lewman, I attended the "Wearables" session by Paul Shircliff. Learning about basic circuitry, I was able to create LED lighting for a device or wearable. I chose to go a different route instead and attached LED lights to my Pinewood Derby car! (Thanks Paul haha!)

The second session I attended was the "Coding 101" by Kelley McCall. The session was PACKED! So many educators wanting to learn about coding and how easy it is to use. The session was informative and Kelley McCall showed everyone how easy it was to pick up and learn coding as well as several informative websites to begin using coding with.

I wandered through vendor exhibits and also socialized during the third session on Thursday. One of the awesome things about PodStock is how easy it is to connect and develop a network at the conference.

Finishing up the conference on Thursday, session four I attended Brad Buscher's "Building a Basic iPad App". Brad slowly walked the group through how to enter lines of code into a program that would execute and run, thus allowing the creation and execution of an application. While tricky, everyone was able to run and execute "Hello World" in an application.

Thursday night led into the vendor reception and dance. Also included in the night's activities are the annual Pinewood Derby. I entered a car into the derby this year and was going for most creative with LED lighting and hopefully fastest car. Neither one happened but I had a great time experimenting with my car and socializing!

One of the best things about PodStock for me entering my second year attending has been the WONDERFUL opportunity to relax, share ideas, and enjoy casual conversation with others in attendance. Last year, I met Paul Shircliff and over the course of a year we have Tweeted at each other and shared ideas via Twitter. This year, we both enjoyed several nights of casual conversation with others such as Diane Cordell and Kevin Honeycutt and Michelle Honeycutt. So many ideas were shared in a relaxed atmosphere where we all swap ideas on creative subjects. I agree with Paul 100% that the best part of PodStock is the IMMENSE networking opportunities with everyone!

Day 2 of PodStock kicked off and it was back into breakout sessions. The first one I attended on Friday was Vanessa Perez's "Ok I Have A Dream, Now How Do I Fund It?". The session covered grant writing and ways to find grants to help cover expenses of trying to equip a classroom with educational materials and other supplies. This session was really helpful for me as our district doesn't have anyone who writes grants so I have a feeling I'll be in contact with Vanessa quite a bit!

During session two on Friday, I found myself in the hotel lobby conversing with Justin Bell about iBooks author with several other people. I also used this time to recharge my devices and gear up for the finish of PodStock.

The last session I attended was presented by Kailey Lohrman. Her session was "Bullying Exposed 2: Back in Time". The message delivered was POWERFUL and MOVING. Her message tied right into the group at PodStock. PodStock(ers) have always said we are like family and Kailey's closing remark was "Friendships last for now, but family lasts forever".

There was a closing keynote and then it was the conclusion of the conference. PodStock 2015 was in the books. Or so I thought. Again that night, I found myself chatting with other attendees in the hotel lobby and connecting with them. I've found out that my business cards have been a great and easy way to share connecting information.

Finishing up my PodStock 2015 experience was a WONDERFUL dinner with Paul Shircliff, Diane Cordell, Kevin Honeycutt, and Michelle Honeycutt. We shared stories and interacted with each other over dinner and drinks. The nights after the conference are some of the best times that I enjoyed with the PodStock experience.


To Paul, Kevin, Diane, Vanessa, Brad, Kelley, Michelle, Kailey, and anyone else I'm leaving out, "Thank you" for a wonderful experience at PodStock. Your information and guidance has been awesome and it only makes me want to bring that excitement to my district!

To Paul: Thanks for helping me accomplish my goal of getting a drone for our district to use!

Golfing and Technology

In today's world, technology is becoming a part of everything. GPS while traveling, the Apple iPhone, then the iPad, now GPS watches and millions of applications in the Chrome Store or App Store. Technology makes the world operate faster, more efficient, and smooth.

Being an avid golfer, I see technology making it's way onto the golf courses more and more. In numerous ways is technology becoming involved with the game...

1. GPS devices (usually on a phone or a hand-held device that tells you how far you are from a pin or middle of the green)

2. GPS watches (mostly built to show how far you are from a green and how far you have walked)

3. Lasers for pins (Scopes a pin and tells you exactly how far you are from the pin)

4. Putting aides (Phones that attach to your putter with a special attachment and relay information on putting stroke, plane, etc)

5. Applications on phones (My personal favorite is "BreakMeter" on the iOS App Store. A simple FREE application that is downloaded and reads the slope and break of a green. Simply lay the phone on the green and it reads the break and shows it on the screen of the phone)

6. Club-technology (Clubs now have adjustable lofts, weights in the clubs that are adjustable, and also different sizes of clubfaces that help reduce friction, drag, and spin)

7. Cart GPS and online functionality (Carts are becoming more and more popular with built-in GPS systems, online ordering for food at the turn, and even USB ports to charge those electronic devices you may own)


Being a technology director, the push in technology on the course I think can only help with pace of play, skill level, and help with the "how far, what if, and the what is this hole like?" situations.

Challenges of Educational Technology (and how to conquer them)

Walk into any school across the country and you are sure to find some form of technology that is being implemented within a classroom in the school. Standard items such as calculators, textbooks, and even chalkboards are quickly finding their way out the door and to the trash dumpsters at an alarming rate. Technology is usually at the top of any discussion within a school. How can we implement this? How can 21st century skills be integrated while using technology? Schools are quickly launching full-scale implementations of devices and policies each and every year throughout the nation. Seems easy enough right? Wrong.

Technology integration and implementation can be two very difficult strategies to develop and maintain in schools. Several factors and challenges stand between successful and non-successful technology implementations and integrations. The blame isn't all on "well the technology doesn't work" or "it's the teacher's fault". Let's look at what challenges may occur within schools wanting to integrate more technology into their classrooms.

• A 21st-Century Technology Plan

A proper technology plan must be in place to help guide and assist any tech integration into the classroom. When designing your technology plan, make sure to include the opinions and ideas of KEY staff that will be using the technology most in your buildings. If you don't take into consideration how staff members will use the technology, how can they successfully implement the tech into their classes? Build a "Tech Committee" to brainstorm and communicate ideas so your tech plan can be planned successfully.

• Examine Technology Budgets Frequently

A huge issue in education with technology is how much to spend on technology in the classroom. State budgets are shrinking and cuts are made to funding in schools. Will those cuts affect what could potentially be spent on technology purchases? Each and every month, newer and better-designed products are released on the market along with software that allows you to expand on just that one certain area (that every user must have of course!). Does your school really need the latest and greatest software or can the district use what they have and better develop their skill-set and "expertise" with that software? 

Budgets don't just fall on software. Districts should annually expect their budgets for hardware, software, professional development, and tech support to stay the same or increase each year. Having a properly planned budget with adequate funds can help so if something needs to be scaled back, you know what you have to work with funds wise for technology purchases. 

• Choosing Effective Tools and Devices for Use

Each school and district won't use the same exact tools and devices for learning. Each situation and classroom is unique. Gathering data and viewing classroom interaction between students and teachers can open a new perspective on how technology is used in the classroom. What kinds of assignments and lessons will teachers present to students in their classrooms. Digital learning is at an all-time high due to blended learning and teaching. Finding ways to make teaching easier along with engaging for the student is the number one priority of any teacher and school administrator. Combined with technology budgets, effective tools and devices must be able to be purchased adequately. In our district, we have been an all-Mac district for the last 12 years. We are currently exploring Chromebooks as state funding is being cut and overall costs just need to be trimmed. Finding the right tools for each district is vital to it's success. 

• Resistance to Change

Change in school classrooms is hard. "We've always done it this way" is one of the hardest obstacles to overcome. Justify the changes in product/devices with effective ways the technology will benefit the teacher and students. One of the best ways to help with this is to simply let the teachers experiment with the new products. I've also found that the good ol' dollar signs ($$) in cost-savings for the district over time has been a big way to convince those on the fence about change to agreeing to the new technology. Sometimes you simply will not convince certain teachers or staff members to change their ways. (In our district, every elementary classroom has a Promethean Board except for one classroom. That teacher refuses to get a Promethean Board. When he retires at the end of this school year, that classroom will finally have a Promethean Board).

• Professional Development

As a technology director in education, this is one of the top concerns when implementing technology into classrooms. Teachers want professional development and they deserve it. One afternoon learning Google Apps for Education and Google Classroom isn't enough. Teachers need to be comfortable with the technology. If they aren't comfortable with the technology, how can we expect them to be able to effectively teach with the technology? In any technology integration into a classroom, teachers need to be given the tools and skill-set to effectively use and teach with the technology given to them in their classrooms. 

• Blended Learning

Teaching in classrooms has evolved. Chalkboards have transitioned to SMART boards and Promethean boards. Students have gone from reading out of textbooks to reading "leveled readers" and other materials on devices such as laptops, tablets, and iPads. Learning has gone from paper and pencil to digital learning and teaching digital "citizenship". Some of the biggest pushes with blended learning is online classes and taking virtual classes. The use of online digital classes is rising in school districts and allows for students to gain advantages in the classroom both in high school and beyond. Allowing teachers to transition to blended learning has been made possible with resources like EdModo and Google Classroom. The amazing advances in technology can help prepare students for their futures with 21st-century skills. 

• "Failures" of Technology

Often I hear how the technology in the classroom isn't "adequate". How the technology and devices are used is a key component of any technology integration. If teachers and students are given the tool-set on how to work and develop skills with devices, how can they succeed? Many times I hear that devices are used as "baby-sitting" tools so students don't act up in class when their work is done. I've also heard the now-false statement of "well those are state assessment compatible" as well. While implementing devices and technology that is capable of providing a stable environment for assessment testing and formative testing is important, understanding and preparing for failure is vital. Before you can succeed, you must first learn how to fail and to learn from your failures. 

• Always Be Prepared

One of my biggest quotes I always take with me to work each day is "Expect the unexpected". By being on the ready, an educational technology director can perform any task and be able to conquer any challenges throw at them. 

By understanding educational challenges in technology implementations and integrations, schools can better prepare for the future in Ed-Tech. 

Technology Director (and leader of change??)

Almost three years ago, I stepped into the biggest challenge and role of my young career. I had accepted a position to become "Director of Technology and Communication" in a local school district. Easy enough right? I couldn't have been more wrong.

I entered my interview as a cocky, chest-puffed-out, not-even twenty-five year old hot-shot in my eyes. During the interview process, I was asked questions I could barely even answer. "Can you handle pressure? How would you describe your abilities to balance time and tasks? Can you LEARN?" Excuse me? I had technical certifications in two major emphasis and had also just obtained my A+ certification just 18 months earlier. What did I need to learn? Turns out, I had so much to educate myself on and adapt to.

My first six months on the job couldn't have been more stressful. Students in the school found ways to create their own administrative accounts on the computer, laptops had to be re-imaged with firmware blocks, bandwidth issues ran wide, website issues occurred. If it could fail, more than likely it did. Somehow, my administration stood behind me and supported me which was the best thing that could have happened. I learned from my challenges and gained INVALUABLE knowledge and experiences. I had never worked in a Macintosh Apple environment and soon was ahead of many staff and students in knowledge. Many countless hours at work and through many painful emails for help from other area technology directors in an email forum group, and the first year of my job came to a close. The storm had been weathered.

My second year in the district brought on more duties as I began taking on additional tasks of data coordinator, our student-information-system administrator, as well as running the clock at home football games to be involved with other school activities. Thanks to the patient and wonderful staff of my district, our school was able to complete all our state testing and with less issues, my second year concluded.

Enter year three where I have noticed most of my ("Leader of Change") taking precedence over my "Technology Director" title. My school district blessed me with the opportunity to attend "PodStock 2014" in Wichita, KS. This is one of the largest EdTech seminars in the country. Technology directors, teachers, administration, and other main players in educational settings attend the seminar. The countless connections and mental notes I took from PodStock gave me confidence in what I was already doing in our district. Beginning with this school year, we started our iPad initiative in the elementary school. Many teachers had seemed hesitant to deploy iPads into their classrooms but walking around today, those iPads are out in full force! I hope to continue to push iPads into classrooms and slowly minimalize our laptops in the building. I know this will cause some friction but given that we ask the right questions such as "Why are we implementing these iPads?" instead of "Why are we getting rid of laptops?" can be huge in any educational classroom setting. Our current 10-12 grade 1:1 laptop program has entered its 12th year and continues to be successful. One of the reasons for its success is that teachers along with myself ask each other questions! "What can I do to help you in your classroom?" has been one of my biggest helpful things I can ask a teacher. The feedback I receive is IMPORTANT to the success of technology in classrooms and in our district as a whole.

Currently our district is searching for a new superintendent as our current one is retiring at the end of the school year. This candidate search for the new superintendent really hit reality today when I had the chance to sit down with a candidate for a short interview with him. The candidate asked me "So what are your job duties within the district?" As I counted out the numerous tasks and responsibilities I fulfill and complete daily, monthly, and yearly, his eyes widened. When we talked about time management and I relayed that I was a "one-man department" he smiled and stated "So you're THE MAN!". I, without hesitation for the first time, replied confidently "Yes sir I am".

In just three short years, my fears have subsided while my accomplishments continue slowly reflect in my work. I cannot thank my administration in the district for all their support, teamwork, and amazing staff that I get to work with. I have been blessed with an amazing opportunity to call my district "home" and hope for many, many numerous years in my district as their "Technology Director & (Leader of Change)"!

Technology Transformation

           As we all know, the role of technology in education and schools is changing rapidly. From iPad initiatives to BYOD policies in schools to the latest development of Chromebooks in education, technology has vastly changed in the last five years. Remember when state assessments were filling in those bubble sheets with a #2 pencil? Not anymore my digital Tweeps, Friends, Connections, or +Google Community members!
           As a senior in high school (circa 2006), I remember getting a cart of standard Dell laptops that were to be shared among students and classes in my high school. That was a cart of 30 computers, to be shared between 120 students each day. How there weren't more conflicts or lack of computers is still a wonder to me. Teachers were always trying to track down the sign up sheet so classes could use the laptops. Fast forward to the year 2010...
          April 3rd, 2010. The day that educational technology would forever change. The very first iPad was released. The release of the iPad was supposed to "create a device similar to a laptop or netbook that would allow for the same functionality". Within the first 80 days of release, Apple had sold 3 million iPads. (Wikipedia) Education would never be the same. By the time the iPad 2 was released on March 2nd, 2011, there were already 15 MILLION first generation iPads purchased. The iPad was discovered with its countless features that could be used in educational classrooms with use of Apps, Games, and WiFi capabilities with the device.
          The iPad in education has been a game changer, an ever-changing evolution of cutting-edge technology, and a RESOURCE. Combine the iPad with 1:1 laptop initiatives with devices such as MacBooks and Chromebooks, and suddenly classrooms are filled with technology! No longer are students writing research papers, writing out class notes over a lecture, or even taking tests. Research now is focused more on plagiarism and how to correctly site sources when typing a paper, notes are typed digitally and saved to a students computer, and even tests in the classroom are being taken online. In the state of Kansas, students log into a website with a unique username and password to even take state assessments which are vital to state funding and school funding across the state. It's obvious that technology is here to stay and will continue to develop in the classroom.
          The sudden push of technology doesn't come without hesitations, problems, and obstacles however. There have been several factors that I have discovered in just my three short years in the school district in which I am a Technology Director in.

1. You have to learn to pace yourself. Not everyone may want to jump into technology and the sudden push of devices. Learn to hold conversations with staff members, students, and even parents. Get a feel for what is NEEDED in the classrooms and what is WANTED in the classrooms. There is a huge difference between need and want. 
2. Be open to change and criticism. The flow of technology into classrooms isn't easy and there will always normally be some form of pushback where if the technology doesn't work right away, the teacher or students may not want to start using their devices in the classroom if they don't perform. If the technology is functioning, students tend to engage more as the devices and technology create a more personal learning environment. Student engagement is a huge factor in classrooms and if you can keep them learning, you've achieved the desired goals with the devices and your objectives of why they are in the classrooms. 
3. Creativity. As a Technology Director, I have found it CRITICAL that I listen to all feedback I get from staff, students, and parents. The role of technology in the classroom is to help aid educational learning. Recently, students in the 4th grade in our school district Skyped with a World War II museum as well as NASA! The possibility of what can be achieved in the classroom with technology is endless! +Nick Krahn 
4. Learn from advice and support of others. Once a month I attend a seminar with other local EdTech Directors where we discuss anything from new practices in education to new technology devices to break-fixing devices. When a problem is discovered, it is HIGHLY likely that someone in the group has had the same issue and together the group quickly finds and answer and resolves problems faster than what I myself may have been able to. 
5. Extend your network of connections. My biggest discovery this past year has been how many incredible and amazing people exist in this world. I attended PodStock2014 this year and met numerous staff from school districts all over the country ranging from Ohio to New Hampshire to Florida to Kentucky to Texas and other numerous areas of the country! The wealth of knowledge one can gain at a conference is incredible, not to mention all the collaboration that occurs as well!

The role of technology in the classrooms is quickly changing and the roller coaster ride has been full of twists as well as ups and downs. Each situation presented is a new learning experience and one that I fully welcome. Learning never stops. Technology isn't slowing down learning, it's changing how we learn. That change in learning should be welcomed into the classroom with open arms...I mean opened devices!

         

LinkSprinter 200 by Fluke Networks

Being an Information Technology guy and a Technology Director for my school district, I spend a lot of time frequenting pages like Macworld.com and Networkworld.com. I usually am looking for ways to better implement technology in our school as well as finding quality tools to use at work.

Last week, I stumbled across a Twitter post from the group LinkSprinter (@LinkSprinter). Well on Tuesday I received a Tweet from them saying I had been chosen as a lucky giveaway winner of their LinkSprinter 200, a network tester. I corresponded with them through direct messages and was informed they would be shipping the network tester to the school.

Fast forward to Thursday. Just before lunch, a package arrived for me at school. I opened it up and there to my surprise, was my new network tester! My LinkSprinter 200 had arrived and QUICKLY at that! I opened up the package and found a personal handwritten from Team LinkSprinter reading:

"Garrett - Congrats on winning your LinkSprinter 200! Once you've gotten to use the device for your newest networking project, let us know and we can set up a call to do a blog post on it. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions. Hope you enjoy & happy testing!"

Thanks,
Team LinkSprinter
#networkprogiveaway

Here is an attached picture of the LinkSprinter 200!

I followed the directions and activated my LinkSprinter 200. Once it was activated, I activated its wireless signal and connected it to my iPad. I ran several tests just to experiment with the new LinkSprinter 200. Here are the five things the LinkSprinter 200 tests for:

Once the LinkSprinter 200 was activated, here is the activation screen showing the activation of the tester. The model and serial number, as well as where reports are sent when cables are tested on the network.

When a network cable is tested, the tool automatically sends a report to your email or wherever you'd like it sent. Here is where mine are sent to my work email.

Lastly, here is the email with results of network cable tests as they show up in the detailed email reports.

I'd like to thank Fluke Networks as well as LinkSprinter for this new and valuable network testing tool. This will come in so handy for my next network project here at work! Thank you again!!!

+Fluke Networks
@Linksprinter