Administering School ICT infrastructure by Margaret Leonard https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary Learning Diary en-us 2016-11-28 09:46:23 UTC 2025-11-02 17:43:20 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Diskette.png Maggie mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/140114370 Hi my name is Maggie and I am a teacher in a primary school in Drogheda, Ireland. I am also the ICT Coordinator in my school, this is a new role for me and I am looking forward to improving my knowledge and skills through this course.]]> 2016-11-28 09:50:32 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/140114370 MY SCHOOL - http://smpps.ie/ mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/140117982 St Marys Parish Primary School (SMPPS) opened in September 2012. During the 2015/2016 school year, provision was made for the appointment of an ICT Co-ordinator (before that most work on ICT was carried out by the vice principal). The main emphasis since the appointment of the ICT Coordinator has been on establishing and maintaining the hardware in the school (school network, computers, server, etc.) and setting up an ICT Committee. Work has also been done on promoting the use of software in the classrooms, professional development for staff and promotion of the website and  school blogs. ]]> 2016-11-28 10:10:43 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/140117982 School case study 1: Start simple mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/140453592 Hi I am a Learning Support teacher and an ICT co-ordinator. I work in a large primary school with over 1000 pupils. All classrooms have an interactive whiteboard and a student laptop (senior classes). We also operate a laptop trolley for use in classrooms. I have a very busy dual role which I enjoy but I am looking forward to improving my skills through this course. Our vice-principal is very good with IT and I learn a lot from him also. ]]> 2016-11-29 11:29:24 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/140453592 School case study 2 mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/140455628 The Schools Broadband Programme provides an integrated set of services to schools which includes broadband connectivity, and hosted services including content filtering, webhosting-blogging and security services including anti-virus control and a centralised firewall. 
We also invested in some wifi routers which we use for laptop trolley and tablets.]]> 2016-11-29 11:41:03 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/140455628 School case study 3: An elaborate set up mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/140458602 We have an outside expert who comes in to help with problems that we cannot solve ourselves such as broken laptops, problems with IWBs and network infrastructure.]]> 2016-11-29 11:56:59 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/140458602 Mod 1: Vision and Planning https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/141705381 Panagiota highlights important questions regarding embedding ICT in the curriculum. This is very much relevant to my role as ICT Coordinator in my school. We are currently working on our elearning plan and we are trying to address this very issue.]]> 2016-12-05 12:12:07 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/141705381 Mod 1: Webinar https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/141707017 Good webinar but a lot of this section was too technical for me. ]]> 2016-12-05 12:22:05 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/141707017 MODULE 1 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/141707441 How you could expand the school network?

In the last few years we have seen an increase in the number of teachers who are utilising wifi. We have an ad hoc solution in place but it may be necessary to explore a more formal solution

Ways to make it more secure? 

Greater password management will be required.

New types of devices or services you could put in place?

We are exploring the addition of more tablet devices.

How to provide technical support and ensure the network performs reliably?

As the demands on the network increase we will need to put a more dedicated support structure in place to ensure that any issues are quickly resolved.

]]> 2016-12-05 12:24:18 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/141707441 Module 2: wifi mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/142768771 We have a similar system but our school is very big and we need to invest in better wifi.

This was recommended to me on another course:
Ubiquiti Networks UAP-LR-3 - UniFi AP Long Range 3-Pack
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Networking-Devices/Ubiquiti-Networks-UAP-LR-3-UniFi-Long-Range-3-Pack/B00I4QI23E/ref=pd_bxgy_147_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=S96N8F4N3VEV0TCS06NA
]]> 2016-12-09 12:15:54 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/142768771 Module 2: BYOD mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/142769465 This would not be possible in our school as it is a primary school. We are looking to invest in tablets to give children more access to technology.]]> 2016-12-09 12:21:02 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/142769465 Module 2 mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/142771897 Our current setup and how to improve it?

Good broadband but we need to invest in more laptops and tablets to increase student use of technology

Do you have WIFI?

Yes but we need to invest in more routers or a better wifi system as currently not all areas of school enjoy wifi access

Do you support BYOD?

I do not think this would be possible in a primary setting

Do you consider them as opportunities or threats?

Yes BYOD poses a threat but if managed properly this threat can be mitigated or managed with older children

What technical adaptations would be required, if any?
New policies on use of devices, training of staff in classroom management and handling issues of misuse, privacy and policy. we also have to upgrade the WIFI Access Points

]]> 2016-12-09 12:37:02 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/142771897 Module 3: cloud computing mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/144599589 Cloud computing is fantastic. I love that I can access documents from anywhere. Collaboration with others on the same document is also very useful in schools.
In our school teachers are still familiarising themselves with google apps for education and need more support/CPD in this.
Google also works for us because it is free and has unlimited space.]]> 2016-12-21 15:38:44 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/144599589 Module 5: ICT administrator mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/148958070 I have taken on the role of ICT administrator in the last year so I feel I have a lot to learn. I voluntarily do as many courses as I can to upskill. I also have a full teaching timetable which I find very difficult to manage as the ICT role is getting busier all the time. I am hoping for a free period or two in my timetable for next year to address this. We do pay someone to come and fix the very technical issues which is a great support.]]> 2017-01-24 10:29:32 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/148958070 Module 5 mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/148961506 I enjoyed both videos and would certainly envy Iceland's situation whereby ICT administrator can focus on ICT issues full time.

Tips:
  • Gmail account for every student
  • Encourage increased use of GoogleClassroom
  • Continue to encourage teachers to move away from the network and into the cloud
  • move away from licences
  • Check network switches
]]> 2017-01-24 10:47:09 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/148961506 Advice for schools with limited resources mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/148963294 Well done to all those who work with limited resources, keep up the good work.

Advice:
  • Look for investment/sponsorship from local businesses?
  • Avail of free cloud based services such as G-Suite.
  • Invest in teacher training to make best use of what's available
  • learn from each other
  • BYOD as option could help with tight budgets
]]> 2017-01-24 10:56:56 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/148963294 Cost saving ideas/tips mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/148973574 tips:
  • margins/ fonts for photocopying
  • gsuite
  • chromebooks- little maintenance
  • digital leaders?
  • BYOD?
  • Invest in staff training
]]> 2017-01-24 11:54:20 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/148973574 ICT Prof. Dev, mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/148974230 I have good practical skills but need to improve my technical skills
I have no official training as ICT administrator but constantly look for course that will help me upskill in this area
I have learned a lot from this course, thanks to all who have contributed
I enjoy sharing my knowledge with the teachers in my school
I recommend PDST courses for Irish teachers.]]> 2017-01-24 11:58:41 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/148974230 diffiulties/ solutions mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/148974961 Teachers reluctant to move to the cloud (gsuite) so I organised practical presentation workshop for staff

Lack of equipment for junior end of school - I researched best options for spending ICT grant to change this situation. I also plan to put in place a kind of curriculum for ICT to help teachers think of ideas for how best to use equipment and software available.]]> 2017-01-24 12:03:06 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/148974961 Module 6: New trends mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/149284677 It is both exciting and overwhelming how quickly things are changing in relation to technology in education.

things I look forward to exploring further:
  • New chromebooks 
https://blog.google/topics/education/new-generation-chromebooks-designed-millions-students-and-educators/
  • Robotics
  • Coding
  • Flipped classrooms
  • Google classroom
  • Cloud computing
]]> 2017-01-25 12:42:44 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/149284677 New Tools/apps mleonard10 https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/149294736 Love all the new tools and apps as we are going to be purchasing tablets for use in classrooms and I look forward to trying out lots of new apps.

I have already used and enjoyed Kahoot, Powtoon, Padlet, Mentimeter, Googleforms.

I must try:
Google Keep, Sketchup

I recommend: (Primary School)
Rory's Story cubes
ReadingEggs
King of Maths
Telestory
Toontastic]]> 2017-01-25 13:24:35 UTC https://padlet.com/mleonard10/learningdiary/wish/149294736