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Welcome Term 3 2007

Well its been a month since I've looked at this BLOG. A lot has happened, end of term, final assessment for EDU5471 completed and marked, school holidays have come and gone and we're all back for the new term.

Managed to pass EDU 5471 - feeling much better about online study now!!

What's on the agenda for this term? Immediately, Microsoft Schools Agreement, principals meeting in Roma and diocesan teachers inservices in Charleville, Roma and Toowoomba. Followed by eight weeks as Assistant Director, whilst the assistant director (my boss) is on Long Service and Sabbatical Leave. Should be an interesting experience!

The schools agreement has been somewhat difficult to negoitiate, trying to get agreement on schools not paying for any new licences for the rest of the year until the contract begins in January 2008. Microsoft are moving towards this and I'm hoping they will waive the licencing fees in time for me to prepare a presentation for the principals meeting next week. This is looking as if it may happen.

Week 7

Another week gone. No time to even look at uni work for the past two weeks - things have been hectic at work. I'll be glad when the holidays arrive - 3 weeks!

What's occupied my time? Licensing and BID. System E-trust licenses need renewal, ran out in March! Trying to get numbers from schools is proving to be difficult, they have no understanding of the need to look to requirements over the next two years. I've been able to contact other schools taking advantage of our buying power - all back with us, can't get St Mary's College Ipswich to return my calls.

Microsoft licensing has proven to be a headache for years, looking to Schools Agreement, cheaper pricing on 2500+ units. Downlands and St Ursula's keen, now have to provide the system with facts and figures to support this approach.

Going to Brisbane tomorrow - QCEC ICT Committee: USI; QLD Catholic Education Network (QCEN) strategy ; State & Catholic ICT dialogue; Clever Networks Round 2 ; Religious Education Resources Trial ; Finance & Resourcing and ICT ; QCEC Strategic Priorities

A busy few weeks

Been a bit slack over the past few weeks. Life has been busy and work has proved to be somewhat demanding. Finalised the wireless network at Inglewood, all user accounts running, and a great deal of activity is evident.

Prep Learning Profile contract is in place, full deployment commences next week. This week will see technical training offered for our techs and planning for the roll out.

Its time to organise BID 2007 (Bishop's Inservice Day). All teachers in the diocese come together for a day of inservice and socialising. Three venues, Charleville, Roma and Toowoomba. Toowoomba places great demands upon CEO office personnel in the planning area. It can be difficult organising activities for 750+ teachers and school employees. This year we have a new weapon in our planning arsenal - Summit - conference planning software. I've spent time familiarising myself with the software and completing the data entry! How boring! Yet essential to ensure a thorough knowledge of the application. Training of other staff in its use has commenced.

Wireless Installation

Had a very busy week last week. Went to Taroom and Inglewood to put laptops on networks and install wireless access points. Both schools have made the decision to provide staff and students with mobile hardware to free up space in the classrooms and provide students with the opportunity to access the network in a variety of settings - not just in the classroom or library!

Took a few hours at each school to setup the wireless capability - windows access for logging on to the network when booting is essential.

Also helped with the setup of Inbteractive Whiteboards.