How do your staff use IT?

[bitminter]

I am just curious, as to how others use IT in schools.

 

Currently the school I work at, all staff have vanilla laptops, which takes time to make images, move data, set up etc. and I was just wondering how other schools do this?

 

Do you have networked laptops? Desktops in every classroom? Vanilla PC's/Laptops? or something else?

 

I would personally like to move over to networked desktops, or at least networked laptops, but I have the feeling the staff here would be against it.

We have had other network managers and SITS etc. come in and say that "the staff are pampered to" because they have their own laptops, printers in every office with no centralized printing.

 

I would just like to see how you do it, so please post here.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

 

- Bitminter

[witch]

Networked laptops with offline working. Locked down so they can install very little.

I keep images of each laptop for ease of sorting out.

I wouldn't have time to deal with lots of different laptops

Centralised printing - one black and white laser per year group, networked photocopier for colour

[X-13]

Currently the school I work at, all staff have vanilla laptops, which takes time to make images, move data, set up etc.

 

 

Everything is networked here.

 

ATM we're using Offline Files for the laptops teachers take home, but yeah... everything is on the network and backed up automagically.

 

 

I would personally like to move over to networked desktops, or at least networked laptops, but I have the feeling the staff here would be against it.

 

Remind them that the laptops aren't their property and as such they have no say in the matter.

[abillybob]

Ditto to the two above.

[elsiegee40]

I am just curious, as to how others use IT in schools.

 

Currently the school I work at, all staff have vanilla laptops, which takes time to make images, move data, set up etc. and I was just wondering how other schools do this?

 

Do you have networked laptops? Desktops in every classroom? Vanilla PC's/Laptops? or something else?

 

I would personally like to move over to networked desktops, or at least networked laptops, but I have the feeling the staff here would be against it.

We have had other network managers and SITS etc. come in and say that "the staff are pampered to" because they have their own laptops, printers in every office with no centralized printing.

 

I would just like to see how you do it, so please post here.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

 

- Bitminter

 

Oh boy. You have a task on your hands there. Everything networked for us. Backed up centrally and automagically. Data stored securely. Networked MFPs that do photocopying and printing and require a PIN code to release (Data Protection). network access controlled by centralised logins. and then there's filtering, monitoring and Safeguarding! It's not being awful to staff it's a fairly basic exercise in data and network protection.

 

If you have standalone devices, how do you ensure that data is secure? How does everyone share data? Personally I think you need to read the riot act on fines and the Data Protection Act and Safeguarding to your SLT to start with... and yes, it does apply to schools and the fines are humungous!

Edited February 13, 2015 by elsiegee40

[witch]

We have been told that OFSTED frown on such individual use of laptops due to data protection etc. Could be an argument?

[kennysarmy]

Every room has a fixed networked PC linked to the data projectors.

 

Only key staff have school provided laptops.

 

We used to do a 50/50 scheme but that's now been pulled due to a cut in budgets!

[featured_spectre]

Painfully.

[LeMarchand]

All 3 schools all staff have a laptop with their documents folder (but not music or video) syncing to the server (in theory - need to wrest the laptops away from *certain* staff to check this). 2 schools have a couple of PCs in each class for student use, plus a suite connected to shared areas on server. All have laptops available for student use set up as above (the one without a suite has a lot of laptops!). Just 1 image/school which has a few things added to it if it's a teacher or office machine. All Primary/Junior so probably easier to get away with this than in Secondary.

 

All schools print to networked MFDs and have to input a code/swipe a card to print. Maximum of 2 MFDs for teaching peeps, + another MFD or laser in the office for them + an older laser for compatibility with aged Finance package, all networked with differing levels of "visibility" to staff.

 

1 school has fairly decent Android tabs for teacher use and a selection of Hudls for the kids.

Edited February 13, 2015 by LeMarchand
Typo

[Roger_vfcss]

Local authority auditors normally ask about data security, mobile devices, memory sticks security and disaster recovery etc.

 

Talk to your Data Protection Officer (usually the Bursar or Head).

Sounds like your in the Primary sector, but Data security and high risk of data loss due to hard drive failure etc should be good buttons to push?