Staff Devices

[Divaldo]

There is no way I'd allow staff to have admin access to any device that was connecting to my network! What about any viruses or illegal software they install? Doesn't it take up vast amounts on techie time repairing software installations and reimaging devices full of adware? I think you're asking for trouble letting them install their own software.

 

We have some staff laptops, but they're joined to our domain and are subject to our group policy restrictions. When they take them home they access school software and files via our VLE.

 

A lot of staff connect to our wifi with their devices, but that is VLAN'd and firewalled off so the only internal resource they can get at is the VLE over https.

[Steve21]

Had a Windows 7 migration at my new school just before I joined, so I was finishing off policies etc, and removed all admin rights from machines.

 

Had users complaining they can't install stuff, so as a trial gave SLT admin rights under assumption nothing is broken. First week one of them broke their machine Point proven, rights removed!

 

Steve

[Divaldo]

I think it's important to remind staff (and SLT if needs be) that the laptop belongs to the school, not them. We have a standard image and a couple of spare laptops, so if a teacher has a problem, they bring their laptop in, take away a spare instead. We then fix/reimage the one they brought in, and it becomes a spare. That way they never get too attached to one device and assume it is 'theirs'.

 

With regards to printer drivers at home, we ask them to bring their driver CD in and we'll install it for them. If they bring it, it's a quick job, but most of the time they're 'too busy' to bring it in and they do without.

[Areku]

I think it's important to remind staff (and SLT if needs be) that the laptop belongs to the school, not them. We have a standard image and a couple of spare laptops, so if a teacher has a problem, they bring their laptop in, take away a spare instead. We then fix/reimage the one they brought in, and it becomes a spare. That way they never get too attached to one device and assume it is 'theirs'.

 

With regards to printer drivers at home, we ask them to bring their driver CD in and we'll install it for them. If they bring it, it's a quick job, but most of the time they're 'too busy' to bring it in and they do without.

 

we have a simalar system. annoys me know end when i have machines returned and they have stuck their timetables all over it... just more crap i have to peel off.

 

additionally we did have all laptops here, with docking stations in each room. worked well for the first few years... then the laptops / docking stations EOL .. leaving us with a mix mash of docking stations and laptops... not compatible with each other... Yes i know there are USB docking stations, but the video playback on the serveral we tested... sucked.

 

In the end we added workstations in each room. best choice and very popular. staff members no longer need to carry the issued laptop about with them.

[witch]

All staff have a laptop and it is set to work offline and sync when they are back in school.

I don't think wthey need it and would rather see desktops, but without a proper remote access system set up, the HT feels that there is a confidentiality issue if the staff use a home laptop for school work. We also have several staff who do not have a device they can access at home (children have their own laptops and there is no longer a family computer)

 

I try to save money by buying refurb laptops from ICT direct

[foofighterjim]

We have a standard image and a couple of spare laptops, so if a teacher has a problem, they bring their laptop in, take away a spare instead. We then fix/reimage the one they brought in, and it becomes a spare. That way they never get too attached to one device and assume it is 'theirs'.

 

Chance would be a fine thing, some of our older staff laptops don't even have TMP chips! As for spares

 

additionally we did have all laptops here, with docking stations in each room. worked well for the first few years... then the laptops / docking stations EOL .. leaving us with a mix mash of docking stations and laptops... not compatible with each other... Yes i know there are USB docking stations, but the video playback on the serveral we tested... sucked.

 

In the end we added workstations in each room. best choice and very popular. staff members no longer need to carry the issued laptop about with them.

 

Lost of replies here have either got rid of staff laptops altogether or are doing what we already do, for use at home. This is what worries me, the leadership here seem to be trying to save money with this idea when it is actually going to cost money upfront that we supposedly don't have. With the laptops we have we would have no choice to use universal docking stations or let the teachers plug the cables in manually. The idea itself is not a necessarily a bad one but it needs the correct device and enough for spares. I am being offered neither of these.

[foofighterjim]

To make matters worse I have contacted the school who the Head teacher wants to model the plan on and they just give staff full local admin access and map all of the network dives manually! They don't even authenticate on their proxy! If I were to emulate this I would expect to be fired! I was told this other schools staff love this setup, of course they do they can do anything they want and not be accountable.

[Areku]

To make matters worse I have contacted the school who the Head teacher wants to model the plan on and they just give staff full local admin access and map all of the network dives manually! They don't even authenticate on their proxy! If I were to emulate this I would expect to be fired! I was told this other schools staff love this setup, of course they do they can do anything they want and not be accountable.

 

 

dont... auth... on... proxy..... wah?

not even basic auth? (username logged etc)

 

staff can not be trusted with admin access, they are not responsible when they contract some nasty bit of malware that steals your student data and posts it on some dodgy website.... you are. (well the head in most cases, but you can bet you job it will be past onto you)

[Divaldo]

I don't know if anyone is interested, but we are doing away with staff laptops and therefore have 35ish HP docking stations available and am open to offers! They were used with probook 6550's but i think they're pretty standard.