Gibson335

Has anyone out there taken the step of replacing laptops for staff with a station in every class and office? If so, I'd be really interested as to how that went down with teaching staff, and whether it has had a positive or negative impact. Likewise, have you always had stations instead of laptops (or gone back once the LfT scheme ground to a halt) and does that work out well for you? Cheers.

Ditto!

There is a genuine lack of understanding about the job that techs do, but even more so when it comes to NMs. People know stuff runs, they know new stuff appears every now and then, but have little comprehension about how it is all achieved. Generally, most staff will have little awareness of the infrastructure that provides all of their ICT services, the work that goes into maintaining it, developing it, managing it, etc, etc. And, in reality, why should they? Is it any different in the corporate world? Do people sit in offices and ponder the technological solutions that allow them to do their jobs? No. So ICT Support education is a very different world, because we have to work to the needs of our end clients, and those needs are ever changing. And I dare say I'm not alone in having to adapt to those needs without recourse to training every time (in fact the last official training I received was for Server 2000!!). There are frustrations on both sides, but generally I don't think people appreciate the level we have to achieve in our field to be able to adapt and grow and develop, nor the amount of our own time many of us use up in making sure we don't become de-skilled. I had professional qualifications coming into this job, some of which I've allowed to lapse, but that doesn't make me any less of a professional. I don't want to walk around with a huge badge that announces me as such, so yes, I'm for anything that endorses ICT Support staff in education as the professionals - often qualified - I think most of us are.

Those TES threads are very interesting. There is a fundamental difference between being 'control freak' or 'blocker' and being someone who is practical, who has to make recommendations based on what's best for the whole school as opposed to one faculty, who has to plan for sustainability of the existing provision as well as future developments, and all within a limited budget. Yes, of course there are NMs who block without good reason, just as there are teachers who demand the impossible. People have to realise that it's hard to always strike the right balance between need, desire, and funding. Invariably, if you prevent someone doing something they want, they'll emrege with a negative view of the process - that's just human nature. T & L is driven into NMs, but a T&L facility for a few can't be provided at the expense of a stable, sustainable network for all. We all have to compromise, on both sides. There will always be winners and losers, but that's life. I think a NM has to be thick skinned, because you will never please all of the people all of the time. Also, it might help if SLT made staff aware that, in many cases, NMs analyse, they assess, they plan, they recommend, but unless they are part of that SLT few NMs will have to authority to just go ahead with projects and developments. People refer to ICT steering groups, etc, but these can often just be an excuse for another meeting that ultimately leads nowhere if there is no single focus, no shared vision with practical expectations. From what I read on here and on TES from time to time, the 'them' and 'us' culture is alive and well in education.

Nail on head!!

But why should they have to? Why would you assume they will not only agree with your point of view, but also have their lives guided by it? So they move house to be close to the school, perhaps that means other people in their household have to travel to their jobs instead.

I only ever met one MP - good old Norman Tebbitt. What a reputation that bloke had. But my grandparents were looking to move down to Wiltshire to be close to family, and because my nan was disabled he refused to see them in his surgery and instead went to their house. He did that 3 times altogether, and he worked hard to get them the move they wanted.

Ultimately, very few people get the Government they voted for - certainly nowhere near the majority. Governments tend to average considerably less than 40% of the overall vote, which means the majority of people who voted didn't vote for them. People tend to vote by bias or trend 'It's time for a change' rather than policies. My view of politicians has diminished enomously over the years, and the cynic in me now believes the majority have the following priorities: self, sponsors, party, with the public trailing in last. The longer a Government is in power the more likely its good vs bad barometer is liable to even out; they all tend to do a bit of both, but they are all stymied by public expectations: we want everything, but we don't really want to pay for it, thanks.

I guess it's called freedom of choice. Also, do you know that they live close enough to cycle, or have direct public transport links?

I have a similar commute - scares the hell out of people when I watch an iPad. No idea why; I do keep one eye on the road.

Once Upon A Time is really good if, as has already been said, you can switch off and buy into the concept. I've watched the first 12 shows now. Of the comedy shows, though, I must watch both Big Bang and Raising Hope or I have withdrawal symptoms.

I missed out Castle. Gone off Bones big time. Can't even think about Glee without shuddering, not after that version of the wonderful Don't Stop Believing!!

Yeah, apparently he uses that accent off set as well so as his fellow actors don't get confused?!?! As for the show, well I think they sometimes just need a device that leads them around a hole in the plot, and I think they have been trying to drive wedges between the characters for a few weeks now, particularly with him.

I love it that people try to understand the limitations or otherwise of zombies...they're ZOMBIES!!! :-) Must say, I could have done with fewer shows in series 2, but the final 2 more than made up for it.

Must Watch The Big Bang Theory Raising Hope Modern Family In Plain Sight Enjoy(ed) The Walking Dead Homeland Suits Harry's Law Criminal Minds NCIS Persons Of Interest Alcatraz White Collar Leverage House

There were people on the news talking about Game closing as if it were part of the economic downturn, whereas they're really closing because they were unable to renegotiate contracts with EMA.

Even here you will read many diverse opinions, some based on cost, some based on preference. In my view, cost should not be the predominant factor, but perhaps that's easier for me to say than others whose budgets are being squeezed. I've said before, I think getting the right solution is worth a premium if necessary, but obviously it has to be somewhat competitive. It can be a tough call - especially now that we're getting down to the nitty-gritty and suppliers are just about cutting their own throats to get the business. There is no one answer that fits all, unfortunately.

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I'd be interested to know what those who have Internet-only BYOD do about authenticating so as to use filtering and how they then address the issue of IP address availability. Cheers.

Seems perfectly reasonable. I think the lines have become crossed here during both these threads. For my part, the issue was always about you being sent mail in reference to your comments on here which, to me, were not at all contentious. My concern was not for what happened afterwards, necessarily, because those details were not known, but rather for the circumstances surrounding these threads being scrutinised and someone acting on them that way. Frankly, the thought of having to be guarded when just offering genuine opinions of such a mild nature disturbs me enormously. But I guess these threads will be the cyber version of chip wrapping by next week anyway.

I'm fortunate to be in the right area for decent KCOM pricing, it would seem - albeit with that caveat of other schools signing up. As I understand it, there remains some confusion still between the LA and KCOM over this 'register of interest' issue, which is why our LA update refers to signing up by end of May. There will hopefully be more changes shortly, because waiting until June 30 for final pricing seems unreasonable.

You're entitled to your opinion - and that's all it is - just like anyone else. In my opinion the whole thing comes across as just a bit sinister and smacks of censorship. I might not go as far as describing it as bullying, but I defend the right of someone else having that opinion and airing it. Now, if EduGeek decide it's not something they can allow to run, then that's one thing - they provide the platform. But beyond that, this is surely a place for opinions to be viewed and debated rather than being 'managed'.

As far as I can recall, there's been nothing libelous, no release of confidential information (unless suddenly costs we pay are confidential), only opinions and hard facts and figures. Is anyone really suggesting this is fine when it comes to providers and suppliers, but not our Broadband service, just because of any LA interest? I'm not blaming the person who withdrew their posts, not if they were made to feel somewhat fearful of the consequences, I'm blaming the people who seem to think it's their role to monitor these threads and fire out e-mails on the matter. There has been a fair amount of protectiveness and steering throughout this entire process, and as far as I can see that only leads to disharmony.

I understand not being overly negative, but if they are genuine honest opinions and facts and nothing libelous then why should we fear the hand of Big Brother? What's wrong with ocassionally revealing Oz behind the curtain?

Can anyone - perhaps a moderator - explain just what the hell is going on here? I've received two thread update notifications now that no longer feature on these message boards. Both of them mentioned either being contacted by or monitored by the LA, and both have mysteriously vanished from the board it would seem. Were they wiped or withdrawn I wonder. I'm interested only because it sounds vaguely sinister to me that two posts from two different people on two different threads just disappear in a puff of smoke, and both (coincidentally?) mentioned this LA intervention.