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Hi all, I'm currently working as a Tech in a new-build academy - it's great place to work and I really enjoy doing it (have been for two years). Everything seemed sunny. However, someone recently asked me that classic question "Where do you see yourself in five years?" And to be honest, I couldn't answer. I don't plan on being in a school in five years, but then again, I haven't necessarily planned for anything else! So... I want to ask the people of edugeek, what sort of career opportunities (outside of education) does being a IT Tech facilitate? Do you have any examples of Techs who have gone on to weird and wacky (or relatively normal) things after leaving the school environment? Working outside of IT arena entirely? Share those pearls of Wisdom

Hi all, I was hoping to pick your lovely brains about what innovations and projects you maybe planning at your schools. Our NM has asked us for our opinions on what fresh technologies we could implement that would enrich the schools IT provisions. I'm compiling some notes on backend/frontend, software/hardware, basically all kinds of things that will help pull the school into the 21st century. Our network will be undergoing a major rehaul which will include that incredibly expensive Microsoft licence, entitling us to site licences for all their products, brand new servers, managed switches, managed wireless(hopefully) and of course, new computers. Our budget is pretty big really and we have the potential to invest in things that perhaps other smaller schools wouldn't have the chance to. I wish I had been able to spend some more time at BETT but unfortunately only had a few hours to wander round. Some initial ideas of the top of my head (and ones brought up by our NM) 1. Terminal Services with remote apps - giving students the ability to use office at home, remotely. 2. A room dedicated for experimenting with thin clients. 3. Deploying Vista/7 either in our main ICT suites or specific rooms which would benefit. 4. Microsoft Surface 5. Allowing students access to open source software such as open office. 6. Implementing some kind of podcasting technology in our radio studio. 7. Asking the students directly what they would like to see in their IT facilities. (this may be an obvious one, but has never really been done) We are trying as best we can to look to the future and become more proactive in our work. At the moment all we seem to do is fix existing problems when really we need to concentrate on the root causes of these problems.. (ie. outdated hardware, software, badly constructed PCs etc...) If you have any software, hardware suggestions either for the end users or for improving our infrastructure, any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hi all, brand new to this site, thought it was about time i got involved. I am currently studying my CompTIA Network+ course and i am due to complete it in February, and i have already completed CompTIA A+, along side also having an NVQ Level 2 in IT systems. My question is where should i go from here, and what options are available to me?? And what do potential future Employers look for? Any advice appreciated, but especially looking for people who have done what i have done Regards.

The Abbey is seeking a temporary IT Technician who will provide key IT support to The Abbey community until the end of December 2021. The post holder will work as part of a team responsible for managing the support helpdesk and general enquiries. The role is full time working 8am until 4:30pm Monday - Friday. The salary ranges from £20,209 to £24,751 dependent on skills and experience. Visit: https://isw.changeworknow.co.uk/theabbey/vms/e/careers/positions/bk88TXH6PhFz5pB_wN8bDG to apply! Responsibilities and Duties Assist the IT team in delivering a smooth service in the running of the School network, including School software, hardware and other IT related equipment to the whole Abbey community. To provide maintenance to the workstations, servers, peripherals and mobile phones. Assist the Theatre Production & AV Services Manager with audio / visual / lighting services for School productions and events as required. Administrative support to the Head of IT and Deputy Head of IT as and when required. Maintain the Active Directory administration Personal Specifications GCSE in Maths and English (or equivalent) High level of professionalism and integrity Pro-active hands on worker, with the desire to provide top customer service Good time management skills Excellent written and verbal skills General understanding of network routers, firewalls and switches (desirable) G Suite administration skills (desirable) Microsoft 365 administration skills (desirable) Windows Server administration skills (desirable) Previous experience of working in a School (desirable)

Ok, these are just epic, sci-fi futuristic awesomness. Samsung has started preorders on its SUR40 Microsoft Surface table. Suspend your MS hate if you have any, this is too cool to miss out on finding out about. It works by integrating light sensors with every pixel just like an extra colour but in reverse, simply the whole screen is a camera. This means that the screen can see whats on it, it can track up to 50 points (software limitation) and instantly scan documents put down on it. The Samsung unit has a built in AMD platform powering it all in the same (40" or higher TV) form factor and runs MS Surface. Samsung LFD Monitors http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBUHjaZ2Uk0 Who want's one of these, I know I do! http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-touchscreen-table-sur40-pre-orders.html

This week at Microsoft HQ there was an event to showcase the stuff that their extremely large research budget ($9 Billion) along with a whole bunch of talented people have managed to produce. Stuff like directional voice isolation for video conferencing, a worlwide filesystem, omnidirectional projector interaction and much more impressive human interaction AI. Microsoft Research TechFest 2009: a glance at the road ahead - Ars Technica

Has anyone found any good resources on the application of new technologies in classrooms? We're at the point of deciding what tech we want in our BSF classrooms. IWBs have just been used as projector screens in the majority of our lessons, nothing a touch screen costing 1/4 of the price wouldn't achieve. Things I've got down so far are : Class response systems (remote handsets/ask the audience) (getting the students to interact, more frequent and comprehensive feedback of class understanding of the subject taught and on the method of teaching allowing quantitative evaluation of changes in teaching style or content and easier collection of continuous assessment data) Visualisers Why hunt for a digital copy of Shakespear when there is a book in front of you. Why have 30 kids crowded round the front bench to see the prep/experiment when they can see it on the big screen. Touch screens /tablets So that teachers don't spend half their time with their back to the class whilst writing on the board. Weren't we writing on boards 150 years ago. Surely there are better methods of interacting with the class. netbooks and thin clients Small low power devices with centralised management and applications so that the applications are separate from the delivery hardware allowing a wider use of hardware at the desktop but with a consistent user interface. Remote access to applications, not data. Keep the data safe. No more lost USB drives. Provide access to the set of applications available in school, not relying on everyone having a matching set of applications at home, minimising the chance of someone editing the sims xml file in Mac office 2008 or OpenOffice.org and completely screwing it all up for everyone. AV trolleys with everything in Short throw projector, mic, speakers, web cam, visualiser, PC, Touch screen, UPS, to allow any space into a learning environment. (We've got most of this down to about £2500 (TBC) atm incl 4GB mac mini with windows and MS office license). If anyone knows of any resources that may help and specifically on how we can change the layout/environment of the classroom to improve learning even if that isn't related to technology that would be greatly appreciated. Any information supporting the integration of mmedia into the curriculum outside of ICT as a subject and enabling students to create coursework for all classes in media types other than that destined for print ie using podcasts, video, blogs instead of publisher and word would aslo be appreciated. Many of our teachers just haven't had tiome to catch up ans see what is possible. I want to be able to show some good examples, preferably backed up with evidence of some kind. Thanks ChrisJ