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Here are the responses to my question about whether or not you have unused 
technology.  I am writing an article about this topic, and I will let you know my 
findings.

*----------------
We continually have a lot of technology that is not used. Our district keeps 
updating our materials and we switched from Apple products to IBM compatible about 
6 years ago. Recently we switched from Windows 98 to Windows XP and each time we 
switch, items no longer are compatible so we just discard them through our 
district. They have auctions from time to time to get rid of excess materials and 
equipment.
*----------------

The one thing that is not being used in our middle school is our distance learning 
module. The "higher ups" are trying to change that, but at our level there is not 
the need/want to use this type of set up. Perhaps at the high school level where 
they might have to share instructors or have groups that share information/speakers 
it might be used more frequently. We have asked two different guest speakers about 
sharing their presentations with another school, but they declined as they would 
not be paid for this "multiple" performance.
*----------------

>I would like to know if any of you have unused technology in your  schools.  By 
>unused technology, I mean technology that was purchased by and/or for your school 
>but >is not currently being used. 

Yes, we have a LaserDisk player that has been used once in the seven years I've 
been here. It was purchased before I came, along with a couple of disks. The whole 
thing is similar to a dvd, and of course dvd is much more popular.

>Feel free to also include your thoughts as to why your technology has not been 
>used.
  
Probably the biggest drawback is that we librarians tend to be early  adopters, so 
we buy equipment before there are a lot of programs for it.  When it flops in the 
general market we are stuck with expensive junk.  OTOH, if we wait for the (home) 
market to make something fly, the  programs will cater to that market, leaving 
education out in the cold.
*----------------
We have computers that aren't used because the teachers don't bother. Either they 
haven't attended training sessions, or they have never figured out how to 
incorporate  the workstation into their centers. Some try to use the Internet and 
when it doesn't work once o twice they give up.  we have e-mail for the district. 
We are the only Mac school in the district. Over the summer changes were made and 
no one bothered to tweak the Macs in our building. So the classroom teachers can't 
read their e-mail.  Dumb, huh? We have phones that can't be used because they are 
so fancy they have to be programmed. When one stops working a work order has to be 
submitted. And the techs are three months behind. More dumb ness. 
*----------------
The smart board isn't used.  It should be but it is cumbersome to move around and 
software needs to be loaded on the computer to which it is hooked.  Also, the room 
arrangements make it difficult to use.

The laser disk players aren't used.  These are now dinosaurs, but they were never 
used to their fullest potential when they were first in the schools. I don't think 
the teachers felt comfortable using the bar wands etc.
*----------------
My school system bought Palm Pilots for all the librarians. We were urged to use 
them. They don't really suit some people, so for those situations, the purchase was 
a waste. Several people don't use them.
*----------------
Laser discs are not used anymore.  I am not sure where the player even is stored.
*----------------
This is a very interesting target!  When I started in my first position as a media 
specialist I tried to contact the person who had been there before I was to see if 
there was anything I should know about the school.  She would not respond to my 
inquiries.  I was several months into the year before I learned that she had 
subscribed to Electric Library a few months before she left - which means we had an 
expensive, unused subscription...

Another irritating software issue is when schools purchase perfectly good 
circulation software and then the district decides to switch to a different 
company.  Several schools in my district are still holding on to Alexandria, which 
is a great product, but the district is being very adamant in pushing everyone to 
switch to Follett.  Change is not cheap!!!
*----------------
Tavis, one thing that I don't use is a software program for creating barcodes - I 
don't need it because of Follett's component. The school district offered us 
webcams, but mine has just been sitting on a shelf. I would like to get it 
installed and start to use it.
*----------------
Boy, do we! We have an entire lab of computers that are supposed to be used to 
administer Star reading tests and other computer tests, yet the wiring is not in 
yet. Still on order (now for months). School districts do not move quickly on 
purchase orders or spending money. You may submit your paperwork and it gets stuck 
somewhere at the central office on someone's desk. If you try to hurry it through, 
it just makes things worse. So we have 30 computers not being used. We have 
classroom teachers with no computer at all. We bought a database that cost our 
district $45000 and noone seems to be using it except the high school.

We also have a system (dukane) that is supposed to run video and DVD but it has 
never worked right. It is a $12000 lemon. I think the buyers of technology for the 
district buy whatever sounds good, but they don't know enough about technology or 
they don't do their research.
*----------------
our smartboards were rarely used.  This year we keep it in a computer lab and keep 
it hooked up.  It is used more than ever.  I think it is because teachers did not 
want to take time to set up the smartboard.
*----------------
The local community college (located 25 miles away) set up a computer in my library 
so seniors could video conference with counselors at the college.  In 2 years we 
have had 2 students use it.  Both times we had technical problems.  Several 
students, when directed to it, asked, "couldn't I just use the phone?"  Seems most 
of our kids don't want to be on video.  Another problem is that many of the 
students who go to the community college don't plan too far ahead and end up 
registering and getting counseled at the last minute, at the end of the summer.  I 
am not even going to set it up this year.

It was bought by the college with a grant so I don't own the equipment and cannot 
reuse it (I wouldn't want it anyway).




==============================
Tavis Hampton
Media Specialist
H.W. Longfellow Middle School
Indianapolis., IN
tel: (317) 226-4228
e-mail: hamptont@ips.k12.in.us
blog: http://www.lanterntorch.org
==============================

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