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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 ============================== -------------------------------------------------------------------- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/ LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html --------------------------------------------------------------------