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Technology Grants for Supporting Education?
citking asks: "I work as one of 12 micro computer technicians for the Madison School District, the second-largest in the state of Wisconsin, and we have a problem: Our support equipment, namely laptops and diagnostic hardware, is falling dangerously behind the times even as our schools receive top of the line technology sponsored mostly by private grants and donations. Our technology budget is small and is being cut back every year, so having the district buy us new laptops is out of the question. I wouldn't mind applying for a grant to cover most, if not all, of the cost of new equipment, but any grants I see directed at education are all directed toward teachers' projects. Are there any grant programs available for support positions in the public sector? If not, how do other support people in the public sector struggle to keep up with low budgets and outdated equipment?"
I for one think computers are over-rated as teachers. I also think computers are over-rated as teaching tools. Computers are fantastic as internet search tools, and great for teaching computer programming. Computers are also great for teaching typing, and other computer skills. Teaching someone to be a mouse driver is about as beneficial as teaching them to be a truck driver. Meaning that if your computer is not working for you, you are working for the computer.
Flame away.
- High Tech workers, please say NO to Union Carpenters, their Union sees fit to control our compensation.
Our support equipment, namely laptops and diagnostic hardware, is falling dangerously behind the times
Just what are you trying to do? Play Doom 3 on these things?
More seriously, though. Are they allowing you to do your job? If so, I don't see what the issue is.
"An infinite number of monkeys typing into GNU emacs would never make a good program."
There are plenty of vendors (myself included) that would love to sell services to your district. Many of us (vendors) can even show your district how our services will save money over the current situation. However, we simply don't have the opportunity due to complex political reasons i.e. we don't have enough money to get the right people to champion us. Of course, if throwing a laptop or two your way can get us in the front of the right people it is well worth it. In other words, if you can help us, we can help you.
I'm not a professional educator or anything but aren't you supposed to cook turnips? Maybe they mean turnip greens, although I'd strongly advise cooking those too. (And spinach, for that matter.) Seems like this activity is just going to scare kids away from vegetables.
What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
I once worked IT at a university. The usual tactic there was to talk to the grant writers and ensure that part of technology grants was earmarked to SUPPORT the technology. If they are ordering 10 computers for a grant project, then they need to include one more to support those ten. Also make sure the grant includes infrastucture (network hardware, etc.) for that project so that the new router needed to put those computers on the net does not come out of your budget.
Is it weird in here, or is it just me?
So write the grant proposal to play up the educational aspects. Need diagnostic tools? Stress that they'll be used to keep student and teacher systems running, and also to teach students state of the art tools for keeping systems running. Same with infrastructure items - ask for two routers, and stress that one will be used to give students real-world, hands-on experience.
Envy my 5 digit Slashdot User ID!
Of course you could always write to a computer corporation. Cisco runs the "Cisco Acad" at my college. The networking courses are no longer taught with an in house curriculum. In exchange wwe seem to get a pretty decent price cut on the cost of the dozens of routers and switches we have from Cisco. Although it's one more way for your school to be branded. Good luck.
piss off
Also check out the K12 Linux Terminal Server Project. It's a great way get more good out of your current equipment.
What, me worry?
you mean the one who just accepts having no budget to support the technology and provides a poor service?
/bin/fortune | slashdotsig.sh
Fire one technician. Allocate the money formerly used for his salary to buy new diagnostic tools.
You question whether computers are effective learning tools. Perhaps you should also question if they are cost effective.
A grade school, junior high, or senior high math textbook can be valid for decades. Grammar books can also be valid for decades. Chemistry and Physics books also tend to be good for many, many years. Even with scientific advances and new research, political science, geography, and biology books tend to be good for a decade and a half.
A cheap computer costs as much as several textbooks, not including additional manpower and resources needed to keep them maintained. Yet a cheap wintel computer only lasts a few years until its out of date.
Yes, there are a few skills that should be learned through hands-on use of a computer. Computerized document presentation and typing are probably the most useful to most students. As a preperation for some careers, an introduction to programming is also needed. Although, lets be honest -- a lot of good programming is more textbook related than computer related. Hell, a lot of computer basics is more textbook related than computer related: while a computer may aide in learning the applications of a technology, it won't easily aide in learning the basics of a technology. For even a high school level, most of the above can be done on outdated computers.
Funds are not an unlimited resource. There are schools out there spending money to needlessly upgrade their computers and networks with little benefit to our students because the public perception is that computers are needed in the classroom. Bullshit. For the most part, its not cost effective. A smaller, older computer department will work about as well, and will leave money for other causes.
Just my $.02.
...for the suggestions. I'll certainly try to get the grants to incorporate the required materials to support the gifts they give us. I think most people will be understanding when they look at what we need and why we need it. Thanks again for the suggestions, and by all means, keep 'em coming if you get any more ideas.
"This food is problematic."
...from a STUDENT POV (and not in any specific order).
1. Teachers (really) are underpaid for what must be put up with.
2. Those outside of education do not have a grasp for what happens in the educational system.
3. Students that don't care to be educated hinder the education process and cannot be removed from the environment.
4. Technology courses are being cut, not limited to but including, automotive technologies, shop technologies, computer technologies.
5. Very poor system for student feedback to those who make decisions.
6. FUCKING TESTS SHOULD BE LIMITED. There are too many tests for accountability making education oriented for passing tests, ranking higher on TESTS. Education is detrimented and narrowed to these tests.
7. Parents are not involved enough with education.
8. Punishment systems have become moot, MOOT I SAY! (Tardy == lunch detention, and again detention, and again in school suspension, and again suspension. Suspension for being late...)
9. High school diplomas are worthless.
10. College tuition is constantly rising, putting college graduates in more debt.
Education needs to be destroyed, and rebuilt from the ground up. There is no salvaging the current system. A nation-wide education system and qualification system MUST be established.
Karma: Good, or bust!
You say most of the grant money goes to teachers' projects. Can you combine what you do into a course offered to students with advanced technical computer skills - sort of an Honors Class in Support? Request the new equipment you need as part of a grant to support the new course.
Yeah, I know. It's clear I don't have any experience in the administration requirements of a public school district, and there are probably any number of hurdles to doing this (a teaching certificate might be one of them). But I thought I'd bring the idea up anyway.
Bureaucracy loves company.
Leave the IT industry. Quit and become a Chef - everyone needs to eat.
For what it is worth, look outside the "school district" for donations. I work in an IT department in a school with a hefty yearly budget, and a clearly defined replacement schedule for ALL equipment. We have donated all of our old and slow computers( by our standards) to other schools less fortunate. Look to the universities and colleges in the area for donations. Another route would be corperate sponsorship. Propose a pilot program, they supply the gear, you make it work, they show it off, it is a win win situation. Or you can read a few of the BOFH on the Reg, and learn how to be in control, and not controlled. good luck
Sig Hansen?
How far behind is *too* far behind? Surplus and excess government equipment *has* to go up for public auction if it winds up unused.
http://www.govliquidation.com/
Mostly P3's up for grabs here, but you can't beat the price.
If you can scrape together the funds (normal budget, grants, PTA donations), purchasing older computers can stretch your budget fairly far.
As the parent of a former Madison schools student, I would have to say I'm glad the technology budgets are being cut. Way too much money has been spent on ubiquitous computing without any benefit to the majority of the students.
My son used to tell me that in the classes that used computers the most, at least 50% of his and his classmates time was spent downloading music, playing games or chatting. In the 'regular' classes (the old-fashioned kind that used books and real teaching) he and his classmates spent the majority of their time learning.
Speaking as a professional programmer, I see the benefit of computers in the school, but limited to a computer lab, where specific skills are taught. In my opinion, PowerPoint is not something to be taught in high school.