As a high school student sys admin I say that it is possible to have an IT department that does work and involves students. Right now another student and I maintain much of our schools network (labs and servers included) and at times work with the district staff on larger issues. However, the key thing I've found with my few years in this area is that it really depends on the people that are involved. We are currently having a hard time bring more people onboard not because of a lack of technical knowledge but of maturity and responsibility. With the amount of trust our organization has gained over the years it's necessary not to always have the technical best but the responsible best. Just one thing to consider on the thread.
I think it all depends on how the computers are used. At my high school the labs are closely monitored and run by knowledgable individuals. They are used for reference, EB On-Line, etc. The systems are also used for creating a new way of delivering information. Many of the students create videos using programs such as IMovie. I have seen other school where computers are not haddled as well and in those cases I agree they are a problem. However, when used correctly, I think they are a great resource.
Slashdot Mirror
As a high school student sys admin I say that it is possible to have an IT department that does work and involves students. Right now another student and I maintain much of our schools network (labs and servers included) and at times work with the district staff on larger issues. However, the key thing I've found with my few years in this area is that it really depends on the people that are involved. We are currently having a hard time bring more people onboard not because of a lack of technical knowledge but of maturity and responsibility. With the amount of trust our organization has gained over the years it's necessary not to always have the technical best but the responsible best. Just one thing to consider on the thread.
Brendan
I think it all depends on how the computers are used. At my high school the labs are closely monitored and run by knowledgable individuals. They are used for reference, EB On-Line, etc. The systems are also used for creating a new way of delivering information. Many of the students create videos using programs such as IMovie. I have seen other school where computers are not haddled as well and in those cases I agree they are a problem. However, when used correctly, I think they are a great resource.