ISTE NECC Day Two, Session Two, Tuesday Afternoon
Doing More With Less: Creative Approaches to Managing IT Costs
Education week sponsored session
All of the panelists are EdTech Directors
Ann Flynn – National School Boards Assn
Elizabeth Hoover – Alexandria, VA
Janet Herdman N. KC, MO
Steve Moscovitz – Brewster, NY
Tommy Whitten – Madison AL
What do you see as the main cost savings strategies you are using?
Ann Flynn: Open source, green technologies, paperless policies for boards
Elizabeth Hoover:
Janet Herdman: Looking at efficiencies, cut subscriptions, cut employees
Steve: Remote support, outsource much of IT work, monitor print
Tommy Whitten: Remote technical support, remote access, standardization of images,
Virtualization, Google apps, student technical support
Leverage of e-rate funding is crucial
How do we explain the direct correlation between the work IT does and creating an educated and competitive workforce?
Random topics discussed:
- Is online learning cost-effective? Online and video conference PD has been successful in Alabama
- Many schools face “political” challenges, i.e. union, with virtual or online classes
- Computer refresh cycles? – Many districts are stretching their refresh cycles to 4-5 years
- Standard images and standard hardware with remote support assists with support.
- Many schools are looking at mini notes with thin client
- Inventory management software has become very popular
- Leasing has actually become a popular option
- 1:1 initiatives are still rolling out in many of these districts, but with netbooks and mininotes
- Student to computer ratios are 4, 3, and 1 to one elementary, mid and high
- What model of computers in the classroom is best now?
- Mobile carts are very effective models with robust wireless network
- Power consumption projects
- Is there cost savings using children to do the IT work?
- Paperless is a great concept, but more network resources places a burden on storage etc…any consideration for Google docs or other cloud solutions?
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