Amesti Tech Blog

The majority of the computers used by Amesti staff are Apples. Most of the computers used by the administrators and office staff are PCs. Portable/laptop computers used by the Extended Day program are Macs, as well as all the computers in the lab.

Most teachers have wireless access. Recently, 6 new iMacs were delivered to the site. Three of these are designated for the library to run Accelerated Reader. The others will be distrubuted, as needed, to replace aging classroom computers. The plan for the site is to replace about 25% of the computers each year until all the teachers at the site have machines capable of handling the increased flow of data from the net.

Almost all of the Amesti staff now checks and uses email regularly. Some of the staff are taking advantage of Tech Course Offerings through the District. PowerPoint, Excel, and Accelerated Reader come to mind.

After losing our Lab Tech early in the year, we have a bright, though temporary, replacement. His name is Erik, and he has done a terrific job so far. When he arrived, our lab was in disarray, but good things are happening. On November 6, personnel supplied by Apple spent the day repairing and restoring the lab’s eMac machines to their former glory. The lab is cleaner, and teachers are feeling more confident about bringing their students to the lab to use the SuccessMaker software.

Last spring, the new VOIP (Voice Over) phone system was installed throughout the school. It allows teachers to call out, receive messages and calls, as well as emails that are delivered as phone messages. It was activated this fall, and has been well received.

The on-site tech committee has meet two times so far. The members are: John Mulhern (Tech Liaison to District), Aime Shaw, Julie Vallens, Peter Fleming, and Meadow Haughey.
They are currently doing an inventory of computers at Amesti, and Julie is putting together the “b/4 School” SuccessMaker program for the early grades.

Feel free to post a comment. Until next time.

John Mulhern