9:06 a.m.
NELS 2006 at Gould Academy is only a month away!
Summer is fast approaching and with it is the opportunity to begin
refreshing your mind and body and also your technology knowledge! While
the users are on vacation (either the long school vacation or shorter
vacations taken by organization or company employees) the IT folks (who
never seem to get a vacation :-) ) take the opportunity to refresh the
infrastructure and upgrade their skills. That's why I'm writing today.
Classroom teachers, Technology Directors/Coordinators, Technicians, and
others are all entitled to professional development (contrary to popular
belief). All too often many folks think of the technology director,
coordinator, teacher, IT guy/gal....etc...as the go to person when
things go wrong or whatever. They are also expected to stand guard as if
something will go wrong during school closing, grading, upgrades, etc.
Unfortunately, this is a reactive way of thinking rather than a
proactive way of thinking. This thinking also makes it difficult for IT
folks to upgrade their own skills by attending professional development
workshops and conferences.
So!....I encourage you to break free and set a new tone with your staff
and administration. Learn new ideas, learn about new technologies, and
network with colleagues from other schools and organizations to increase
your own skills that will eventually benefit everyone in your school,
company or organization.
So where is this all going? Once again we are offering an excellent
opportunity for IT teachers, directors, coordinators, technicians...etc.
to gather and learn more about some fantastic ways to better deliver
services to your users. The Northeast Linux Symposium in now in it's
fourth year! Now the name is a little misleading as it's not just about
Linux, but about Free and Open Source software and ideas for nearly all
platforms. Mixed networks are pretty much the norm in todays schools and
in many companies as well. Many of the sessions we offer show you how to
tie it all together with things like single sign-on, common data storage,
web based technologies, and much more! Classroom teachers can learn all
about some really great programs and techniques that will help them in the
classroom without affecting their already slim budget. Remember...you
too....need the opportunity for quality professional development!
This year we're offering two great opportunities for learning and
professional growth. NELS at Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine on June 17th
- 20th and NELS at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New
Hampshire on July 16th 19th. Each has a unique focus and each will
offer you a great opportunity to learn in a hands-on environment among
friends and colleagues.
I am VERY EXCITED about some great new things that will be happening this
year at NELS. First, is the new users track designed for end users and
more specifically, classroom teachers, who use technology with their
students. I, too, am a classroom teacher and I'm excited to be presenting
with some really great folks who have years of experience with technology
and kids. We'll be exploring a lot of the great software that is in the
OSV FOSS catalog [
http://www.cybersource.com.au/about/education_FOSS_catalog.pdf ]([
http://www.cybersource.com.au/about/education_FOSS_catalog.pdf
]http://www.cybersource.com.au/about/education_FOSS_catalog.pdf)
[ http://www.cybersource.com.au/about/education_FOSS_catalog.pdf ]
Download the catalog and take a look at all the great free programs
(Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux) that will go great in your school or
classroom!
Another thing I'm excited about is we have a company that will be
attending NELS and using that time as a opportunity to discuss with
several of our presenters and attendees about how to Open Source their
product! We'll get to see first hand the process by which a software
product goes Open Source! This is especially cool since many of you may
actually be using this product (my school does!).
At the UNH NELS we'll also get to see Open Source in action! The folks
from the SchoolTool project will be holding a development sprint at NELS.
What does this mean? They're coming from all corners of the globe to meet
at UNH....talk to all of the attendees about what you'd like to see as a
part of the SchoolTool Student Information System (on day one of the
conference) and then they'll take your ideas....and put them into action
to show all of us the result on Day Three! Open Source program
development in action right before your eyes! That's pretty cool!
So...we really hope you come and join us! It's going to be the best NELS
ever and I want you to be a part of it! Visit [ http://www.nelinux.net/
]http://www.nelinux.net for more information on sessions and registration.
Register today as the first NELS is only a month away! Also remember if
you are in Maine and you're an ACTEM member (http://www.actem.org)....you
can apply for up to $400 in reimbursement of professional development
funds! So whaddya' waiting for! :-) Hope to see you all this summer!
David N. Trask
Technology Teacher/Director
Vassalboro Community School
dtrask(a)vcsvikings.org
(207)923-3100