[MACEP] equipment to donate

[Mary Hochberg]

>They say misery loves company, but it saddens me even more than I am 
>to see that I am part of a wave washing over us all.
>Ira
>

Hmm, I wonder if the problem is more at the upper grade level? Are 
you all at high or middle schools?

Perhaps we are an exception but the two schools I work at, both 
elementary schools, are using more technology than ever.  Part of it 
is indeed the result of state testing. Our schools were given COWs 
with 15 laptops each, specifically for taking the state tests.

Naturally, the laptops are used for far more than that. The most 
common use is research and writing, though they are regularly used 
for math facts drill and reading comprehension tests.  We also use a 
variety of websites for writing convention games (Punctuation 
Paintball and Grammar Gorillas come to mind), ebooks, etc. Our music 
teacher had me put Finale, a free music composition program, on the 
laptops for the students to use.

Both staff and students could use more digital cameras, especially 
very simple & durable ones for the younger students. I'm looking for 
a free, simple Mac-based, photo editing program that will easily work 
with files stored on a server. (iPhoto really wants the photos on the 
local computer.)

Funding is a problem for us too. We are still using some OS 9 
programs because we'd rather put our limited funds elsewhere. 
Replacing staff and student computers is a priority in the upcoming 
few years---10 gigabit, 300mhz iMacs just can't do what we need them 
to do.

Funds for supporting technology is even harder to come by. A grant 
may get us the equipment but it doesn't get us the training or 
integration time. (I'm looking for full-year or at least supplemental 
work).

I know that this is a miserable time of year for staffing and 
scheduling: what is getting cut and who will have to leave, what 
can't we do next year that we did this year. Sometimes it is so 
depressing and it feels so futile.

But the kids will be here next year and I want them to learn more 
than they did this year. They are still woefully behind in how all 
this technology works.

Somehow we will make it happen.

Lots of how it happens is from this group. I've gotten many good 
ideas that I was able to implement from this list.

So here's to us, who make it happen without the money or time but 
with the support of each other! Thank you!

-- 
---Mary Hochberg
User Specialist II @ Meadowlark/Buena Vista 541 687-3368 x 231
http://4jtilt.typepad.com/weblog/
"Success is a great deodorant. It takes away all your past smells." 
---Elizabeth Taylor