Tech Director Chat #012 – Why do Tech Directors Lock Technology Down?

This is it! We tackle the most asked question by educators and students that have to suffer with restrictions, lock downs, filters, and controls on the technology provided by their school! Prepare for an amazing concise, well reasoned, and perfectly valid……oh heck, who am I kidding. Pete and I futz around with the question for a bit, and come to the stark reality that many Tech Directors face; balancing the needs of the many with the needs of the few. In other words, making sure that technology in a school district is manageable given available tech staff, yet still useful to the students and teachers using the devices for learning. We also answer some questions about upgrading software, Thanksgiving leftovers, and just how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.

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Timestamps for this week’s questions:

0:50 How was Thanksgiving break?

1:10 What’s your favorite Thanksgiving leftover?

1:46 What has Pete been up to today?

2:07 What kind of bond financial tool requires a day to create?

4:02 When are we as a district updating to Mac OS X Yosemite?

6:06 How do we handle getting everyone upgraded to Mac OS X Yosemite?

6:54 Ian from Twitter asks, why would a school district not allow you to administer your teacher laptop?

8:36 Why do Tech Directors like to look everything down?

10:27 Ian from Twitter asks, does super strict control over technology to keep old people from breaking it, or students from using it?

13:08 Why would a school district block cameras on devices?

14:53 So some things get blocked because Tech Directors just don’t want students using them?

15:30 Paul wants to know, how do you teach older folks to use a computer?

12:37 So basically, Pete wants to teach people entire technology systems, and Ben wants to teach people the smaller pieces of technology?

12:23 Stump Pete! Scott asks, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?


Tech Director Chat – Why do Tech Directors Lock Technology Down?