The Geek\’s Lab

Each year, I am required to take a database (MS Access) that contains every piece of hardware and software that the school owns. Anything that has been moved to a different location, room, or maybe transferred to the district warehouse has to be updated or removed. Any new hardware has to be added to the database along with any software — even software that was pre-installed on new PCs, that is, if it had a license purchased for it.

I rarely enjoy approaching this task. In fact, I dread it. I did not create the database that we are using. I inherited it. In my opinion, when it’s compared to the size of our school, it seems unusually large. So this year, I am considering doing an inventory of the inventory.

The school district has never really made it a point to provide in-depth training on how those of us who are responsible for the yearly inventory should go about getting it completed and turned in on time. So each year, I’m left trying to sort things out on my own, trying to make sure things are as accurate as I can make them, and hoping to get it all done before the deadline.

I have very little support from my colleagues. In the past, I’ve made efforts to collaborate with them, either in person or via email. I even went so far as to create an online forum that, I thought, was easy to navigate, easy to use, and had the potential to grow into a community that anyone in the field of education and technology could benefit from. All for naught… So, when something like the daunting task of yearly inventory comes around, I feel like I’m lost at sea. Asking the people at central office for help rarely helps, as they are small in number and have little time to help with a problem that isn’t a serious or pressing issue.

I can’t help but wonder how many other people are out there that have to deal with this sort of thing — be it the annual inventory or the lack of help/support/communication from co-workers, colleagues, and the like.

Am I alone or are there others out there? If I’m not alone, then what can I/we do to change this? Ideas, anyone? Or am I a falling tree in the woods?

Coming soon.

(HT: TeachAndLearn via Twitter & Bud the Teacher)

One of the things that I’ve been thinking about doing over the summer is providing hands-on workshops for teachers. These workshops would cover things such as, but not limited to:

• The school computer lab
• Software that the school owns
• How to publish a web page
• Using PowerPoint in the classroom

I asked our principal about this and he was open to the idea. A couple of issues do arise from this, however. One is the credit that teachers would be hoping to receive for attending such a class and the hope that it would go towards their professional development. The second thing would be my compensation. I can’t be sure of either one.

So, this week I will put out a survey and see what kind of interest exists, if any, for this sort of thing. After that, I will take the next step and contact the district department of professional development and ask them about the concerns that we have, should we decide to move forward with (i.e. get approval for) these workshops.

Have you ever done something similar to this? Maybe you’re on the other end — what type of workshop(s) have you attended (and enjoyed) or would you like to attend?