www.cstorefront.org/ts

Planning Page

Updated Frequently (make sure you refresh)

Last Updated: 10/5/08

Here is our "Tech Team" ... It Takes a Village ;-)

techsaturdays.ning.com

• Adam Gerson, Columbia Grammar ... click
  I can attend all 3 tech saturdays and all 3 prep sessions
• Ahsan Karim, Director of Technology, The Buckley School
• Andrew Gardner, The School at Columbia University ... click
• Clint Gilbert, Tech Consultant,piping.com from Boston ... click hope to be able to come for Oct and Nov sessions
• Denise Daley, Convent of Sacred Heart
  I can attend on September 27th, with limited time on September 20th. 
• Elizabeth Gilbert, Dana Hall graduate 2008 ... click
• Jim Bologna, Dir of Technology, Windward School, CA
• Karen Blumberg, The School at Columbia University I plan on being there Saturday 9/27.  
• Kamal King, Wireless Harlem Initiative ... click
  I can do Sept 27th and Nov 8th, but not Oct 18th and the prep for Nov 8th which will be Nov 1st. Other then that I can make 2 tech sats, and 2 prep's.
• Michael Lewis, Wireless Harlem Initiative ... click
• Robin Newman, Horace Mann School
  I am planning to be at Tech Sat.
• Sam Schalman-Bergen, Horace Mann School
• Steve Bergen, The Children's Storefront ... click

Who is coming on Sept 20 and Sept 27

1. Adam, Kamal, Michael, Steve, Denise + perhaps 1 or 2 students
2. on Sept 27th, same group + Robin + Sam + Karen so far
3. phone call procedures posted here

Links and Pictures

• Click here for pictures from Jan 12 (thanks Denise)
• More pictures: one | two | three
• Click here for more pictures from Jan 12 (thanks Robin)
• Wonderful document from Kamal King to print: doc | pdf
• Useful document from Karen Blumberg on "keyboard trouble shooting": doc | pdf
• From Adam Gerson: Click here for one link re free Apple Remote Desktop type of software
• From Adam Gerson: Click here for a link of great Mac OSX free software
• SOME of the topics to teach include "how the dock works" ... "does your machine have wireless or not" ... "how to launch programs and quit" ... "trouble shooting with force quit" ... "how to install software" ... "how to connect to the Internet" ... "how to use the memory stick" ... "how to install software and the use of the master password" ... "how to setup another account for a sibling if you don't want him or her to mess things up for you" ... "software honesty" ... "how best to use the Saturday 2-4 pm HWI tech support phone line"
• Click here for the steps by Clint for installing the black RokAir device (the one that works) that he took back to Boston (more on order to arrive soon)
• Click here for specs on Emacs with rec from Clint on batteries and the fact that "AirPort: accepts AirPort Extreme card"
• Click here for the e-mail from Clint describing the Macs he had gathered in the Boston area (if we want them)
• Pictures from March 8th (thanks again Robin): 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

Agenda and Overview

• From about 9:00 to10:45 ... one on one ... get acquainted with your new machine
• From About 10:45-12:45 ... mini-lessons ("technoquickies")
  1. michael ... Mr. Lewis ... broadband options
  2. kamal ... Mr. King memory ... sla agreement ... other basics ... the Saturday 2-4 pm WH tech support phone line
  3. karen ... Ms. Blumberg ... keyboard shortcuts
  4. robin ... Ms. Newman ... how to add or subtract to your dock
  5. arthur ... Mr. Stein ... using your memory stick and the new Rokland wireless device
  6. adam ... Mr. Gerson ... using the admin account and dealing with software updates
  7. denise ... Ms. Daley .... neo office
  8. jonathan ... Mr. Evans ... internet safety ... networking programs
• 12:45-1 Wrap Up

Heading Towards the Planning Breakfast, Thursday 1/24/08 8:30-9:30AM

• Overview from Michael ... The reason CS and WH are working together on this project is that while we understand how important it is today to place updated computers in the homes of our young people, it is as equally important to get them connected to the Internet (broadband not dial-up).
• Recall that a great deal of the innovative and very cool programs we've added on the computers require a broadband connection to really take full advantage of, which is the third phase after the computer, and the connection.
• This is the key way that we can bring 21st century learning and equip our students for the future. It's also a change in thinking that we have a great opportunity to effect as part of this program.
• We've committed to getting those who aren't already connected, or can't afford broadband, or aren't near one of our current nodes, to provide them with options within 60 days of taking the computer home; with the first option to connect them to the wh safe, secure network.

Heading into our Third Tech Saturday (March 8)

• Who's coming? Kamal, Michael, Steve, Robin, Andrew, Adam ... Denise 8-10 ... Clint and Elizabeth from Boston 98% definite ... Sam 86% definite
• Overview of the last few weeks
  • Clint got 25 Macs from a place in Boston ... a friend named Marlon is driving them down in a rental truck on 3/15
  • last Saturday, Sam, Kamal, Michael, Adam and I got a lot of stuff done but in particular Michael made major headway in the basement
  • Adam and Kamal got two different model PCs working and set up ... we need to SAVE one of each so we can hopefully image and Ghost
  • A tech friend named Jim Bologna who used to be at Milton Academy and is now in California is willing to help us re Ghost at 1pm via his cell phone and possibly remote access
  • We have enough keyboards, mice, electric plugs; we are running out of mousepads
  • There will be no tech saturday in April (I think) -- hopefully one in May and then not again until October
  • We want to avoid losing momentum ... there is a natural tendency with endeavors like this to lose momentum and people as the months go by ... that is one reason to have a tech Saturday in April
  • We have about 45 people on our waiting list, some of them very unhappy about not getting a spot for the March session
  • We have a few schools already thinking of us for big donations this summer
  • Preparation is immense ... chaos is unavoidable ... we are doing the best we can ;-)
  • I have had two Storefront kids ask me "hey Mr. Bergen, when I am going to get connected" ... I just tell them to call on Saturday 2-4 pm the WHI number
  • In our first session, we gave our memory sticks to those without a wireless computer
  • We now have 12 Rokair devices that work but as I said to Michael, I believe they need to be given out AFTER the fact ... if WHI does not want to go to the people's houses (rationale understood) then we need to start a Storefront Intern program where we teach the key Storefront students how to make the Rokair devices work ... this a viable plan but of course adds another layer and more time consumption
  • About 4 or 5 of the 17 Macs we prepped are wireless ... we need to figure out who gets which machine based on location (I will send you, Michael&Kamal, a current copy of the spreadsheet)

    I may or may not have any of the Macs put into that room by the time I leave at 6pm today.
    Prep work involves electric cables from first floor, tables, etc
    Denise leaves to leave early so Neo Office can be early
    We will be giving our PCs (we think) as well as Macs
    Final total will be between 15-20 participants
    Michael has the Ikea bags, I think and hope
    I may have a few interns from Storefront ... I never know if they will actually come
    We need to have a tech Saturday look on the computer connected to the projector
    This means taking the time to install a tech saturday account on a macbook which replicates the look
    
    

  • a few thoughts from Robin and Karen ... I would love to have anyone map out the 4 hours from 9-1 in a way that is acceptable enthusiastically to the rest of the group

    from Karen:
    I can't make it on Saturday, but I want them to cram them with actual skills intermixed with the fun stuff from the Dock and the web.
    
    File Management
    Saving
    Neo Office
    Airport
    System Preferences
    Google Earth
    

  • a few thoughts from me re the teaching components (Steve)
    • Our teaching units need to be interactive.
    • Whomever is teaching, you may want someone else to operate the computer.
    • We need to mix skills, big picture issues and generate excitement and awareness.
    • Calling on kids to demonstrate 1-2 things after teaching is a best practice.
    • Calling on kids or adults to answer questions is a best practice
    • If you find yourself talking for 5 minutes and your voice is the only one in the air, then there is probably a need to modify ... IIC ("interaction is crucial")
    • We need to be better prepared for a tech saturday image on the big screen.
    • Whomever is speaking or teaching needs to be more aware of engaging everyone in the room.
    • We need to avoid what I call "monologue teaching" where it is the teacher or speaker just talking or sharing skills or reading stuff ... getting the kids or adults to participate is not simply important .. it is crucial
    • I do not think we have the space to do hands on but if someone wants to try, go for it!
    • We need to get at issues of Internet Safety and Honesty more effectively than we have the first two times

  • Proposed Schedule from Michael
    • Hour #1 ... introduction & opening ... Neo Office
    • Break #1 around 10 AM  
    • Hour #2 ... System Preferences ... Saving ... Google Earth (other GOOG programs)
    • Break #2 around 11 AM
    • Hour #3 ... File Management ... Airport and Wireless and Connectivity
    • Break #3 around noon  
    • Hour #4 ... Internet Safety ... Honesty ... Frontline Video (The Child Predator Fear)
    • Wrap-up / checkout & answer any questions

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  Work Flow
  • Phone calls to be made
  • Data Entry Form for Google Spreadsheet
  • Mice and keyboards in basement to be tested after being dried ... click
  • Computers to be imaged
  • Create a PC image and image next batch of PCs
  • Clean up the 140th Street Storage location ... click
  • Get the PCs with mice and keyboards ready for next Tech Saturday and test!