Great IT-project

It was quite a complicated job, but I've just rounded it up: the ordering of computers for the school IT-project. All hardware companies and stores that I contacted did what they could. Prices were very sharp. But the decision is made. Every teacher in our secondary school will be provided with a Dell Latitude D820 by mid 2008. A Port Replicator will connect these computers in each class with a Dell Projector 2400MP with 3000 ANSI lumen light intensity.
Classes in primary school will use Dell Optiplex 745 computers.
So this will be my job for the rest of the school year: installing computers, beamers, printers, study and test the wireless and wired networks of the school, training the colleagues in the use of the learning environment Blackboard.
Schools can't go back. ICT has become a part of our modern culture, and education, being a part of that culture, has the task of showing young people how to use this modern technology in a positive way. We have to show our kids how to find information, how to evaluate it and how to use it to get to the heart of the matter and to be creative. The pre-computer generation can help here since content is still more important than the means, just as drill is important for memory training and concentration is important for success. If teachers feel surpassed by the technological (r)evolution, I want to be there to help, because I know that their knowledge and experience can help in keeping the balance. Their input must make students realise that there is more than chat and mail and games and second, third and fourth worlds... How about developing this one? ;-)

Manipulating pictures for publicity

Read more on this smartboard-aspect in my photobog!

Smartboard "SMART" for your eyes?

Yesterday I watched "Terzake", one of the better Flemish daily TV programmes that reflects on news items. An IT-innovative school was shown in Keerbergen. They have changed all their blackboards or whiteboards with Smartboards, an interactive white board on which a projector shines the computer images. I once tried this system, but not for long... The group of teacher trainers I was part of pushed it into the classroom corner after some trials.
There are four reasons I don't like the system:

• It constantly shines on you while you're standing in front of the Smartboard (the image on this pages is less ideal as on the commercial page!). Since my volume is rather XXXL, I'd better wear a white T-shirt, so students can still read the spherized letters on my non-virtual body. Moreover, I can't get an overview of my board since my shadow constantly interferes. I end up dancing in front of the board (like this distant brother of mine...)to avoid standing in front of my information.
• What's more: a screen is made to look at from a distance. Computer screens tend to have higher resolutions, so on the one hand the teacher can't get a good overview and back sitters in bigger classrooms can't read the letters.
• But a bigger problem is the fact that since a teacher is 90% of the time turned towards the students, this means that he/she is constantly looking into the projector's beams. Projectors shoot some 2500 - 3500 ANSI-Lumen nowadays, so I think that this can hurt the teacher's eyes, certainly if you use this system 7 hours a day since you have no alternative!!
• The last remark is that with this tech board teachers tend to think they reach their ICT-goals with the students. They have indeed integrated IT in their lessons. However the aims want students to work with ICT. So they still have to go to the computer classes or the OLC's with students so that they can work actively with IT.

The smartboard - as it is now - is according to me, not very healthy for the teacher, especially if he/she has to work with it constantly. Hopefully the plasma (or newer) technology will evolve quickly so that the interactive board will be back-lit.
Until then I wouldn't want to introduce a Smartboard in our school in such a way that all teachers are obliged to use it.

T - 3 and counting

In three days, I will be flying to Saigon...
The preparation is in overdrive. I have prepared a Blackboard course on EloV. I have received 30 free accounts for 30 days... I'll try to find a solution to make the content available for the workshop attendants for a longer period... I'll probably give them a CD which I will prepare in HCMC.
I will go into detail when I'm over there. I'll probably have to change quite a lot on the spot... Important is to take as much material as I can, so I can improvise if necessary...
Tomorrow, late in the evening, I'll be checking my photo equipment. Charge the batteries, clean the lenses, check the memory... In the second half of my trip I will be concentrating on that... photography in Mui Ne and Phu Quoc. Although that's in 10 days, it seems like an eternity...
By the way: do you know what the weather is like over there?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=0157
Just check this out!!
During daytime, my energy goes to school business! Busy, quite busy with wireless audit! But I'm also upgrading the two computer classes with about 10 programs and upgrades. Geography pushes its ambition to 4 programs! Google Earth, OrbitGis, and two programs on "water in our environment". Hope the other subjects will follow...
Tomorrow I'll be programming another 14 computers, upgrade one from Win2000 to Win XP pro, secure a data projector and have a meeting on network-matters...
Had some very sympathetic reactions on my coming Saigon-trip today. My old friend EM embraced me and wished me good luck, three other colleagues tapped me on the shoulder. Some even wanted to know what I was going to do there! Of course there are the sceptic ones... I don't comment on them. Suppose they still have a long way to go. If they want some help: I'll be there. You know what a push from me can do... ;-)
Anyway: life is short and if you can add to the evolution of man - just a little bit - on your own level... just go for it! ;-)

16:9?

Today there was some discussion on the size of the 16:9 movie on our new projection system. The movie image appeared to be too stretched. The sun set egg-shaped and bullies were far too broad-shouldered. Colleague DD explained to me the history and system of the movie image sizes. Problem is that you can set the DVD-player ànd the projector. Non of the settings appeared to be right until I found that the initial settings of the Panasonic DVD-player were wrong (4:3). On installing the player you have to indicate the type of TV or projection device you have. After that you can change the setting for each individual DVD (or leave on the auto function).
More on the image sizes can be found here.

First trial

On Wednesday November 14th our projection facility was used for the first time by the Zilvermuseum Sterckshof who organised a conference at our school. Here a panoramic picture of the projection facilities.