EPISD: On-line but off target

     The EPISD computer technicians have become the most hated people on Earth. They’re doing some kind of secret experiment that nobody has explained to anyone, for a reason that nobody has explained to anyone, with results that don’t make sense to anyone.
     Thanks to the EPISD technicians, computer labs are not useable, printers don’t print, some computers won’t turn on and many teachers have had their hard drives wiped out with no advance warning, losing some important documents and files forever.
     All the chaos began in the summer. Administrators knew in May that work on almost all the computers would be done and that they would be reformatted. This was passed along to teachers at our campus at a busy end-of-school meeting where almost nobody listens to a word being said and where some people were absent with legitimate excuses.
     At EPHS, I don’t know if any warning was given or not. I know that many teachers were mad when they came back in August and all their saved documents were gone with (they say) no opportunity being given to back them up.
     No memo, e-mail or verbal explanation has been given to teachers concerning what good all of this damage will eventually do, if any. We have pieced together facts and rumors and apparently someone wants a new management system where every computer in the district gets controlled remotely in all aspects from a bunker at the technology office.
     We’ve heard, once it’s all done, nobody will be able to install a program on their own computer or even update any of the existing programs without calling a technician for service. You get a new printer, need to install software (any two-year-old can do it) – you have to call for help. Need to update Acrobat Reader to see a document (this update usually happens almost automatically) – you have to call for help. Supposedly, a technician (or 2, or 3 or 4?) will be connected and be constantly monitoring every computer in the district to make sure it’s being used appropriately. It’s all very Orwellian.
     A few people misuse their computers and some let the students use them for everything EXCEPT academics. We’re throwing the baby out with the bath water here, though. Instead of punishing those who have been irresponsible and making principals supervise technology use more closely, the technology department would rather just make our technology dysfunctional.
     Sadly, we have a school technology department that has no clue about how technology should be integrated into an educational environment. They also have shown no concern about communicating anything to the teachers and students who make up the vast majority of their end users. We had a person hired as an educational technology specialist but his knowledge and training have gone to waste as his role has been relegated – for some illogical reason -- to being just another central office bureaucrat.
     It’s all very frustrating to the students and teachers. We could take our technology and really fly if somebody had the initiative and the knowledge to lead the way. It’s also very sad for the district and the community as a whole that we SHOULD have much more to show for the millions we spend on technology and we’re falling short because of poor leadership.
     Too many of our campus employees have too little training and too little supervision to implement our technology in a smooth manner. But, instead of training them, insisting on better oversight from administrators, and learning to trust everyone, central office would rather stifle the campuses and put obstacles in our way. This type of sorry approach will continue until someone with curriculum experience is put in charge of technology. Such a person would switch the emphasis on technology to teaching and learning and away from record keeping, business transactions, communication and P.R. -- as it presently stands. For the sake of our kids, the existing approach has to change.