Education List Serv
June 22, 2009
My friend, Mike Rosskamm, is starting an education listserv. Here is an excerpt from his introductory e-mail:
The purpose of this email is to try to bring together an online group of people who are interested in/ dedicated to the improvement of public education in the US.
Why? Over the last few years, I have had many one-off conversations with friends and colleagues who are interested in the education space. Through those conversations I have realized a few things:
- Education matters! It is one of the most important issues of our day and it is motivating/ inspiring to have conversations with peers who share that passion and are looking for ways to have an impact
- There are a lot of people who care about and want to get involved in the education world and have been unable to do it in a satisfactory manner (auxiliary boards are not quite getting the job done)
- A surprising number of people are developing skills in other jobs (consulting, brand, etc.) before they pursue education full time
- Those people already in the education world are consistently looking for help with new projects/ proposals, difficult problems, or simply want an outsider’s perspective
Based on these realizations, I believe that there is an opportunity to connect with people in a virtual space to help each other accomplish some of our own goals around education.
Specifically, the goals of the group are as follows:
- Connect people, regardless of their current level of engagement in education, around the mission of improving public education in the US
- Enable those currently involved in the education world to access a committed group of individuals willing to provide them with important resources (brainstorming, strategic direction, contacts, board level involvement, etc.)
- Enable those not currently involved in the education world to be aware of what initiatives are taking place, to find ways to stay connected, and to learn about opportunities to get involved more permanently in the education world
- Provide a forum to discuss and debate current events in the education world
- Inspire and motivate each other to take on more of a role in working towards improving public education in the US
If you would like to join this interesting group, please send Mike an e-mail.
Smart Solutions K12 – June 2009 Newsletter
June 3, 2009
Welcome Back!
SSI K-12 has taken an 7 month hiatus and has returned with a new look! We hope that you like the new version of our monthly newsletter and welcome your comments. Please email Jay White if you would like to be added to this newsletter: jwhite@smartsolutionsonline.com.
Education Technology Trends
Have you made using an RSS reader a habit yet? If not, the summer is a great time to get started! RSS readers are a great way to “subscribe” to your favorite websites; using an RSS reader allows you to save time while keeping up with the latest information in your field.
This quick video can help you get started: http://www.commoncraft.com/rss_plain_english.
Here are some of the interesting things that have recently come across our RSS Readers:
- 10 tips for Creating effective professional development in a difficult economy from the National Staff Development Council
- An online community where teachers can find partners for global collaborative projects from Free Technology for Teachers
- A new way to download YouTube videos from Free Technology for Teachers
- A recent article by Bill Ferriter in Educational Leadership, Learning with Blogs and Wikis, describes the potential of blogs as a resource for ongoing personal and professional learning and provides some advice for getting started.
Contact akelton@smartsolutionsonline.com if you have any questions. To find out more, please contact Abby Kelton.
SSI K-12 Blog
SSI K-12 Vice President Nitin Julka writes on our company blog. This month, Nitin shares a variety of useful sites and links. Visit the SSI K-12 Blog
Did You Know?
This spring, Ohio launched Ohio on iTunes U, a collection of digital media resources including educational materials, professional development resources, and student video. As stated on the eTech website, the project allows Ohio to share educational resources, professional development materials, and student videos which have been produced by members of higher education, the K-12 community, and community partners free of charge with unlimited access. Click here to read more. (More Details)
New Products and Services
In working with schools and districts for twenty-five years, it has been our experience that HR departments use ineffective home grown databases and have a need for HR software to significantly enhance business processes and improve time management. In response to this need, Smart Solutions has developed an HR Management Suite for Schools called SmaHRt People. SmaHRt People has been developed in partnership with Lakewood City Schools and will be offered as a web-based product hosted by Ohio ITC partners OMERESA, NEONET, AND LNOCA. There are 2 pricing options, and special discounts are available through July 1, 2009.
For more information or to schedule a demonstration, please contact Paul Karlin.
Recent Projects – A Typical School Year!
For our managed services clients, Smart Solutions keeps technology running. We monitor and administer the network, respond to trouble tickets,and generally make sure technology is available and working in classrooms and offices. When it comes to implementing NEW technology projects, Smart Solutions keeps very busy as well. This past year at just one of our managed services districts in NE Ohio, here is a list of projects we completed:
- installed laptops, projectors, and whiteboards in 51 classrooms;
- set up new PC’s for the entire Administrative and support staff;
- configured, tested, and put into service 2 Citrix servers and 2 file servers;
- deployed wireless campuses at the middle school and high school;
- assembled 3 new computer labs;
- built a new district website;
- updated the district’s outbound dialing system;
- and converted 50 Macintosh computers into thin client workstations.
Our managed services clients love the way we manage and complete projects on time and on budget.
If you are considering a new technology project this summer or fall, contact Doug Jones to see how Smart Solutions can help.
Company Information
SSI K-12 is the Education Division of Smart Solutions, Inc. Smart Solutions K-12 provides products and services to increase IT efficiency and enhance student achievement. Our team includes experienced educators, highly skilled engineers and technicians, and curriculum and technology specialists. Smart Solutions is a 25-year-old company with over 75 employees and offices in Cleveland, Canton, Columbus, and Detroit.
Contact Us
Nitin Julka
Vice President
njulka@smartsolutionsonline.com
216-765-1122 ext. 8370
Doug Jones
Managed Technology Services and Data Solutions
djones@smartsolutionsonline.com
216-765-1122 ext. 8380
Paul Karlin
E-Rate and Technology Solutions
pkarlin@smartsolutionsonline.com
216-765-1122 ext. 8371
Abby Kelton
Professional Development and Software Solutions
akelton@smartsolutionsonline.com