Blog

I hate online testing.  Especially since we only have computer labs for computer classes.  Nothing that isn’t being accessed most of the day by an assigned class.

Today was the first day of testing and we got through it.

However, I had installed the software as soon as we returned from spring break.  It was fine in one room but all of the icons were missing in the other room.

I punted, installed the testing software over Deep Freeze in my classroom, we tested the first group in my room, and sent my students to the original testing room which gave me time to figure out what happened.

Found the software, and used Lanschool to fire it out over the room.  Worked okay but there are some additional problems with that lab.

I pushing hard to get Deep Freeze installed in all the labs since the business teachers not only don’t supervise their students but teach the students how to use proxy to get to blocked websites.  <sigh>

The bad part, since I manage my lab and students well, MY students suffer for it, were without a teacher most of the day because administration decided they didn’t really need a sub for me. I should have called ofr a guard each time I left the room but there really wasn’t time.

it crahsed last night!

I needed to reboot it, and so I did, and then it got stuck in the boot up process.  Cycled it through the boot cycle server times and got no where.

This morning tryed a System recovery and got no where again.

Called HP, gave them all my information and they walked me through a recovery.  It’s looking a lot like one of the drives went bad.

Oddly enough they want me to do the factory restore on the biggest drive which I am doing now. 

Hopefully I’ll have good news, but I’ beating that the Seagate 500 gig drive that came with it went south and is one of those that need the firmware patch.

So now my server is restoring itself.

Whew!

I got what I thought was all the updates, and tried to restore my backup to the server but there was no place to do that and no place to setup the external drive as a System Backup.  Everything I had said that if I added the drive to the server it would reformat.

NOT GOOD!

I also had discovered that the drive that shipped with the server has failed. 

Decided to get both resolved.

Tech support looked up my S/N and sure enough it was a bad Seagate drive so they are shipping out a new one.

And why I couldn’t restore?  Hadn’t installed all the service packs.

So I am happily restoring now.

I’m in the process of doing the rebuild.  The first step is scary as it just ends.  Seriously — it gives you a message that it is going to reboot a few times and it does it thing, and then the box disappears.

You are left however, with a purple health light and a purple drive light.

I’m currently installing updates and it seems to be going well, though I still can’t get into the server itself to try to restore my data.

I love Microsoft’s Mesh service.  Seriously.

I keep my curriculum stuff there and the projects I am working on . 

It’s at http://www.mesh.com and although the website is blocked by the district, the client still downloads and works.

Basically it syncs your files between computers, allows you to share those files with others and gives you remote access to the computers you have it on.

It’s cool, it works, what more do you want?

Mine broke today, primarily because our elevator hasn’t been working all week and I’ve been dragging it down the stairs. Note to self don’t do that.

Last time I had one break, local Office Depot replaced it for free so I thought I would try that again. Didn’t work but did one almost as good — a blue one for $3.18 with tax. I swear the shelf said $24.95 but may be they are on sale.  I paid for it quick and left fast!

I like the Blue much better.

And sadly they have REALLY cut their hours, opening two hours later than before.  Means I can’t hit them on the way to school any more. <pout>

Quoted from http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/987304/Office-Depot-Brand-Mobile-Folding-File/:

Office Depot Brand Mobile Folding File Cart 16 H x 18 W x 15 D Black Gray by Office Depot

Office Depot® Brand Mobile Folding File Cart, 16″H x 18″W x 15″D, Black/Gray

Microsoft can continue to provide high school teachers with great resources.

I have taught Computer Science for 16 years.  I have taught regular Computer Science, with QBasic, VB6, and not teach with VB .NET and through the years my students and I have benefited from many Microsoft programs.

When we went to VB6, Microsoft provided software to our district.  They have also provided curriculum materials through those many years.

I’ve used the Microsoft Educational website MainFunction while it was up and running.  In fact,  I provided a lesson plans for teaching VB6 with Alfred Thompson’s Teaching with Fundamentals and won a grant through MainFunction.

I’ve gone to several Microsoft sponsored staff development opportunities including last year’s game cruise.

I have also given back, and I try to respond whenever they want curriculum or other items evaluated.  I don’t always get to get a response back but that means they are doing the job right.  I am always ready to take a few moments to add constructive criticism when needed.

I’ve also participated in a local event where programmers code websites for local charities and done in Microsoft’s name. 

In other words, I believe our relationship has been synergist and that both sides benefit (though I do believe that Microsoft has done much more for me than I can for them.)

In case you haven’t noticed, I have been a teacher for 16 years, had the second private internet account in the DFW area, and currently run a full wired and wireless net work in my house.

I’m also the campus technologist.

I am appalled by the 60 Minutes piece.  The internet is NOT a dangerous place.  Here are the problems I’ve accounted over the years.

Student teaching — I did get to spend some of my student teaching time "devirusing" the computers at the school.  It was were brought in on a floppy disk by a teacher from a teacher workshop.  Yeah, I tracked it down.

My husband once infected one of his computers by using internet porn.  He learned his lesson. 

I did once pick up something for a few minutes because I was looking for a program I had purchased, had the registration code, but not the actual software but Windows Live Care took care of it.  Learned my lesson there too.

We had had our identity stolen.  Someone forged checks that had our names, phone numbers and driver’s license numbers on them — my first clue — we’ve never had our driver’s licenses on our checks, I want someone to make me pull the DL out before they will take the check.  I honestly don’t think it was done on the internet, but I certainly found it quickly on the internet and stomped it out.

We book all of our vacations online, we do our banking online, and if I can, I do things via the internet and email.  I’ve even done my grocery shopping online and do order most of our food online.  I don’t do a lot of physical shopping for a lot of reasons, primarily the time issue.

So yes, the internet is pretty safe if you know what you are doing.  Install a good program — I use Windows Live Care, keep it updated and using a good service provider and you will be fine. 

Also, go directly to your website, don’t click on an email link to get to them, especially your banking sites.

You’ll be fine.  I sure am.

Oh, and the worse "virus" that has happened at our network in our district was caused by someone sending an inapprioprate message to everyone in the district and everyone hitting reply all to tell that they didn’t want the message.  Had nothing to do with a "hacker".

I’m glad I don’t have to make these decisions.

It’s interesting, because someone at my school was just asking me what happened with making us an Academy.  It’s a move neither our parents nor our teachers want.  We’re not good at change.  Thankfully with an interium principal we’ve seemed to be able to delay the change.

However, in the case of Spruce and Samuell, change has to come.  They are not doing it right, and I’m not sure what the problem is.  Well, I was talking with a retired teacher from Dallas, and yes, we do know what the problem is — middle school and elementary school.

QUESTION:  Why don’t middle schools and elementary schools get reconstituted? Or do they? Why don’t we hear about them?

By the way, DMN got it wrong — the correct term isn’t Magnet, it’s Academy.  Small difference BUT Magnets require a minimum set of standards to get in and stay in

I don’t know much about Spruce, but 18 years ago, I observed Sammuell and it doesn’t seem to have devolved.  I was there for a chess tournament with our kids last year and met a bunch of the math teachers.  They were all very young and apparently life was a mess because they told me that the principal was continually changing schedules — which isn’t good for the kids.

I keep talking about going to one of the reconstituted schools — which I just found out offended one of my best friends — I can’t help it, I’ve never worked in a stable work environment except for Hillcrest and we were always looking at different opportunities.  Weird, as I’ve been in the same classroom now for 16 years, you’d think I’d be used it.

But back to this.

First, which kids get sent to other schools? 

That’s been a HUGE problem for us.  We have been getting kids from less successful schools for two years now, and they just don’t fit in and they don’t know what to do to be successful.  That’s ALWAYS hard for me, because our neighborhood kids know at least enough to do the bare minimum.  These kids don’t.

I’ve got one that is failing my tech support class now, because he chooses to show up for once a month.  We met during lunch, so he only comes when someone noticed he’s been in the lunch room too long.  I won’t let him stay if he plays games on the computer when I am trying to accomplish something and so far he is really only good at helping with inventory.  However, he is MUCH better than the other kids.

I’ve got another who is on his third week in ISS — he was given 28 days of in house suspension which usually involves either alcohol or a knife. When he does come into class he doesn’t do my assignments.  I caught him playing a game early and he lied and said he wasn’t.  I sat him down and showed him how I know he was lying, and then he walked out of the room.  Every single time I’ve gotten on his case, he just gets up and leaves.  My solution:  leave him alone, but once in a while talk to him gently about how he is wasting his time.

Those are the two worse examples, but they don’t get much better.  I’m not sure why they won’t do their own part to be successful — you’d think since they took the trouble to come across town to us they would try harder, but maybe that is the best they can do. 

Quoted from http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/032909dnmetdisd.323ff76.html:

Dallas ISD OKs plan to turn Samuell, Spruce high schools into magnets | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News

Dallas school district trustees voted Saturday to change two low-performing high schools facing possible closure into magnet schools