Report on computer setup at Santa Rosa School, September 2009

Sue and Ken Martin

Information technology is an accepted part of necessary and desirable

educational resources. An important goal for the Santa
Rosa School is that staff develop IT skills. The school
appreciates the equipment and training support given by
the Santa Rosa Fund. We appreciated the opportunity to
work with the school and support six teachers. This
report contains our observations and suggestions.
Simple, immediate things can be done to make the
current situation just that little bit better and these could
come within the current budgets. Developing the
equipment to include internet would incur further costs and must be balanced
with other needs and requirements of the school.

Computer equipment
PC 1 XP system bought by Santa Rosa Fund attached to an Epson LX
printer, Office 2003, with speakers but they need repair, CD drive / CD
writer, USB ports beginning to be temperamental;
PC 2 XP system bought by Santa Rosa Fund not
attached to any printer, Office 2003, with speakers,
CD drive / CD writer, USB ports;
PC 3 XP system donated by embassy, Office 2003;
PC 4 Windows 98, old and with English setup, not
used, Office 2003, floppy drive but USB not
functioning;
PC in Head's office attached to an inkjet printer (b/w and colour but awaiting
cartridges since before we arrived)

Local area network

In the time we were with the school, there was no functioning network,
although there was evidence that a network exists or had existed at one time.
We were only able to meet Gill Holmes on one occasion and the network
issue was not resolved before we left. Consequently, printing was possible
from only one PC and files had to be saved on individual hard discs and
transferred by memory stick.

Using the equipment

Some staff are able and learn quickly. It is clear that some are attending
training though we think this is often very theoretical.
We do not know to what extent the computers are used
when we are not there, but this would depend on a
whole range of factors such as electricity supply,
demands on teacher time, teacher capability and
maintenance of the system.

The secretary has an old typewriter, access to the

Head's computer and printer (when working), but in the
time we have been at the school she has had to do
most of her work on PC1 using the Epson printer.

We left the school with a digital camera. Marcia and Darling are very able
users and can transfer photos to the computer. We also left a microphone to
record voices on the computer and use within PowerPoint, particularly for
presentations to visitors. The Santa Rosa Fund also provided each of the six
teachers with a 1GB memory stick and these were presented with their
certificates.

The educational software company ‘2Simple’ donated two programs to the

school. Somerset Total Communications donated CDs with useful signing
symbols. We also collected and left a set of free software applications and
resources, including image collections, simulated electrical
circuits, maths applications and others. Currently,
computer use is focused on the needs of teachers in their
jobs using Office applications and for the general
development of confidence in using images and sound,
creating documents and developing presentations.

Simple logons
We setup, on PCs 1 and 2, a secretary logon with password, simple teacher
logon with password and simple pupil logon without password. Guest and
Administrator already exist. It was not realistic to setup separate logons for
each member of staff as there is no functioning network and only one PC has
printer access. So it would have meant duplication and confusion about file
/folder management. However, teacher logon gives access to individual
teacher folders on the C drive.

For current consideration:

1. Set up the network to share a good b/w printer
The Epson printer is cheap to run but poor quality and unable to print
some of the features of Word e.g. text boxes
 The computers appear to be networked but this is not functioning. A
priority would be to share a decent b/w printer and, secondly, to share
files.
2. Sort out current technical faults (reinstallation of Office, speaker needs
repair, check USB port on PC1).
3. Technical help is needed to stop the reinstallation of Office every
time Word or PowerPoint is initiated on PCs 1 and 2
4. PC 4 - Julian said he might have a Windows 98 version in Spanish.
After we returned, we heard that Julian had subsequently visited the
school with Gill Holmes and there were problems with this PC. It is not
worth investing financially or technically in PC 4. It cannot be attached
to a network (i.e. don't mix operating systems). If it is easy to install a
Spanish version of Windows 98, then it could be used to prepare
documents and save them onto floppy or perhaps use with reference
programs like Encarta.

Possible future considerations:

1. Internet connection
2. Responsibility for computer maintenance and teacher support
3. Monitoring use and access
4. This might lead to re-arrangement of computers for better access by
teachers and students, possibly using some in the library.

Responsibility for maintenance and support

Gill Holmes is very busy. We are not sure whether she wants to continue?
She intimated that she has discussed with the Head the possibility of
someone within the school taking on the responsibility. This is a discussion
for Gill and the Head and the Santa Rosa Fund

Possible potential staff to assist with support and maintenance

Mayra, the secretary, is very efficient and interested in
computers. She found out about the cost of
installation and maintenance of internet and bought
replacement printer ribbons on the same day they
were needed, from a cheap source just round the
corner. She may be a good person to oversee
computer maintenance, liaising with the computer
maintenance and technical support company.

Marcia, the sub director, is able and interested in

computers but far too busy already.

We found teacher Darling Martinez very able and she learns quickly. She
could be one of those considered to be trained to oversee/support with
computers in school. As far as we know she is not
married, has no children, so may have more time
than some others to support. Certainly she was
interested to know how to setup separate logons.
We did not show her as this needs to be part of
the Head's consideration and decision.

Possibly, Darling and the secretary could share responsibilities for

maintenance and support? There may be other teachers in the school who
are able and have time but we did not have time to research this.

Thinking about access to the computers

Maybe PC 1 and 2 could remain in room, networked to a better b/w printer.
To encourage maximum use, we would suggest that a booking sheet
encourage pupil use before 10 am and after 2 pm. Between 10 am and 2 pm
teachers staying on from the morning or arriving early for afternoon sessions
could book a time.

Possibly, the two older machines (if they both have Spanish setup, could be
moved to the library and attached to the existing Epson printer, mainly for
student use, with a booking sheet,. This printer is adequate and is cheap to
run. It cannot print out some of the more complicated Word documents but for
best, students would probably go to the internet or could ask to use the
printer in the other room?

Internet access?
The school would like Internet and this would be fantastic for research and to
open the teachers and pupils to a wider world. The library could be a good
place to establish an internet-based PC, encouraging users to copy and paste
information rather than simply print out everything they find (to be economical
with paper and cartridges). Trustees and the school would need to consider
the implications of extra costs and maintenance. One approach might be to
set a one year project and monitor use in the school. Mayra, the secretary,
researched the cost of installation and maintenance through a local company.
The school has provided a proposal with costs. We were given one copy,
which is at Liz Light’s house. The school currently has the other copy, but
may pass this to Martin when he visits this month.
The Internet proposal

Proyecto
Instalación del servicio de Internet en le laboratorio de computación
Hermanos de Inglaterra del Colegio Público Santa Rosa.

Objetivos
Obtener acceso a la información a través del Internet
Facilitar la labor docente para mejorar la calidad educativa
Facilitar la comprensión del alumno en sus trabajos educativos

Beneficiados
Toda la comunidad educativa del Colegio Público Santa Rosa (docentes y
alumnos)

Costo de Instalación
Para obtener el servicio de Internet, debemos tener lína telefónica fija. El
costo de la línea telefónica es de US $60.00 + IVA (15%)

El costo de Internet es de US $49.99 + IVA (15%)