Grafting Mac to Novell - Burnaby School District - Ken Kiewitz

Technology in Burnaby School District – Ken Kiewitz

 

Burnaby is the 4 th largest district in BC.  Currenlty they have 4000 computers (predominantly PC based) over 53 sites.

 

The presentation focused on Visual and Performing Arts.  When you want to bring in new technology, you have four options

1. Don’t bring in new technology
2. Bring it in and run it separate from existing structures
3. Bring in the new and out with the old
4. Try to make the two work together.

 

So the model was chosen of option 4.  Now it has been a lesson in grafting.  There are 39 Mac computers working with the network to service the Visual and Performing Arts.  The metaphor works well.  You can graft, use hybrid breeding, easier propogation.  The point of grafting is to use existing strengths (such as a tree and its root systems) 

 

At the same time as adding new hardware, it had to be made to fit with the existing infrastructure.  This meant that there needed to be administrative control to make the Macs that are aimed at single user work well with multi-user environments.

 

With planning and support the integration of the 39 Macintosh computers to meet the needs of students that were likely graduating to the Emily Carr Art Institute has been successful.  There was consultation and training directly with Apple.  The project will now be integrated into the other High Schools.  The suit of tools has been provide that are designed to support ‘artistic’ approaches instead of the ‘business’ style model. 

 

Students now have an advantage when applying for work experience or further education.  They are able to share a portfolio of successful work done on the platform and with the software tools that are commonly used in these areas.

 

In conclusion – Expanding the Orchard

-       choose an appropriate site,

-       prepare the soil,

-       mitigate the hazards,

-       establish the product,

-       market the product

 

If it offers us a better way of doing something, we don’t want to stand in the way of that.  If we can address the need with existing structures, that needs to be considered as well.