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Screen projectors: These are useful devices for multimedia classroom presentations. These devices are connected to computers to project the screen image onto a large screen so that a whole class can view the presentation.
Presentations may be prepared on the computer with easy-to-use software such as PowerPoint. See: http:www.microsoft.comofficepowerpoint
. Science devices. There is a large software and hardware industry producing digital devices for school science,
including data loggers, robots, sensors, and calculators. See for example: Science devices: http:www.pasco.com
, http:www.vernier.com
, http:www.rogerfrost.com
, http:education.ti.comeducationportal
Educational robotics: http:www.parallax.com
, http:www.rec.ri.cmu.edueducation
, http:handyboard.comcricket
7. Maintenance
The need to plan and budget for hardware and software maintenance cannot be overemphasized. In Enlaces’ experience, schools without a well-funded technical support program will perceive very soon in weeks or at most in
a few months the mistake of not having considered this issue. Reconfiguring computers and printers, installing new software, preventing and eliminating viruses and network shutdowns are just a few examples of the daily routine of
the technical support team. Proper maintenance requires a technical staff with continuous training, special purpose tools i.e., to reconfigure a
network from a remote location using IP tools and standardized procedures. See, for example, the following Internet services monitoring system in use by Enlaces:
http:smsi.enlaces.cl .
Schools will need good quality long-term technical support, but it is advisable to plan for a gradual independence by training teachers on technical subjects and by providing regional help desks.
A few levels of technical assistance are advisable. The school level, with one or more teachers specially trained to perform basic troubleshooting and preventive maintenance procedures; a district level, with better prepared and
dedicated technicians that can perform regular preventive maintenance at a deeper level and solve more difficult hardware and software problems; and, finally, a regional or national level, that coordinates these activities, provides
regular training courses, deals with global software licenses and negotiates with hardware vendors and service providers to achieve quality services and reduced prices for hardware and software, their warranties and ideally,
even supplies like printer ink-jet cartridges and toner, paper and other supplies.
Enlaces installed in 2003 a free phone-based help desk for schools, whose purpose is to assist school technicians and ICT Coordinators in trouble-shooting hardware and software. Questions
from users are registered and processed to determine assistance and training needs in different school categories i.e. urban or rural, primary and secondary schools, etc.
