Assignment 1

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1)  What are the one or two most pressing needs of your PA school or
library for the implementation of effective and sustainable
telecommunications programs? 

Affordable high speed access....We have a 56K DDS circuit from our
school to California University of PA, which is strides ahead of most
rural schools, but with just one computer lab of 21 computers accessing
simultaneously it crawls to a halt!  We would like to entertain the idea
of upgrading to a T1 but it would be increadibly expensive.  We are in a
situation where we have to pay TWO telephone companies, an independent
and Bell Atlantic for our service.  This makes it twice as expensive for
us!  We can't even get ISDN service in our area to participate in a
local distance learning program provided by our IU.

Secondly, the lack of skilled technical people.  I am the Tech
Coordinator for the district and I only have three buildings, but I am
sometimes overwhelmed with the duties involved.  The Administration
wants you to be both a Techie and an Administrator, which carry very
different responsibilities.  Either one can consume most of your
day...but by concentrating on one, opportunities in the other areas may
slip away (grants, conferences, etc. --- hardware sales, software
promotions, surplus clearances, etc.)  Where can we find the time and
the human resources to implement effective technology programs when most
of our time is spent dealing with the daily "My printer won't print"
problems?

Even if the money was there for the latest and greatest in equipment and
access, somebody has to run it, service it, and design its
implementation.  This is impossible for just one person, and most school
districts feel that if they have a "Technology" person then that is all
they need, one person.  To effectively sustain an effective technology
plan or telecommunications program, it requires a department of people,
all of whom can contribute ideas, expertise, and human power to get
things done, and done properly.

2)  How do the needs of schools and libraries differ, and how are they
complementary? 

High-end equipment and first class communications are becoming a greater
necessity of most schools as Internet access and integration into the
curriculum becomes more prevalent.  With all the multimedia content
available on the Net, the computers and the bandwith just can't do it
justice.  Libraries on the other hand have fewer computers, if not just
for a lack of space, and require less in the ways of high speed access
and possible processing power (not much need for a dual processor server
here).

But both locations serve the same functions, provide the users with
information and the tools for learning.  Our public libraries received
computers from the school through the Link to Learn grant and we
provided them with the same software (if not better) than the school
makes available to the students in hopes of providing a location for
after school homework completion.  It would be much nicer if those
libraries were just remote nodes to our own network (maybe possible
after Link to Learn year 2).  

I find that it is also harder for the libraries to keep up to date with
technology and what is going on because a lack of human resources or
technically adept people.  Not everyone can understand how the E-rate
applies to them or how they can benefit.  If you don't take the time to
research it, you may miss your chance to apply!  It would be very
helpful if the information was broken down into lay terms and the
schools and libraries were told what to do, when to do it, and why you
should do it, to take advantage of such programs.

3)  How do the needs of rural schools and libraries differ from those of
schools and libraries in urban areas? 

Again, I think that the possibility exists for rural schools/libraries
to be understaffed with techno-savvy people to be out there looking for
opportunities like this (not that I have that much experience in the
urban areas).  I would assume that they (urban areas) have greater
financial resources to attract the people with the requisite skills for
today's technologically demanding world.

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