Tech Director Chat

This episode is short, sweet, and to the point. We had some excellent tech questions about one of the most essential elements of making technology work in schools; keeping it charged up! And we dove a bit into Tony's background at the Pentagon, lessons learned early in life, and we had our technological knowledge tested with details about the release of the very first iPhone from Apple.Timestamps for this week's questions:1:20 What has Tony been up to?3:22 What was the best thing that Tony learned from working in the Pentagon?5:31 Someone wants to know why the laptop carts don’t charge all of the laptops at the same time.7:37 Are student computers able to Airplay to the Apple TVs in the classroom?9:58 Stump Us!11:24 What year did the first iPhone debut?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) on Twitter. Our professional Twitter accounts are Mattawan Learns and MCS Technology.

We're back! Sort of! Ben is still alive and toiling away in central office, having picked up a few more tasks this year, but Pete has moved on to other challenges...specifically to Western Michigan University where he's now a Senior IT Muckity-Muck :)In this episode I welcome Tony Nuismer, our brand new Director of Information Technology to Mattawan Consolidated Schools, and the new voice behind the microphone. Tony has led a fascinating career and comes to us from a similar size district in the greater Kalamazoo area; he enjoys playing in a band outside of work, and he's just as nerdy as Pete when it comes to IT.Timestamps for this week's questions:0:55 Wait, Pete has been replaced?!1:25 Where did Tony come from?7:23 What had Tony been up to today?7:45 There’s an Elvis impersonator in the district?!9:42 Phu wants to know, why don’t Netflix accounts work on the projectors at school?11:20 Joe Wang wants to know, what was the first song that Tony ever played?14:05 Stump Us!14:34 On “Saved By the Bell” what is the character A.C. Slater’s real name? You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) on Twitter. Our professional Twitter accounts are Mattawan Learns and MCS Technology.

Does technology work in the classroom? What's the deal with Chromebooks? Why does the Slack App hate Ben so much? Pete and I scratch the surface of how technology affects our daily habits and routines, or fails to affect it in some cases. We address questions about our older machines, getting teacher laptops updated, and wrap our brains around a tough "Stump Pete!" question about NHL arenas!Timestamps for this week's questions:0:58 What has Pete been up to?2:05 It’s time for teachers to update the OS on their laptops.3:07 Apple has now made all iLife and iWork apps free?!3:59 Do we ever sell the old Apple laptops or desktops?5:20 Our laptops are HOW old and still in service?6:15 Does the Technology Department need to be made aware of a laptop that’s extremely hot coming out of a cart?8:38 Ben wants to know, what’s the deal with Chromebooks?11:20 Why doesn’t the Tech Department use the Slack App anymore for inter-office communications?15:31 Pete wants to know, why can’t we make technology work in the classroom?18:16 Stump Pete!19:52 Erik wants to know, now that the Red Wings are moving to Little Ceasar’s Arena, how many NHL arenas are NOT named or sponsored after a company?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter. Our professional Twitter accounts are Mattawan Learns and MCS Technology.

Change is difficult. Choosing a new brand of toothpaste or finding a new dish at your favorite restuarant can be hard enough, but when you start talking about changing a school district's Student Information System (SIS) you can produce enough anxiety to make even the most laid back individuals frought with fear. And we're doing just that! We're currently in the middle of transitioning to PowerSchool, and there are a lot of really good questions coming from all corners of the school district. Pete and I address them as honestly as we can, and even make a few recommendations for teachers to prepare.We delve a bit into how the school district is responding to the Office of Civil Rights complaint that many districts have been issued in regards to website accesibility, and discuss what we can do to start making resources that teachers provide online more accesible by a wider range of learners. This is a conversation that we will definitely need to revisit in the future, and we will. For now, it feels a bit like trying to "eat an elephant." Plenty of other questions about bicycles, apps, and accordions round out the rest of the podcast.Timestamps for this week's questions:0:38 Pete forgets what he does for the school.1:29 What’s Pete been up to?2:05 What caused the great “Internet Outage” of 2017?2:55 Scott wants to know, how smooth will our district’s transition to Powerschool be?5:15 When is Powerschool supposed to be up and running?7:49 Bridgit wants to know about Science Apps.10:47 Nancy wants to know, with the current uptick in website compliance for individuals with disabilities, should teachers be trained on how to comply with this?17:13 Can para-professionals be given technology to help with instructional needs?18:13 Is there a person in the district that can assist with technology related grants?19:10 Nick wants to know, when is Pete buying a “fat tire” mountain bike?20:03 Stump Pete!21:05 Nick wants to know, how many keys does an accordion have?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter. Our professional Twitter accounts are Mattawan Learns and MCS Technology.

Thanks for all of the great questions submitted this time around. A lot of good technical and troubleshooting questions about Apple TVs prompted some good conversation about a few of the policies we have in place, and why we have to put passcodes on them for airplay mirroring. For those that don't have restrictions activated for an Apple TV in a school setting, you should definitely make sure that happens. Pete and I go over a social media policy that our district has in place, and then we spend quite a bit of time pondering about the future of Google Classroom, why it (likely) won't ever become a full-blown LMS, and why we continue to push its use in our district. Follow all that up with an opportunity to "stump Pete" and I'd call this one full podcast.Timestamps for this week's questions:1:48 What has Pete been up to?2:26 We’re getting ready to move to Powerschool?3:04 Wait, what did Ben call Pete?4:42 Nicole wants to know, why doesn’t my Apple TV ask for a passcode when using Airplay?5:36 Does the Apple TV “time out” for mirroring?6:49 Tony wants to know, why is my Apple TV not mirroring my computer?8:01 Ben asks the infamous IT support question…8:40 Does the district have a policy regarding social media interaction between students and staff?10:44 Someone wants to know about sharing settings and access of documents via Google Classroom.13:12 Pete asks Ben, when will Google Classroom be a full blown Learning Management System (LMS)?16:15 Pete wants to know, why would our district be spending time pushing Google Classroom?18:07  Stump Pete!19:20 JW wants to know, why did it take so long for “Journey” to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter. Our professional Twitter accounts are Mattawan Learns and MCS Technology.

Interested in listening to Ben and Pete ramble on for far too long about what the future of technology looks like? No? Well then, this episode isn't for you :)We tackle a few questions about speakers, feedback, apps on student devices, tricky 1:1 scenarios, and a lengthy birdwalk into the future of technology. Halloween costumes and tetrachords round out this episode.Timestamps for this week's questions:1:36 What has Pete been up to?3:05 Chris wants to know, how do I lower the high-pitched sound coming from my classroom speakers?5:27 Can teachers change settings or add apps on student laptops?8:55 A listener wants to know, what technology should I be learning about to keep up with students?12:30 Ben is still rambling on about predicting technology five years in the future.15:00 Seriously, this is a REALLY long birdwalk of a question.15:48 Jeremy from Twitter wants to know, what’s the best 1:1 computing program for a High School where “take home” is NOT an option.19:21 Someone wants to know where Ben got his Captain America Halloween costume.21:02 Stump Pete!22:26 Can you give the definition of a tetrachord, and can you name a piece of music that uses one?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter. Our professional Twitter accounts are Mattawan Learns and MCS Technology. 

It's probably safe to say that anyone willing to take on the job responsibilities of Information Technology Director for a school district needs to have a touch of insanity. The ability to juggle upgrading networks, managing repairs teams, and even getting your hands dirty when there's no one else to do the job can be a daunting task. So it's nice that Pete is willing to share a bit of his insanity with us :)Timestamps for this week's questions: 2:29 What has Pete been up to?3:25 Can we forgive Pete?3:55 JW wants to know, what drives you insane about being a Technology Director?5:25 Does Ben help keep Pete sane?6:33 Why do people keep getting a notice about Neo Office?7:24 How can a staff member connect to the new MCS 2016-2017 Wireless?8:23 Pete advice for restarting your laptop (at school) at least once a week.10:00 Hey Pete, what is the single most important things users can do to keep their machine running smoothly?12:58 Stump Pete!14:38 How many teeth does an adult giraffe have?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter. Our professional Twitter accounts are Mattawan Learns and MCS Technology.

Wow, it's been a long summer for the Mattawan Consolidated Tech Department! Bond construction, total audio/video upgrades for the Middle School and High School, and the refurbishment and cleaning of machines all around the district have kept us all busy. Pete and Ben attempt to answer a heap of technical questions in this first episode of the school year, and are looking forward to settling into a more normal routine now that major construction is over.Timestamps for this week's questions:1:00 The answer to life, the universe, and everything.1:52 What has Pete been up to?3:45 Wait, Pete gets nervous about visiting classrooms?6:01 JW wants to know, did Pete get any sleep this summer?8:17 A teacher wants to know, will metallic or magnetic necklaces or jewelry affect the teacher microphones?9:17 A strange loud static sound always occurs for a brief moment when connecting my laptop tot he new A/V stations. What’s up with that?11:53 A teacher wants to know, can they change their password for Infinite Campus, our student information system?16:07 Someone wants to know, why does my computer keep locking up?17:45 If you haven’t restarted your computer lately, you probably should (at least once a week).19:23 Stump Pete!19:50 JW wants to know, how many notes in the opening of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter. Our professional Twitter accounts are Mattawan Learns and MCS Technology.

This week Pete and Ben explore a growing question in the realm of educational technology; the role of pedagogy, and how it relates to technological change. Special thanks to Todd from Twitter for asking us the great question about trying to stay current with technology that prompted the discussion, and for the thoughtful educators that I get to work with everyday that understand the importance of balancing the needs of students and the classroom with the abilities of technology. We also address a number of district questions including how we're moving beyond our "Wifi Bus" pilot to expand Internet access to other busses, document camera compatibility for the new Mattawan Instructional Technology Stations the High School and Middle School will be receiving next year, and Pete gets another shot at answering some stump-worthy questions.Timestamps for this week's questions:1:15 How awesome is Pete’s day so far?2:50 Will teachers be able to easily connect document cameras to the new technology workstations for the high school and middle school next year?5:40 Todd from Twitter wants to know, how do you keep current with the ever changing nature of technology?8:53 Ben admits that he doesn’t keep current with all technology.11:30 Ben ponders if keeping current on pedagogy is better than keeping current on technology.12:19 Is there any news on the busses with wifi?13:43 We ran across some issues with internet miscreants bringing the school’s internet to its knees, unintentionally.15:42 Future plans for bus purchases with wifi.18:22 Stump Pete!19:24 JW wants to know, what is Pete’s home improvement project for the new home?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

It's the second week back from Spring Break, M-STEP testing is in full swing, and Pete and Ben drone on about wireless networks, poorly shapen metaphors, and stuffed animals. If that's not a podcast worth listening to, what is? We do get a chance to address some of the ongoing Apple TV issues that have plagued our network, although we have made some significant improvements, we help out with a question involving recovering files with Crashplan, and Pete is fully stumped once again with a question about his favorite Icelandic musician.Oh, and if you're curious about following piggie's adventures (listen to the podcast for that to make sense), you can check them out on Ben's Instagram account.Timestamps for this week's questions:0:55 Pete is confused about how we open the podcast1:32 What has Pete been up to?3:07 Will the new schools have designated places for technology to be stored?4:55 What information do the occupancy sensors provide, and what do they cost?7:30 Kevin wants to know if he can recover previously deleted iMovie project files.9:00 What’s up with the Apple TVs?10:22 The Tech Department turns into an 80s arcade11:00 Ben attempts to ruin Pete’s explanation of our wireless network.15:45 Someone wants to know why Ben always has a little stuffed pig with him.20:15 Stump Pete!22:02 What was Bjork’s first band?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

It's been awhile since Pete and Ben have sat down to record an episode, and we're terribly sorry for your ears that we've decided to record another episode. It's been a long hard Winter for our school district, and there was a lot of time that needed to be spent away from the microphone, but we're back for the remainder of the school year...and perhaps into the summer.This week's questions revolve around security. How secure are district issued devices and email? How secure is the email we send? And how secure is the choice that teachers have in interacting with students in an instructional capacity? We chat a bit about Google Classroom, the need to be mindful when questioning a suspicious email, and Pete is stumped!Timestamps for this week's questions:1:12 Where have Ben and Pete been?2:30 Pete and Ben are no longer co-habitating in the same work space?4:41 What are the protocols for administrators or district officials to look into our emails and district provided technology?6:13 Google keeps a log of any access to an account?7:12 We have had FOIA requests, but Pete has never been given any orders to look into someone’s laptop for suspicious reasons.7:46 Are staff notified if someone would go through any of their files?9:12 Why is it that no one can trust opening Ben’s emails anymore?11:52 What is email spoofing?14:15 Is our district going to be mandating the use of Google Classroom?18:58 Stump Pete!20:03 What reason did Jimi Hendrix give for being discharged from the army?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

We had a tremendous amount of excellent questions this week, and we tried to work through as many as we could, balancing out questions from within district and those coming from Twitter. We touched on upgrades to laptops, installation of new interactive projectors, and Pete got to actually work with students!We also had a thoughtful response to our discussion about cell phones in the classroom that we had in a previous episode. One of our high school teachers is taking a much more practical approach to student devices in the classroom and wanted to share his experiences. Realizing that not all learning activities will require the use of devices, but that students still wanted to have access to their music or phones while they work in groups or independently, he's devised a simple check at the end of each class to ensure that the students hit their learning targets and the devices didn't interfere with them being successful. It's an interesting take on the issue, as often many want to focus solely on the direct use of the device in as many lessons as possible, or completely restrict it as it can be too tempting. This teacher uses student devices as an incentive to work productively in a comfortable environment, and it's paid off very well for him!It would seem those asking questions are telepathic as we had a similar question from Twitter about using personal devices in the classroom, and another question dealing with creating transformative learning experiences with technology to empower students. While we didn't quite have the time to address this fully, it's right up our alley! Both Pete and Ben completed their Master's of Education through a program that required us to design, implement, and reflect on a large project that had global reach. We could have spent hours talking about how to go about creating learning environments with technology to help students see a "bigger" picture than just the four walls of the classroom, but we focused on advising any teacher to bring their passion into the classroom first. People can recognize when you're passionate about something, and doggedly pursuing an interest that fully engages students in the learning process that amplifies your passion for teaching will have a far greater impact on learning than trying to be "innovative" with a wide range of technologies. In short, be your best self and find a way for technology to amplify that; it will serve as the best possible model for students to see how they can in turn use technology to amplify their voices and efforts for learning.Timestamps for this week's questions:1:02 What has Pete been up to?1:10 Pete left his laptop at home!3:12 Pete got to work with students!3:40 A teacher in the district wants to know, should I upgrade to Mac OS X El Capitan?4:52 Brian wants to know, when will the Epson interactive projectors be installed in the Middle and High School?5:58 Nancy from Twitter wants to know, why can’t I use the device(s) I’m most comfortable with in my classroom?10:30 @kttasch from Twitter wants to know, what have you seen that transforms classroom instruction and enhances student voice, empowerment, and global citizenship?15:10 We revisit the conversation about cell phones in the classroom thanks to an email from one of our high school teachers.19:38 Stump Pete!20:56 Brian wants to know, solid state or tube amplifiers?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

Happy New Year!This episode was actually recorded at the end of last year, but we wanted to hold onto it until now as we address one of the long standing issues that several people have in the district with our internel classifieds email (aka, our own homegrown Craigslist just for district staff). Most staff in the district love having the ability to quickly be rid of items through district email; often many items are simply given away for free as educators are always looking for items they no longer need to be put to good use, whether it be in another classroom or not. And it's handy to be able to list big items (furniture, electronics, etc.) without the need to deal with Craigslist or another service that would require shipping and/or people that may or may not show up to actually look at or purchase an item.But sometimes the classifieds can be a bit much, especially when people are cleaning out garages, attics, play rooms, or decluttering after New Year's Resolutions to make life simpler. So we though it might be appropriate to share give email etiquette tips for sending out classified emails alongside a few of our regular questions about Apple TVs in the classroom, and looking at alternative iPad case vendors. And we also toss in a tip for creating filters in Gmail to help manage large amounts of email that you know you want to look at eventually, but just not right now. Pete gets a turn at "stumping Ben", and we finish up with both of us being completely stumped!Timestamps for this week's questions:1:10 What has Pete been up to?2:45 We explore a new iPad case vendor.5:20 We address the etiquette of our internal district classified emails (like Craigslist just for our school employees).7:40 Pete and Ben’s top five tips for sending classified emails.10:47 Can Apple TVs be used in an educational environment?14:35 Stump Pete!16:40 Stump Ben!16:58 Who was the original drummer for Rush?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

In this week's episode, Ben and Pete talk a bit about the money behind technology purchases. While it's no secret that many school districts make technology purchases a regular piece of large bond projects now, often those dollars go to larger systemic technology. Interactive projects, voice enhancement, and other technology needed for security purposes are top items. However, some of the more essential technology to teaching often doesn't always make the cut. We talk about a few grant opportunities for those in our district and everyone in general, as there are always grants available for pilot and classroom projects. We address the internet outage that occured in two of our buildings before Thanksgiving, and Pete tricks Ben into reading a question that Pete submitted!Grant resources mentioned in the podcast:MPEF Brainstrong - For Mattawan Teachers onlyMeemic Grants - For Educators in MichiganBest Buy Community GrantsState Farm Good Neighboor GrantsTimestamps for this week's questions:1:18 What if education success was like baseball batting averages?2:03 What has Pete been up to?2:53 We have 3D printers at the Later Elementary?4:22 JW asks, how are the plans for new technology in the bond going?6:08 Why did the High School and Middle School lose internet before Thanksgiving?6:55 So we’re ready to send out all of the RFPs for the technology work?7:45 What new technology will be available to teachers in the bond?10:13 What is the quickest and easiest way to get iPads into your classroom?12:10 Pete totally tricks Ben into reading his own question!13:58 Stump Pete!14:22 What is the most successful band to come out of Kalamazoo?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

Pete is back! And he's ready to tackle the hard questions about policy review, what makes him tick as a tech administrator, and cell phones in the classroom! Well, maybe only one of this is truly a difficult question to grapple with, but Ben enjoys the banter none the less. We finish up our list of questions from our high school that were compiled at the start of the school year, and talk about the advantages...and disadvantages of the use of cell phones in the classroom for learning. In fact, Ben highly recommends checking out an interesting piece from NPR about the rampant use, or rather misuse, of cell phones in college courses. We finish up the episode with Pete's philosophy on being a tech admin, and a question from JW that proves Pete truly has no regrets in life.Timestamps for this week's questions:2:25 What has Pete been up to?3:17 Ben is curious how much time a Tech Director spends reviewing policy.4:46 JW asks, has the final decision been made on the “teacher tech control stations”?10:04 What are the best methods of handling cell phone use in the classroom?15:15 Chris from Twitter wants to know, what’s important to you as an admin?16:34 Stump Pete!17:00 JW wants to know, what do you wish you had learned when you were younger?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

After a couple of weeks off, Ben is back....with another Ben! That's right! Pete has the episode off, so I had the opportunity to ask Ben Tomlinson, a former teacher in the district, a few pointed questions dealing with laptops, 1 to 1 computing, and how to bring more collaborative work into a high school classroom. We bounce through a few questions left over from our beginning of the year list from our high school teachers, question Ben about his thoughts on smart watches, and spend a good deal of time discussing the significance of every student having a device vs. every student having access to a device through shared or collaborative models for learning.Timestamps for this week's questions:0:41 Pete isn’t here!3:05 Someone asks Ben Tomlinson about creative ways to manage laptop carts at the high school.6:55 It sounds like a party going on in the Tech Department7:30 What happens if we guarantee every high school teacher a specific number of computers, rather than a full cart?9:30 Is the model of 1:1 technology use in education a gimmick?13:07 Does Ben Tomlinson have an example of getting students started down the collaborative path of technology use?17:00 Stump Not Pete!18:00 Will Ben Tomlinson be getting a Smart Watch?Special thanks to Ben Tomlinson, the brand new Curriculum Coordinator for the Van Buren ISD, for stopping by to chat! You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Ben (@btomlinsonvbisd) on Twitter.

Well, the conversation definitely turns philosophical in this episode after a wonderful question comes our way from one of our high school teachers. It gave us pause to explore what "direct human communication" means, and whether or not technology mediates our experiences with one another in a way that affords us the same advantages of face to face conversation. Hint, we think it does, and in some ways can enhance it. The rest of the episode involves "Projector Pete" pontificating on the intimidation of the tech department, Ben arguing that we need to be more service oriented, and Pete finally admits when he'll get an iWatch.Timestamps for this week's questions:1:53 What has Pete been up to?3:15 Pete gives himself a new nerdy nickname.4:10 Are there any new initiatives to transition to a 1:1 environment?7:00 Should someone feel guilty if they want less technology and more direct human communication?12:10 What should someone who needs just the most basic technology questions answered do?14:10 Ben wonders if coming to the Tech Department is too intimidating for some.16:51 Stump Pete!18:55 When is Pete going to get an iWatch?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

We're Back! Sort of. It's been such a busy start to the school year that while we've recorded a few episodes, finding the time to edit and post them has been rather difficult. Ben is in a new role that has put a lot more on his plate, and Pete is still recovering from one of our busiest starts to the school yet ever! This marks the start of our weekly conversation, and it was filled with plenty of good questions! Managing Spotlight on your Macs, Speck coming through after a defective bunch of cases, Ben geeks out over an Avery label maker addon for Google Docs, and Pete gets philosophical about whether we even need to teach students how to use technology.Timestamps for this week's questions:1:12 What has Pete been up to?3:50 How many help tickets do we have at the moment?4:26 Speck cases are failing? Get your help tickets in!6:40 How did one of the students change their school picture to a Minion?8:30 Do we even need to teach students how to use computers? - Hole in the Wall9:25 What’s up with the new Spotlight on the Macs?10:55 What’s a Google add-on that we should all be using?14:50 Stump Pete!15:42 What is the most successful musical group of all time?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

Technology increasingly drives the conversation in education. New laptops without DVD drives means pushing people to make the leap to video in the cloud and online. The use of collaborative tools means asking students to work on individual projects and digital worksheets risks disengaging them. Asking for help may not be a simple fix, or applying "the solution" as a torrent of them may exist for your particular problem. Pete and Ben dig into a couple of philosophical questions about the nature of teaching and learning with technology, Ben gets a bit geeky with curricular thoughts, and we answer a bunch of questions about the new laptops coming.Timestamps for this week's questions:0:51 What has Pete been up to today?2:47 Todd from Twitter wants to know, what is the most important thing for teachers to know about technology?3:55 So the most important thing about technology is to ask for help?5:30 So what does Ben think about Todd’s question?6:54 Michael from Twitter wants to know, how are we ensuring that thinking and learning drive our use of technology?10:20 What does Pete think about Michael’s question?13:00 Wait, are we really getting new laptops?14:00 Will the new laptops be in before the end of the school year?15:42 Why didn’t we order the laptops earlier in the year?16:40 So, what are the specs on the new laptops? Are Macbook Airs slower?18:26 Stump Pete!18:43 The “Artist” wants to know who is Ronnie Tutt?20:13 Pete wins some glitter flowers!You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

This week's episode takes Pete and Ben down a few conversations from past episodes, rekindles the "off again, on again" relationship with web filters, and explores Ben's lack of interest in music. Along the way we talk about what we think would make the ideal bare minimum device for students to be successful in a "21st century" classroom, with some disagreement over iPads, Chromebooks, and the traditional laptop. And Pete gets a software question for "Stump Pete!"Timestamps for this week's questions:1:00 What has Pete been up to today?2:47 Wanda from Twitter wants to know, can teachers have access to the web filter?4:29 Could you see a special group of individuals that have the same web filter rights as the Tech Director?7:10 Will teachers have the option to purchase their old laptops that are being replaced?9:24 Elvis wants to know, is Pete moving because he just got married?10:45 Jason from Twitter wanted to know, what should the bare minimum device be for a student to be successful in a 21st century classroom?13:50 Is Chrome OS a real Operating System?15:17 Stump Pete!15:52 Does Ben censor Pete?16:20 Elvis wants to know, what’s the hardest song you’ve ever tried to play?18:35 Wait, Ben doesn’t listen to music?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

This week we answer ALL the questions! Well, just about all of them, and what a varied bunch of questions they were. From blended learning and basic tech help, to some deeper questions about evaluating IT and what to do as we look at the future of DVDs, there's a little bit of something for everyone in this episode. Pete has a moment of silence as he contemplates an interesting question from Jeremy on Twitter about how the Technology Department can be more connected to the classroom and get better feedback, Ben talks about how he's embraced the cloud when it comes to video, and we even touch upon some ways to safely dispose of older technology (hint, the Michigan DEQ has a database of locations in each county to call for Hazardous or eWaste collections or more information). Pete also gets to share his favorite acoustic guitar maker, Volbrecht, as he catches a break from last weeks near guess.Timestamps for this week's questions:1:09 What has Pete been up to today?1:42 Is “borked” a professional IT term?2:21 What do we do with old outdated equipment that’s collecting dust?5:13 Brian from Twitter wants to know, how can we get certain filetypes unblocked for school computers?7:35 Kevin is curious to know, what should I do with all the instructional DVDs that I have when we upgrade to new computers without DVD drives?10:15 Ben has embraced the cloud, and uses Vimeo, Youtube, and Google Drive for videos.11:30 Nancy wants to know, what’s the best way to remove apps from an iPad so they don’t come back when you sync it with your computer?13:42 Jeremy from Twitter wants to know how the technology can team be more connected to classroom teachers for evaluation and feedback?18:33 When it comes to Blended Learning, what would be a good online environment to use?21:56 Stump Pete!22:12 Pete screwed up last week.23:21 Nancy wants to know, in your your opinion, who makes the best acoustic guitars?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

This week's episode focused on some more practical issues of web browsers, operating system upgrades, and hinted at Pete's upcoming involvement in helping the Village of Mattawan get some truly high speed internet as opposed to the slow speeds residents currently suffer with. We addressed a good question about Google Chrome vs. Firefox, but discovered after we recorded this that not all recommendations are good, as we learned the hard that our student information system is bet not used with Google Chrome at the elementary level for many crucial functions. Firefox is the go-to to make sure everything works as well as advertised.Outside of the browser issues, we chat about new teacher laptops, the hype around the Apple Watch, and Pete gets stumped!Timestamps for this week's questions:1:03 What has Pete been up to today?2:40 Is Pete helping the Village of Mattawan get “real” high speed internet?5:25 Someone would like an explanation for using Google Chrome instead of Safari.6:45 Ben thinks there are probably one of two reasons that people want to use Chrome.9:35 Someone wants to know, what’s going on with Safari Montage?13:20 Todd wants to know, will you be purchasing the Apple Watch?16:20 Pete struggles with putting his phone on silent.18:46 What’s up with Mac OS X Yosemite, will we have it soon?19:00 We’re getting new teacher laptops for the staff!20:32 Stump Pete!22:05 Which musician, in 1994, recorded and played all of the instruments for his band’s debut album?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.You asked, and we've delivered! This podcast is full of a bunch of non-tech, off the wall, "spying on Pete's personal life questions! Alright, so maybe that's being a bit hyperbolic, but Pete and Ben did have a lot of fun answering your more personal questions, and after the mess that Ben made losing the first recording, we thought the second go around wasn't too bad. Have a great Spring Break everyone! BONUS: Click here to watch Pete jamming with "Big Head Todd & the Monsters!"Timestamps for this week's questions::52 Yes, Ben accidentally lost the first recording of the podcast this week.2:03 What has Pete been up to today?2:13 What is the morning Tech Dept. meeting all about?4:35 JW wants to know, what’s the best thing Pete did on his vacation?5:11 Why does Pete call “Big Head Todd & the Monsters” his favorite band?7:00 Cheryl wants to know, when are you getting married?!8:13 Dr. Bird wants to know, did you use computers when you worked with the Chicago Blackhawks?9:55 Were there any big technology tools that you used in your former life as an athletic trainer?10:40 Todd wants to know, who do you have winning your NCAA bracket?12:00 Todd was curious about anything exciting that came out of the MACUL conference.12:50 Ben has a growing Google Presentation with all MACUL attendees thoughts shared on it.15:25 Stump Pete!16:25 Which Beach Boy declined an invitation from “Uncle Sam” to join the army in 1967?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.March is now in full swing, the weather is warming, the sun is shining, and we couldn't be more excited to share talk about technology grants, and how we're approaching new teacher laptop upgrades! We also spend some time talking about how to make technology run more smoothly in your classroom. Pete tackles the technical side, and Ben shares a technique that served me well for introducing new applications or websites to students; and helped me learn alongside the students!Timestamps for this week's questions:1:00 What has Pete been up to?1:35 How is Pete doing with his ongoing chats with teachers?2:30 Pete is repairing iPads?4:45 Nancy wants to know, are there any technology grants out there to apply for?8:00 Ben finally gets around to answering Nancy’s question about technology grants from MPEF, Meemic, and Donors Choose.10:03 JW asks if we can improve the speed of our next teacher laptop purchases.10:55 JW also asks if we can entertain the idea of MacBook Airs for teachers?13:00 Andrew wants to know, what can teachers do to make technology run smoothly?15:00 Ben asks Pete to narrow down his advice to one thing to help technology run smoothly.17:40 Ben shares his big tip for making technology run smoothly in the classroom.20:00 Stump Pete!20:35 Who or what is the next big thing in music? You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.This week we answer a host of Chrome and Google Drive related questions (pro tip, when in doubt, don't delete the file from Google Drive!). We also tackle a new Chrome user's anxiety over switching browsers, and share some advice that Google would rather not hear....here's a hint; stick with Firefox if it's working for you! We also chat a lot about the nervous energy surrounding our 4th grade student tech day happening on March 6th! 300 4th graders, a lot of technology, and some excited educators hoping we can pull it all off! And for a special treat, we wrap things up with a little guitar from Pete.Timestamps for this week's questions:1:05 What has Pete been up to today?3:00 What are your thoughts about the upcoming 4th grade technology day?5:50 What is Pete going to be teaching students during the 4th grade technology day?7:20 Should Ben evaluate Pete’s ability to teach?7:38 Is it in the works that all high school classrooms will have interactive whiteboards?9:17 Pete just can’t answer a straight question.10:05 What’s the difference between Chrome and Firefox? A listener is having a hard time making Chrome their “go to” browser after years of Firefox use.13:18 Can I delete items from my Google Drive? If so, how so I go about doing it?15:20 Be careful before deleting files in Google Drive that you’ve shared with others!16:40 How does someone get added to the MCS Classifieds email list?17:23 Why does Pete get to bring his dog to school?18:23 Stump Pete!20:13 A moment of silence for Leonard Nimoy20:24 JW asks, what is your favorite guitar intro, and can you play it for us?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.Technology in schools is driven by many factors; flexability, accessibility, and cost are just a few of the considerations, although cost quite often has a larger role in what school choose to implement. Pete and I chat about some really excellent questions posed by teachers in his small conversations regarding the direction of technology in the district, including how tech staff engages with teaching staff, how to properly "outfit" a room with technology, and spend a good deal of time talking about Chromebooks, the low cost computing sensation sweeping across school districts.Timestamps for this week's questions:0:50 What has Pete been up to today?1:30 Pete shares some of the conversations he’s having with teachers.1:50 Why don’t we outfit classrooms with technology based on the content taught within it?4:30 Is the way we’ve been doing technology in education even relevant anymore?5:30 How do we engage the tech staff to bridge gaps between teachers and the tech department?7:14 We were on track to have Yosemite ready to go, what happened?11:00 What about Chromebooks?16:15 If you were a student in High School right now, what would frustrate you the most?18:28 Stump Pete!19:30 Who invented the mouse?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.In this week's episode, the State Department of Education comes calling about feedback for the TRiG program for technology, and Pete admits he may be losing his mind (just a bit). We talk about avoiding the "spinning wheel" of death on Macs, which side of the "graphics card wars" we fall on, and spend a good amount of time talking about the need for Curriculum Directors to be thinking about technology; how important is it to their roles in the 21st century?Timestamps for this week's questions:1:13 What has Pete been up to today?3:01 Someone from the state Department of Education came calling?3:43 So what is TRiG, and why is it important to Michigan schools?6:23 Do you see teachers getting more admin rights for technology, or control shifting to a centralized location?8:08 People can wipe out their hard drives?9:00 Matt wants to know, what can I do to my laptop to avoid the “spinning wheel” when switching between apps and websites?9:35 Pete gives us an analogy, Ben thinks his is better.13:56 When it comes to graphics cards, Nvidia or AMD?15:21 Bob wants to know, do you see Curriculum Directors evolving into the “go to” technology people with Blended Learning becoming vital to the classroom?18:23 Stump Pete!19:15 Matt wants to know, what’s unique about the drummer from Def Leppard? You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.Technology Directors don't always make the decisions we feel are best for our students. All of our classrooms have unique challenges, opportunities, and realities, and it's incredibly easy to get caught up with the idea that everyone is ready for the change you need in your classroom. It's not always popular to "lead from consensus" but you may find that being patient and working closely on building positive relationships will lead to manageable change. This week's episode speaks to that reality; many school districts continue to separate student and teacher digital learning environments, as well as block access to certain tools and abilities that many feel students should have access to. Finding balance is key, and difficult. But the conversations are necessary, even if they take time.Timestamps for this week's questions::58 What has Pete been up to?3:45 Wait, so we don’t have more laptops and devices coming from the bond?6:14 Jason asks, what importance does Pete see in keyboarding skills?8:00 So Pete isn’t the type of guys that read instructions?10:30 Steve asks, why do some school districts separate Staff Google Accounts from Student Google Accounts?12:15 Why do Tech Directors want to separate staff systems and student systems?17:55 Mr Wolski wants to know, should Google Hangouts be open for student Google Accounts so they can video chat with experts outside of the school?22:05 Stump Pete!23:15 What was Pete’s first computer? You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.This week Pete shares a bit about his latest attempt to stay connected to the teachers he's serving. He's holding conversations with small groups of teachers from around the district to get feedback on what to improve upon and what the Tech Department is doing that "works." Some of it is good, some of it is challenging, but we decided one thing for sure; we'd love to host any conversations with teachers that feel comfortable doing so on the podcast. We also address some practical tips for keeping your computer running in tip top shape, Pete addresses a question from a tech-savvy Twitter user, and Pete is stumped with a ridiculously difficult question about Al Kaline. Seriously, we need help with this answer!Timestamps for this week's questions:0:49 What has Pete been up to today?1:15 What sort of things does Pete “catch up” on?1:30 What sort of meetings does Pete miss?2:37 Pete is having conversations about technology past, present, and future with teachers across the district. How does he narrow that down to just 40 minutes?4:20 Question for the audience! Would you like to be a part of one of our conversations?4:50 Phu asks, what is the difference in cost between a MacBook cart and iPad cart?7:32 Nancy asks, for the non-tech oriented staff members, what can we do to keep our computers running well?9:00 So what are simple things to do on a regular basis to keep your computer running well?11:15 JW asks, what has been the most interesting thing you’ve learned from having small conversations with teachers around the district?14:31 Todd from Twitter wants to know why a Tech Director might decline donations or just settle on one platform?18:40 Stump Pete!20:00 Which Mattawan teacher was in Baltimore the night Al Kaline got his 3000th hit?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.This week Pete dreams a bit about the tech utopia he'd love for us all to live in, while Ben shares some apps and services for those seeking to feel a bit more secure with their digital lives. We take a break from Twitter questions, and answer "in house" questions from our teachers and staff about bond dollars going towards technology, Pete's dreams of being Captain James T. Kirk, and even leave you with a quick musical Christmas treat at the end!Timestamps for this week's questions:1:06 What was today like, the last day before break?3:00 Do you think it’s necessary to run virus protection on an iPhone or iPad?3:13 Is it possible to run virus protection on an iPhone or iPad? Ben shares Avira Antivirus for iOS, Intego VirusBarrier for iOS, and McAfee Mobile Security.7:10 Would it be better off if everyone knew how all of their computer devices really worked?7:41 Ben describes what “ne’er do wells” attempt to do to hack your computer.8:31 Does Pete really need Ben?8:47 Will the bond allow the High School to have a laptop cart for every classroom?10:00 Pete describes the three big areas in which money from the bond will be spent towards technology.13:53 JW asks, what did you want to be when you were young?14:31 What is something you would like to accomplish before you retire?17:02 Stump Pete!17:27 Last week Ben asked about the most expensive Gibson guitar, did Pete get it right?20:23 Who played the intro guitar with Eric Clapton on “Layla?”22:02 Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.After last week's episode in which we talked about "locking it down," we dive into another hot button issue around how Tech Directors and other IT professionals make users feel about their technological competency. We chat about improving our own skills, when we actually record this podcast, and we introduce everyone to "Mr. Microphone!"Timestamps for this week's questions:0:53 What has Pete been up to today?2:35 Jonathan asks, what skills are you having to develop to provide a quality service to your district?4:00 Ben asks, do you think people feel “dumb” about technology, or do stereotypical attitudes of IT professionals makes them feel “dumb?”6:05 Would you rather have a tech support staff that is highly skilled in repair skills with poor people skills, or great customer service with very little technical skills?8:50 Rachelle wants to know, why is the answer “no,” instead of “no, but….?”11:16 Jennifer asks, do you know “Mr. Microphone?”12:50 Nancy wants to know, when and where is your band playing this holiday break?13:50 Is this podcast done during school hours?16:11 Stump Pete!16:54 There’s a machine that was built to lick Tootsie Pops?18:20 Ben asks, what is the most valuable guitar ever created by Gibson?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.We're back! After taking a week off for Thanksgiving, we get a question from Ian that sets up one of the BIGGEST questions that Tech Directors always have to wrestle it, "why do things have to be locked down?!" The answers isn't always the most well received, but it can shed light on what sort of trials, tribulations, and headaches a Tech Director is willing to endure in order to maintain a vision. In addition to addressing the big questions about control, Paul sets us up for another deep conversation about "whole technology learning" vs. "smaller task learning." We touch on updates to our district's teacher laptops, and finish up with an age old question about Tootsie Pops.Timestamps for this week's questions:0:50 How was Thanksgiving break?1:10 What’s your favorite Thanksgiving leftover?1:46 What has Pete been up to today?2:07 What kind of bond financial tool requires a day to create?4:02 When are we as a district updating to Mac OS X Yosemite?6:06 How do we handle getting everyone upgraded to Mac OS X Yosemite?6:54 Ian from Twitter asks, why would a school district not allow you to administer your teacher laptop?8:36 Why do Tech Directors like to look everything down?10:27 Ian from Twitter asks, does super strict control over technology to keep old people from breaking it, or students from using it?13:08 Why would a school district block cameras on devices?14:53 So some things get blocked because Tech Directors just don’t want students using them?15:30 Paul wants to know, how do you teach older folks to use a computer?12:37 So basically, Pete wants to teach people entire technology systems, and Ben wants to teach people the smaller pieces of technology?12:23 Stump Pete! Scott asks, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.This week sees a small turn of events, with Pete posing a question to Ben, and giving him a chance to feel what it's like in the hot seat! Pete answers questions about "big picture" use of technology in a teacher's classroom, what a new ideal elementary building would look like, and more issues about filtering pop up in this episode. Deep questions about whether most technology use in the classroom will ever move passed substitution for paper and pencil activities have Ben scrambling to put on his "future glasses" and Pete gets a break from his weekly musical trivia to share his opinion on possibly a divisive issue; who should be bestowed the "grandfather" of rock and roll, Chuck Berry or Jerry Lee Lewis?Timestamps for this week's questions:0:56 What has Pete been up to?2:21 What does an exploding projector bulb sounds like?3:00 Ben has opened the flood gate of questions by sending the podcast to all district employees.4:16 JW asks, what is the big picture goal for teacher technology use in the classroom?7:32 Pete asks Ben, how long do you think it will take until a majority of people are using technology for more than simple substitution?11:20 John asks, why do some wifi routers behave differently for filtering?14:50 John wants to know, can he have an Apple TV?16:40 Kathleen asks, what would your ideal new elementary building look like?20:45 Paul from Twitter asks, why are URL shorteners blocked by filters?22:18 Stump Pete!24:11 Kathleen asks, who was more influential to early Rock and Roll?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.In this week's episode, Ben gets a little carried away with his technology metaphors, in an attempt to translate Pete's technobabble into regular English for the rest of us. We spend a lot of time talking about being behind the "8" ball with Help Tickets this Fall, and why we really can't do much to improve bandwidth for students (or teachers) at the moment for our school district. We compare the internet to a pasta dish, potential plans for a "one size fits all" technology solution for classrooms, and we stump Pete once again!Timestamps for this week's questions:1:11 We didn’t have a snow day today?1:34 Does Ben know how to read a calendar?2:30 What’s our normal Help Ticket load at the start of the school year?3:15 Why has it taken us longer to get ahead on the Help Tickets this year?4:40 What has Pete been doing today?5:22 JW asks about the plans to add technology to existing buildings.8:15 What is the plan for upgrading our wireless infrastructure?9:20 Pete describes what AP means in the technology world.10:07 Ben attempts to explain basic networking for non techies.11:04 Is it possible with our current wireless to increase bandwidth for students?14:05 If we had all the money in the world, would we still have internet problems?14:40 Is the Internet really a cloud, or more like a giant bowl of spaghetti?15:15 JW wants to know if we have a “one size fits all” package for classroom technology?20:05 Stump Pete: What was James Brown always talking to his band about?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.We passed the bond! Our community came together and said "yes, we want to build some amazing new learning spaces for our students!" This week we're a bit excited about the new possibilities that the bond will afford, but we keep things in check with questions about 1:1 computing, new buildings, and projects that have been "on hold" for the past few years as we grew our stable of laptop carts throughout the district. Nicole checks in from Twitter with a great question regarding students' abilities to weigh in on blocked sites and apps, while Jeff and Angie both contribute some great questions about new buildings and life, the universe, and everything!Timestamps for this week's questions:1:17 We passed both our bonds? YAY!1:53 What has Pete been up to today?2:58 Did Pete bring anything back from Prague for us?3:48 Does the passing of the bond mean that we will have 1:1 computing?4:55 Can you give us an example of a project that’s been put “on hold” as we’ve been building up laptops?7:30 Jeff asks, what does the passing of the bond mean for each building?8:54 What are the plans for the architects and bond consultants for getting input from teachers and the community?10:10 Wait, we have to hire a technology consultant for the bond? Isn’t that Pete’s job?12:45 Nicole from Twitter asks, how do you get more students involved with requesting apps and websites for being unblocked?17:44 Angie asks, if you could ask Stephen Hawking anything, what would you ask him?19:43 Stump Pete! Jeff asks, what was the first major sound innovation after “Rock and Roll?”You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.This week we follow Pete as he jets sets around to globe to Prague, where he is attending an Institute for Innovation in Education Gathering (iiE for short). We talk about potential changes to lighting, presentation technology, and other "wish list" items that teachers have regarding technology in their classroom, and touch briefly on why Pete doesn't listen to a podcast that he participates in weekly! Thanks to an excellent question from Joe via Twitter, Ben and Pete both share their thoughts on the definition of "21st Century Classrooms" and Ben even goes so far to share his more luddite-friendly version of "21 Things Every 21st Century Teachers Should Do and Keep Their Sanity" based on Carl Hooker's tech-heavy blog post of the same theme. And of course, listeners attempt to stump Pete, and almost come away with it in this episode!Timestamps for this week's questions:1:17 What is Pete doing in Prague, and what is the iiE?3:13 What is Pete's role with the iiE?4:50 A high school student helped plan an international conference?6:20 When our bond passes, will there be money to change the lighting in the high school?7:45 Will we be getting better projectors in the district?8:40 Wait, Pete doesn't listen to this podcast?9:25 Is it possible that we might have new dimmer lighting or other enhanced lighting?10:43 In 60 seconds or less, why does restarting your computer resolve a lot of problems?12:05 What do you think a 21st Century classroom looks like?17:18 Stump Pete! Who wrote the album, "Numbers?"18:20 We were featured as a "New & Noteworthy" podcast in iTunes for Educational Technology, wahoo!You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.This week's episode involves questions of a philosophic nature about whether technology is truly necessary in the classroom, and we wrestle with the scourge of every educator trying to install good digital citizenship habits within their students, the Yik Yak App. We answer a few questions about our bond issue, Ben sends some early Halloween shivers down your spine, and we introduce our very first regular segment, "Stump Pete!"Timestamps for this week's questions::48 How's it going today?:59 What's up with this Yik Yak App that hit the district last week?4:50 When the bond passes, will each new classroom have some type of interactive whiteboard and a sound system?7:50 Does Ben sound too creepy when whispering into the microphone?8:41 Do school districts send home manuals for devices that students use?10:25 If we were to pursue a 1:1 program, how could you see the program being embodied in our school district?12:15 Does anyone really want clones of Ben?12:52 Is it vital for students to have access to technology? Why or why not?17:00 The Waldorf School doesn't believe in technology?19:09 In the 1970s hit song, "The Night Chicago Died" where was "Daddy" a cop, and when?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.This week we focused entirely on questions from our school district, including some seriously geeky responses from Pete about RAM, cache, and how to best avoid the "beachball of death". We even make a recommendation for Memory Clean, a Mac App that will help you regain some "snap" in your Mac's step. Once Ben gets Pete back on track we attempt to tackle some big questions about the direction of technology in our school district, and Pete is completely stumped by a musical trivia question about the Beatles.Timestamps for this week's questions:1:30 What has Pete been doing at his big conference?2:03 So this conference you were at is seriously techie?4:30 Any tips for people to get their Macs to run faster?5:28 For non techies, what does Cache or RAM stand for?5:58 Does Ben’s desktop analogy work for understanding RAM?7:50 What can teachers do to help free up space in RAM?13:20 Did we really just spend six minutes being geeks about RAM, hard drives, and caches?14:00 How does Pete see his job changing when our bond passes next month?16:30 What’s your big picture for technology in Mattawan Schools?20:06 What is the only Beatles’ song that none of the four band members play instruments on?21:05 Ben questions whether Pete can really call himself a musicianYou can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.We have a record number of questions this week; seven! I know, I know, that seems pretty low, but for a podcast that one day hopes to be under 20 minutes, that's a lot to cram into one episode! Pete answers some tough questions about whether Tech Director's have the ability to say "yes" and answers some burning questions about the quality of paper that regularly jams up the photocopiers. We also had some great questions from Twitter! Thanks to Sherri, Rob, and MASSP for asking some tough questions that I'm sure aren't always the same in every school district. Timestamps for this week's questions::49 What has Pete been up to?1:15 Why did Pete's day go sideways?2:30 Seven questions is a lot for us?3:02 Why do the printers keep breaking down, and can we remedy the situation?7:38 Are we any closer on the Apple TV situation?8:51 Why can't we move an interactive whiteboard out of a special education classroom into a regular education classroom?10:40 Are we going to run out of time on this episode?11:04 Why am I trusted with people's most prized posession, but not the technology and the internet?14:24 Why do you always approach a request from a place of "no" rather than a place of "yes"?17:20 Would you say that a Tech Director from the IT world might be apprehensive to opening up technology to help solve problems creatively?19:02 Why do teachers often get so little input in the technology purchasing  decisions?22:56 We've gone hopelessly past the 20 minute mark.23:04 What does a Tech Director do for fun and to decompress?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.In this episode Pete and Ben talk about some of the "fun" projects that he gets to be involved with, as well as confronting the reality of dealing with vendors, sales people, and others hoping to offer a solution to school's technology problems. We also address a number of questions from teachers including local network issues with our Apple TVs and tackle a question from Sarah on Twitter about the biggest obstacles to bringing new technology into a school or classroom.Timestamps for this weeks questions::40 Pete isn’t certain about who he is anymore1:26 What has Pete been doing today?2:14 Why was Pete on the roof of the high school?3:19 What sort of projects are you working on most of the time?4:40 What is a wireless survey and why are we doing it?5:40 When will the Apple TVs be fixed so they don’t drop the connection, and why are we having this issue?10:34 What’s one thing that really gets your blood boiling in regards to technology?12:08 Are sales people in the technology sector not entirely honest about their wares?13:15 What’s the biggest obstacle to bringing new technology into the school district?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.In this third episode, Pete and I attempt to address the sticky issue of when attempts to help aren't always so helpful, why tech support often comes at the last minute, and what we can do to make ourselves better "helpers". We roll of few issues up into a group of questions adressing what we've tried to do and hasn't worked, and attempt to address a question posed by Sarah on Twitter about looking at instructional technology from student's point of view.Timestamps for this weeks questions: :50 - Pete feels inadequate about his title2:45 - What has Pete been doing today?3:53 - Is the work that Pete does thankless?5:35 - Why does support sometimes come at the last minute?6:45 - What sort of processes are in place, or not,  to build effective support?9:22 - If you build a website, will people come?11:25 - How do you deal with the responses to help emails don’t go as planned?14:15 - Why does Ben get frustrated when trying to help people doesn’t end up being helpful?16:50 - Do you think we’re doing a good enough job of trying to view the instructional setting through the eyes of the students?21:00 - Ben cannot edit anything down to 20 minutesYou can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.We're back for a second episode, and for those of you hoping for a shorter episode....you have no idea how much Pete likes to talk! In our pursuit of trying to find a regular recording time, and a means of controlling the length of the chat, we tackle a few questions this week. Rob, one of our High School teachers in Mattawan asks a great question about upgrading, and Melissa chimes in via Twitter with a great question for any school technology department, about accessibility for special needs learners using district technology.Timestamps for this week's questions:1:38 - Is it gratifying for Pete to get his hands dirty and work on help desk tickets instead of staying behind his desk all the time?4:30 - Are there new projectors or interactive whiteboards coming?6:45 - Shoutout to the Later Elementary Teachers, they rock today!7:31 - Can we upgrade our laptops to OS X Mavericks, and why have you waited so long? - I was told after the recording that I forgot to mention that we also postponed upgrading because not all of the important software we use in the district had been updated by their developers.13:08 - What plans are in place for providing accessibility for students with special needs or accomodations using district technology?16:01 - How do Apple products help us with meeting student's needs and accommodations?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter.

A weekly chat tackling the issue of educational technology from both sides. Ben Rimes, a former teacher turned educational technologist, chats with Pete Poggione, an Information Technology Professional from the private sector turned School IT Director.In the first episode, Pete attempts to answer a difficult question about why all of the technology isn't connected and setup at the start of the school year, submitted by Miguel Guhlin from his "Stump the Tech Director" blog post. We also interpret Troy Hick's question about changing "Yeah, buts...." into something more positive.Timestamps for this week's questions:1:52 - What was Pete doing today?6:06 - Why can't you hook up all of my technology so it's ready to go at the start of the school year?8:48 - How do you prioritize who gets service first?14:23 - How do we turn the "yeah, buts..." into "yes, ands..."?You can talk about the show or continue the conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #TechDirectorChat or chatting up Ben (@techsavvyed) or Pete (@ppoggione) on Twitter