Services: Technology Support
Technology support from Designs for Learning covers all of your school's technology needs, from the initial stages of technology planning and "needs assessment" all the way to the implementation, staff training, and ongoing maintenance stages. Listed below are many of the technology services that we provide to our client schools on a regular basis. This is not an exhaustive list but rather a general overview of our capabilities, any of which you may request from us throughout the length of your contract. If you do not see a desired service on this list, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will do our best to accommodate all of your technology support needs.Why choose Designs for Learning to manage your school's technology support needs?
Technology Needs Assessment
- Meet with director, teachers, and/or school board members to discuss what are the short-term and long-term technology needs of the school.
- Administer customized technology survey to school stakeholders, teachers, and/or students. Evaluate and discuss results of survey to better determine specific technology needs of school.
- Make specific technology recommendations based on the outcomes of these discussions and our extensive experience working with charter schools.
Technology Planning
- Assist school in establishing a Technology Committee consisting of the director, teachers, school board members, and/or students.
- Meet with the Technology Committee to update and/or create a Technology Plan for the school. Technology Plans are required in order to receive E-Rate funding, as well as funding from various technology-related grants.
- Submit state-approved Technology Plan to the Minnesota Department of Education by the established deadline. (Technology plans are required to be revised and resubmitted every three years in order for school to receive federal E-Rate funding.)
NOTE: School is responsible for accuracy and active involvement in the development of the Technology Plan.
Implementation of New Technology
- Design, coordinate, and implement new technology infrastructures and components (e.g. wired local area network, wireless computer lab, high-speed Internet connection, new servers, printers, etc.).
Ongoing Network Administration & Preventative Maintenance
- Configure, maintain, and troubleshoot all network-related hardware (e.g. routers, switches, wireless access points, modems, network printers, etc.) and software (e.g. server operating systems, network applications, etc.).
- Provide preventive maintenance to keep entire network running smoothly.
- Monitor disk space, system logs, and server performance to keep network tuned, stable, and highly reliable.
- Keep all network operating systems, service packs, hotfixes, security vulnerability patches, and other related updates current.
- Maintain an efficient and cost-effective system to backup servers on an appropriate, regular schedule and ensure that the system is working properly.
- Maintain an efficient and cost-effective system to ensure all servers and workstations remain virus-free and spyware-free.
- Maintain local network and Internet security policies, procedures, and auditing.
Individual Desktop & Laptop Computer Support
- Install, setup, configure, maintain, troubleshoot, repair, and assist staff members with installation of personal computers, laptops, and other related technology equipment and peripherals (e.g. desktop printers, monitors, PDAs, digital cameras, hardware upgrades, etc.) and software (e.g. Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Microsoft Office, e-mail client software, student reporting software, etc.).
End User Training & Support
- Respond to all e-mail and telephone communications from teachers and other end users at the school.
- Communicate regularly with staff members designated as "Technology Liaisons" and/or school director to provide regular and efficient technology planning help and school-wide technology support.
- Informally teach end users how to solve and prevent problems independently to minimize future frustration and recurring problems.
- Informally teach end users about typical computer operations (e.g. how to deal with e-mail viruses and/or junk mail, how to change passwords, etc.).
- Assist staff in achieving specific technology goals (e.g. how to connect to the school network from home, etc.).
- Provide formal training sessions to individual staff members or large groups. Training can cover anything from "the basics" (e.g. logging in to the network or using the e-mail system) to more advanced topics (e.g. how to create a Web site or use a database).
- Serve as a guest speaker or short-term teacher for a high school technology class. (Examples of previous classes taught: Cisco Networking Certification; Programming Computer Games in Java.)
E-Rate Application Support & Technology Products Research & Recommendations
- Assist school in filing for the federal "E-Rate" program that provides discounts on telecommunications services and equipment. (According to federal government estimates, filing the E-Rate application forms take about 14 hours of time and requires the school's active involvement. Also, a state-approved Technology Plan needs to be created or updated; see the section above on Technology Planning.)
- Provide expert advice and recommendations (over 20 years of combined experience) in all of the above areas, helping to streamline and simplify technology operations at the school.
- Provide regular recommendations for improvements and upgrades to network-related hardware and software, taking advantage of E-Rate discounts when possible.
- Set up a Children's Internet Protection Act [CIPA]-compliant Internet filtering system. (Filtering is required in order for school to receive federal E-Rate funding).
- Negotiate special pricing discounts from technology vendors that DL has established relationships with. All savings and discounts are passed directly on to the school.
NOTE: DL technology staff will supply all the part numbers and ordering information necessary to place orders, but the school administrative staff is responsible for the administrative work associated with the ordering process. We are also able to provide training to school administrative staff in this area.
Technology Documentation
- Create, update, and make available detailed, accurate technology-related records and documentation (e.g. critical network settings, passwords, important phone numbers, software update logs, diagrams, etc.) so school can be self-sufficient and easily integrate their own, additional technology hardware and software when desired.
- Create, update, and make available end user training guides to help staff make efficient use of desktop hardware, software, and network functionality.
Web Site Design
- Provide assistance in Web site development (e.g. initial design and creation, integration of interactive components, custom programming, improving an existing Web site, performing ongoing updates, etc.).
Other Miscellaneous Technology Support
- Work with telephone system vendor(s) to troubleshoot problems with telephone/voicemail system(s) and/or provide support to end users.
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Service Level Agreement
DL has sophisticated systems in place to enable us to perform a vast majority of technology support remotely via the Internet using Virtual Private Networking technology and special "remote control" software. DL agrees to have support personnel available during regular business hours to monitor and respond to requests placed through the Technology Support Request System as described above. DL has a subcontracting relationship with a third-party consulting firm to ensure that technology support coverage is available to your school in the event of DL staff absences or periods of high work-load. Technology support requests are responded to as quickly as possible by DL technology support technicians. For "urgent" technology support needs, we now offer a special "emergency" service, where for an additional fee we will provide service within 4 hours of your school's technology support request submission. |
For fee structures and other information about these services, please contact Mark Huggins . For contact information, please see
