EduTechnicians
Because IT isn't easy…
Easter Break catch up
0So over the last two weeks we have been sorting out some of the classrooms around the school. Checking and cleaning the projectors and making sure that the speakers were working.
We also had changes the speakers in the IT rooms, putting those into other rooms in the school.
This week I have spent some time painting in the IT rooms back boards, getting rid of some of the little doodles from the students.
Other jobs completed include setting up a TV aerial for the fitness suite, creating an MFL section on the Frog learning platform, cleaning the CCTV cameras and generally tidying the IT areas around the school.
HIPP
080 days
So after a few hectic ‘scrambles’ to sort out a projector for an assembly that had been moved from the hall to the gym (due to exams) my college decided that we needed a more permanent solution.
Using the set spare projector, which is only used for assemblies he set about creating a multimedia monster.
The Multimedia Monster
The projector was mounted to an old TV table which has an extra shelf, where the video or DVD player would sit, along with a small set of speakers so that the airflow was not restricted. There was a power bar already on this shelf from previous use, which was useful as we needed two plug sockets. This would then enable the presenter (normally a head of year or tutor) to use the top shelf, where the TV would have sat, to leave their laptop and have a plug socket available for power.
The cables were all hidden underneath of the bottom shelf with cable ties. And a VGA and audio cable was also run up to the top shelf to plug into the presenters laptop. As the keen eyed view may have noticed it is on wheels and then can be moved around the school.
Cables Underneath
The official name for this creations is ‘HIPP’ standing for Highcliffe Intergrated Presentation Platform.
DofE
0123 days
by George
in Uncategorized
Over the last weekend I have been out in the wilderness, or at least on the Purbecks on the South Coast of England. I was asked a few months ago if I would go on a training course to complete the SWMMLS (South West Mountain and Moorland Leader Scheme) as some of the staff had some other commitments, and they were also going to be running the next level up on the scheme, the Silver Award, for the older students (Year 12).
The months went by when suddenly the date of the course seemed to appear in my diary, so with some apprehension I packed my rucksack and started on my journey to the mysterious land of Wareham, Dorset.
It was a very good course which reminded me of skills that I had gained in my ATC career and was a good way to meet other members of the local ‘education community’ of the local area.
It is now just an assessment on the training and a first aid course to attain then I am ready to officially help with a Duke of Edinburgh expedition, apparently!
Keepy Ups with Dell Modifications
0129 days
After the summer shuffle round we ended up with some Dell C640 to use as the exam laptops, however there was one small issue… the lids kept falling over as the hindges had failed (they were pritty old).
Que Rocky/team america montage music with lots od modifications the laptop contained their own ‘lid-holding-up’ device.
A blanking plate secured by 2 screws, simple (some would say beautiful) and got the job done.
And nobody lost any fingers!
They now live in their own little box, and look like a set of star wars extras.
We Did Rock You
0193 days
by George
in Uncategorized
So after a few months of artistic temprements and hectic times the school musical, We Will Rock You, comes to an end. Seem to have spent the last few days being asked ‘Are you disapointed that it is over now?’ however what people don’t seem to be realising that althought the main show is over the task is continuing for me, at least for a little time.
Due to an exceedingly good 2nd night performance it was decided that the show needed to be recoreded. Therefore I spent the Friday afternoon looking for appropreate tripods to mount the cameras on, luckily having just bought 5 new cameras for the Film/Media Studdies department we didn’t have too many issues there.
All in all it was a very sucsessful show, and gave me the chance to boost my confidence as for one of the rehearsals, where the lead who sang in a very important scene was absent, I was on stage singing infront of the cast, band and technicial crew. They must have been please when I finnished as they clapped!
An assortment of my skills with diffrent peices of software were also developed over the show. Including more in depth photoshop sessions and a system for audio and visual presentations within the show itself, Show Cue Systems. Initially I also developed the website initially which improved my knowledge of the VLE that is used at Highcliffe, Frog.
We Will Rock You!
0327 days
by George
in Uncategorized
So what did I get involved un by putting proverbially my hand up?
I have been tasked with creating all the Backdrop scenery which is to be projected on to the back to form the set for the school musical of We Will Rock You, in October.
Also creating the website all the logos, helping with the costumes and physicals set, lighting and timings for bringing it all together…
The auditions were good, felt like I was a judge on X Factor or something.
OMG, Eeeek!….
0350 days
by George
in Uncategorized
Was the call from the IT room adjoining our office, and a mass of students running to the other side of the room.
Decide to investigate.
Relatively large bee buzzing around the light fitting, blinds blocking the widow exit for it. So, with no exit to the bee……
With both the teacher and the younger male TA with the students on the other side of the room looks like its left to the IT technicians to save the day once again. <Que impressive John Williams theme music>
A few minutes later and one Bee out of the window and one class returned to releative normality.
All in a days work for the Animal Rescue IT Technicians.
DVD Maker
0376 days
After spending some time looking at both a Vista and a XP machine, I have decided that I am very greatful for the Windows 7 DVD maker. After converting the footage that comes off the video camera that both PE, Expressive Arts and the main school have, which save in a .MOV file, the exam boards require the footage to be playable by any DVD player. 
So after a quick run through MOVAVI, the converter that we use, they are simply put on to disk using the DVD Maker. Which is a lot less hassle than having to install a third party piece of software, as both Vista and XP require or are more reliable with.
With exam season upon us it seems as if my DVD drive is in constant use with video evidance.
Emergency…. When exchange servers go bad!
0389 days
by George
in Uncategorized
Walking in last Thursday morning with an exchange server open is not a good thing. Especially just before the bank holiday weekend.
After spending a morning with the normal fixes not working, such as checking out the RAM and other internal components, there was no joy.
Luckily we had just had a virtualisation system installed over the holidays and another server with the same hardware ID. After some changing around on SQL, getting rid of an old VM and P>V-ing the current server gave us some hardware which worked to play with. After a quick change over of the RAID 5 hard drives we booted up and crossed our fingers…..
After a reboot where the RAID controller went “hang on a minute something is different here” we got to the thankful logon screen and all our inboxes started populating.
Then a quick P>V on that server. So now there is more leg room in the office and less computers as well! Meaning less air con too.
All in all not bad down time for a server fail, all of 3 hours once it was discovered.