Field-Based+Activity+Log+1



My school district is opening a new high school in August of 2010, Clear Falls High School. I volunteered to prepare the Technology Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E) for the new school. It was a tremendous task and took many hours of research to complete. I was fortunate enough to have a guide to go by when our last high school was opened. However, that was three years ago and we all know how much technology changes in three years. So basically I had to update everything. We have several program areas within the Career & Technical Education Department. They include Agricultural, Biotechnology, Business & Technology Applications, Family & Consumer Science, Health Science, Information Technology, Marketing, Media Technology, and Project Lead the Way. We are definitely a very diverse department with many different needs. The first thing I had to do was meet with members of the district's Technology Department to determine exactly how they wanted the document to look. We discussed spreading out the purchases over a 3 year period. We should purchase only what is needed for the first year so items don't have to be replaced all at once later on. Since only 9th and 10th graders will be at the school the first year, that only made sense. There is no need to have a computer lab just sit there and not being used. Next, I had to visit with teachers to determine what computer specs were needed for which classes. For example, our Project Lead the Way computers have to be more powerful than the computers in the BCIS lab. I had to look at the software that was going to be run on the computers as well. Some classes will have several programs open at once and the computers have to be able to handle that without slowing the students down. I had to talk to teachers to determine other technology needs such as video and digital cameras (brand and specs), tripods, mimeos, teacher laptops, etc. The Media Tech facilities were easier to do because we had a company come in to determine our needs based on what we wanted to spend. They will come in and set up the studio and provide training on the equipment. Once I completed the spreadsheet, my CTE Director and Coordinator went over it and then it was forwarded to the Technology Department to get quotes. It took a lot of time to complete, however, now I know exactly what the technology needs are for each program area in my department.
 * CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) TECHNOLOGY FF&E NEEDS **