I have been doing my school technology observations for ED 586 (Educational Technology) at Cleveland Benedictine High School.  I spoke to Mr. Richard Salem, the director of educational technology at Benedictine, about the use of technology with students, teachers, and administrators in order to answer the following questions.

1. Who are the people at your school in charge of the technologies available to advance the learning of students? Identify as many of these people as possible:

• Director of educational technology: Mr. Richard Salem
• Curriculum technology integration specialist: Mr. Richard Salem
• Technology maintenance?: Mr. Richard Salem
• Technology security personnel: Mr. Richard Salem
• Library media specialist: Dr. Elizabeth Salem
• Others?: All teachers have the ability to limit access to Internet or particular websites to students during a specific class period.

2. Details of what technology is available, where it’s located, quantities of technologies (i.e. is there a classroom set of iPads for the students to work with)?

Benedictine High School has a one-to-one technology system with each student having a Windows laptop computer that is used for work both at school and at home.  The students use PlusPortals, Google Classroom, and Schoology to complete and track their assignments.  All teachers have Smartboards within their classrooms.  While many students have personal iPads and iPhones that they bring to school with them each day, these are not part of the school technology resources.

3. Are the technologies readily available and are they in working order?  How do students and teachers gain access? Is there a means for reserving them? Are there required purchases by families?

Technologies at Benedictine High School are readily available and in working order, as each student has his own laptop computer for school and home usage, and Mr. Richard Salem monitors computers to assure they are in working order.  Every student computer comes with accidental damage protection in case of damage or loss.  Parents are required to purchase a laptop computer from the school for their sons from as part of the school tuition payment.  All teachers, administrators, and students have required training when first issued a laptop computer by the school.

4. What is the nature of the firewall blocking access to applications? Is there a process to transcend or move around the firewall? Who is in control? What is available and what is blocked and why?

The Internet Service Provider (ISP) for Benedictine High School is Connect, and the school uses GoGuardian to monitor and control student usage.  The GoGuardian firewall blocks pornographic content, as well as specific video games based on their ratings.  Teachers and administrators may transcend or move around the firewall through the use of a password supplied by Mr. Richard Salem who is in charge of technology security.  As noted, all teachers have the ability to limit access to the Internet or particular websites to students during a specific class period.