By Sharon Luke (McDaniel)

 Interview #1  Name: Al Rowell  Position: Technology Specialist  Place of Employment: Lowndes County Schools  Date of Interview: October 15, 2010  * This interview focused on the decision to purchase technology for the school system.  On October 15, 2010, I interviewed Al Rowell. He is the head Technology Specialist for all 12 schools within the Lowndes County School System. He has worked for the school system for 23 years. Mr. Rowell was working for the Lowndes County School System, when they purchased videocassette recorders for the schools.  Questions and Responses  How many people are involved in the decision to buy new technology for the school system? Do you remember the general process, that was involved with getting VCR’s in the school system?  This is not a decision that a few people make one day and purchase the next. School systems go through a process, when purchasing technology. As a Technology Specialist, I am the one who proposes a new technology to the school system. The videocassette recorder was becoming very popular in the schools, in the early 1980’s. After researching this technology, I proposed it to the school system. They approved the purchase of, I think, 250 VCR’s, to be divided between the schools in the system.  How much money is usually spent on the technology needs for the school system, for one year?  I could not even begin to give you a specific amount. Technology expenses are not like every day expenses. In the area of technology, we are given an amount we have for that year, and that is what we can spend.  How often does technology break down and have to be fixed?  Technology breaks down and has to be fixed on a daily basis. This is why we have 3 full time technologists throughout our schools.  How much do yearly repairs and upkeep cost each year?  Yearly repair and upkeep of the technology in the schools is covered under the amount we receive each year for technology. We work with what we get.  How much does training with the technology cost the school system each year?  This is also covered under the amount we receive each year and sometimes we spend more in this area and sometimes we spend less in this area.

 Interview #2  Name: Laverne Hill  Position: Media Specialist  Place of Employment: Lowndes High School  Date of Interview: October 22, 2010  * This interview focused on the use of the technology in the school.  On October 22, 2010, I interviewed our new Media Specialist, Laverne Hill, who is in her second year at Lowndes High School. Ms. Hill said that Streaming Media is becoming the way to watch videos in the classroom. Many schools have already started Streaming Media and some have for several years. It has become very popular at Lowndes High School, especially United Streaming, which is what we currently use.  Questions and Responses  How often is training provided on the use of the technology that is available in the school?  We have training on the use of technology, at least two times a month. All of the teachers in the Lowndes County School System are asked to turn in a Request for Training form, at the beginning of each semester. I put a schedule together and send it out to all of the schools. Anyone who wishes to attend one of the sessions has to me one week before each session.  What specific types of training have taken place in the last year?  We have offered training on creating web pages, Infinite Campus, and United Streaming. We have several training sessions coming up on creating Power Points and Graphic Organizers.  How long do training session last?  Two hours, is the longest session we have had so far. The sessions start at 3:15 pm, which is directly after school.  Are individual training sessions provided, when needed?  No, there are no individual training sessions. The smallest session so far, consisted of 12 participants. The training was a photo workshop.  What is the cost of providing training sessions for teachers?  There is no cost for the training sessions. Between myself, and the 126 other teachers, just at Lowndes High, there have been a number of volunteers to teach each topic.

 Interview # 3 and Interview # 4  Name: 2 teachers who currently work at Lowndes High School  Position: Teacher  Place of Employment: Lowndes High School  Date of Interviews: Week of October 18 th through October 22 nd.  * These interviews focused on teachers who have actually used VCR’s and United Streaming.  The third person I interviewed was Mrs. Rae Hubbard, who has been working at Lowndes High School for 15 years. She currently teaches 10 th grade Literature to students with Mild Intellectual Disabilities. The interview took place on October 19,  Questions and Responses  Name 1 advantage of using a VCR.  The biggest advantage of the VCR was being able to go through a chapter and read, discuss, complete activities, and then show a video to reinforce everything we went over.  Name 1 advantage of using United Streaming.  The biggest advantage to me, with using United Streaming, is being able to show current videos.  Name 1 disadvantage of using a VCR.  The biggest disadvantage of using a VCR is the equipment. Sometimes, there are problems with the video tapes.  Name 1 disadvantage of using United Streaming.  The biggest problem I have had with United Streaming is when the internet goes down. If I did not previously download the video I wanted, and the internet stops working, I have to find something else to do.  Would you rather use a VCR or United Streaming?  I personally, would rather use a VCR. The movie is right there and you can show it.   The fourth person I interviewed was Mr. Adam Gray, who has been teaching at Lowndes High School for 5 years. Adam Gray is currently teaching Social Studies and is a Wrestling coach.  Questions and Responses  Name 1 advantage of using a VCR.  Using a VCR is very simple. It is easy to set up and play.  Name 1 advantage of using United Streaming.  There is an extremely large amount of topics to choose from.  Name 1 disadvantage of using a VCR.  Sometimes the tapes break.  Name 1 disadvantage of using United Streaming.  Sometimes, the movies do not pull up to show when you want them.  Would you rather use a VCR or United Streaming?  I would rather use a VCR, because they are always ready to use.

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 Red Queens

 * Evolutionary Technologies  *Disruptive Technologies  Rhymes of History

 *Science Fiction  *Increasing Returns  *Red Queens

school-technology-video

 Code 46. (2003). Directed by: Michael Winterbottom. Video.  DVD History. (2010). History of DVD. Retrieved from didyouknow.org/dvdhistory  Edtechteacher. (2010). Using film clips in the classroom- United Streaming. Retrieved from:  Essortment. (2002). 35mm film projector. Retrieved from  eStream. (2003). Step 3: Learn about educational uses. Retrieved from  Gray, A. (2010). Lowndes County High School : Teacher  Hill, L. (2010). Lowndes County High School: Media Specialist  Hubbard, R. (2010). Lowndes County High School: Teacher

 Idaho Transfer. (1973). Directed by: Peter Fonda. Video  Redmond, J. (2010). Until video tape recorders became available. Retrieved from ieeexplore.ieee.org/iels/ / / pdf?arnumbe r  Rowell, A. (2010). Lowndes County Schools: Technology Specialist  The MTS.com. (2004). Streaming media. Retrieved from  The People History. (2004). The changes to video recorders and VCR technology over the last 50 years. Retrieved from  Thornburg, D. (2008). McLuhan’s tetrad. Laureate Education, Inc.  Thornburg, D. (2008). Six forces that drive emerging technologies. Vodcast. Laureated Education, Inc.  VCR and Home Video History. (2007). Television history – The first 75 years. Retrieved from