Ocotillo Chairs readings... These articles and other materials have been shared with the Ocotillo chairs. Paper copies will be sent via campus mail, and should you need another copy, send an email request to Tracy Price or call MCLI at 1-8300.

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Ocotillo Chairs Readings

"Information Technology "Turning Points" Ron Bleed, Vice-Chancellor, Information Technologies Services, Maricopa Community Colleges

In the September 2001 issue of EDUTECH Reports, several "turning points" were described. From recent research of higher education, the newsletter tells about areas where real progress has occurred with information technology on colleges.

I would like to share these with you in an executive summary format. They may be very useful in your thinking about the technology on your campus.
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/ocotillo/docs/turning.html

Educational Computer System Maintenance and Support: THEY COST MORE THAN YOU THINK! by Kurt D. Moses in TechKnowLogia, Volume 4, Issue 1 January-February 2002

Computer system maintenance and support, along with professional development (of teachers and administrators) are probably the most important factors in how well computers support educational activities. Computers, connections, or services that do not work cannot support educational purposes... Maintenance and support are much more costly than originally thought. Keeping computers, connections, and the necessary supplies in place can amount to between 30 and 50 percent of the total initial investment in computer hardware and software... Most schools, be they primary, secondary or tertiary, will trade off service level and convenience for cost. Schools will often tolerate computers not working for weeks and months, because they have no money to fix them, in contrast with businesses that will not tolerate lack of computer functioning for more than hours or a few days at most... The rise of the Internet for educational purposes adds a further source of ongoing cost. Many early installations for computer laboratories or computer access in classrooms have not easily accommodated these costs.
http://www.TechKnowLogia.org/welcome.asp?IssueNumber=15