Cloning is certainly the easiest way to configure the operating system(s) and applications for a large bulk of computers. It requires planning as well as testing of the applications that are to be installed in the computers. Generally, a team of people in the systems department are in charge of performing this task.
The most important step in planning for imaging or cloning computers is related to the advanced notice given out to all the departments in a school to submit a list of applications that they would like to see installed in the computers. These applications may be part of a standard suite of programs, but may also come from software that has been purchased by academic departments to be used by students in class. For this reason, there has to be a thorough verification of the license agreements in order to comply with copyright laws. In many cases, academic departments purchase a site license or just enough of them to ensure that all students are able to use the applications, in school and at home, too.
It is important to set rules for the creation of images. This may require the adherence to specific deadlines, as well as a careful schedule for the updating of new images. This process needs to be carefully planned by the systems department and the academic departments, due to the fact that computers need to be returned by students in order for this to be done. Hence, it is important that these updates of images, which may occur during twice a year, does not interrupt or pose difficulties for students in complying with their academic work.
One of the main difficulties in addressing the issue of imaging, is related to the late notice of required applications in student computers. Indeed, this may be the result of a new application that has recently been placed in the market or a new or improved version of a program. In this case, the most sensible thing to do is to collect computers and perform the updates from one day to another, depending on how many staff members can assist in the operation. Chances are that if entire classes promptly deliver the computers to the systems people, then they stand the chance of receiving the computers by the next morning.
My final observation is that imaging or cloning are a quick way of putting computers up-to-date with software, but in a fast changing world of new applications, including the ones found in the web, it is important to have all the necessary plug-ins and add-ons in order to make it easy for students to do their work.
1 comment:
Interesting point about surveying teachers to decide on the applications that need to be on all of the computers. However, teachers that are not so tech-savvy might need help from the tech director to identify what their needs really are. They might not be aware of all of their software options.
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