1. Educational Leadership and Planning for Technology Chapter 9 – Hardware Planning and Evaluation Dr. Anthony G. Picciano

2. Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved PowerPoint Outline Hardware Planning for the Long Range Hardware Evaluation Criteria Special Considerations for Administrative Applications Special Considerations for Instructional Applications

3. Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Hardware Planning for the Long Range The life cycle of most computing equipment is 5 to 7 years, but it is not unusual to see equipment used longer.

4. Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Hardware decision Performance Compatibility Modularity/ expandability Ergonomics Software availability Vendor Cost Hardware Evaluation Criteria

5. Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Hardware Evaluation Criteria 1. Performance—how well does the hardware work? 2. Compatibility—does the hardware work with other equipment? 3. Modularity/expandability—can the hardware grow as applications grow? 4. Ergonomics—is the hardware designed with people in mind? 5. Software availability—is the software you wish to use currently available? 6. Vendor—what is the reputation of the manufacturer in terms of technical support, maintenance, and industry position? 7. Cost—what are the costs?

6. Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Special Considerations for Administrative Applications Information needs to flow smoothly up, down, and across the school organization. Hardware evaluation criteria such as compatibility and modularity/expandability become critical to ensuring that all equipment can contribute, connect, and grow together. In school districts with large administrative computer operations, administrators generally do best by relying on their technical staffs. Take advantage of the extensive data resources available in the private sector, in addition to those in the educational sector. Hardware manufacturers are increasingly designing all equipment to support and function in the client server environment on which Internet technology is based.

7. Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Special Considerations for Instructional Applications Some diversity of equipment, particularly with microcomputers, can be expected. However, administrators should also be careful to avoid a “technology of Babel” situation in which many different machines have been acquired that cannot communicate with one another. Software availability is probably the most significant factor in evaluating hardware for instructional applications. Be aware of the hardware requirements of any software you are considering. Data communications has become increasingly more important as school districts seek to establish and maintain high-speed and reliable connections to the Internet.

8. Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Questions and Comments