Conference_Call_RRISD_12-18-09

Date and Time: Dec 18, 2009 (10:00 am) Attendees: Robert Autrey, Angie Hintz, Carol Edwards, Suzanne Burke, Cary Zakon

Group is looking at the technical issues page: Cary wants update on classrooms - see table below. Robert wants to first look at the TeacherMate wiki and go through issue by issue: Robert - test installation. Difficult installation with multiple steps (Angie and Carol) Cary - next year, the goal is to have an internet version where data would be stored, with just a small part of the program on desktop. Robert mentioned RRISD's concerns with student privacy and security of data. Firmware updates - Carol and Angie had to update firmware on all TeacherMate devices. Cary - if CMS saw the device but would not sync, that is a different problem then CMS not even recognizing the devices. If the company updates firmware, then we should not have had to update firmware on the RRISD side.

Carol - TeacherMate device issues - devices won't turn off, have to use paperclip to turn them off. Some can't be seen to assign them and others won't sync. Carol noted major issues with Sets A and C, while B and D sets have been mostly fine. The devices were delivered in two shipments, but Carol did not keep them separate and cannot track which shipment the devices originated from. Angie concurred, except that she experience problems with most of her units.

Cary said that he would like for us to return the units that are not working as expected. Robert wants to minimize the time that the units are out of commission. Angie noted that Callison and Anderson Mill are not using units at all right now, due to the issues. Angie requested that we have a few extra units per campus to fill in when the devices malfunction. Robert suggested that the devices from Callison and Anderson Mill be pulled and used to fill in the malfunctioning units from Union Hill and Gattis. Perhaps Dottie can collect and ship back the bad units. Angie noted that even some of the 2008-09 units are having problems.

Cary discussed UHE issues with Carol. Classroom A is working fine, with one issue noted by the teacher that Carol didn't really understand. Classroom B had two problem units, which would not allow the students to arrow down and select the bottom child. Down arrow broken?

but there were multiple issues with assigning and syncing. 1st grade Orona and Burris Students began using these devices on Nov. 30, and they have been synced three times besides the initial sync. || Set B - three problem units (B6, B8, B22) 1st grade O'Nan and Buck Students began using these devices on Dec. 14. || Set C - not being used by students yet, but there were multiple issues with assigning units, syncing units, units turning off. Kindergarten Mann and Scharf || Set D - not in use by students yet, but assigning and syncing went well. No problems in the set up process. Kindergarten Shelby and Segura ||  ||
 * **School** || **Set 1** || **Set 2** || **Set 3** || **Set 4** || **set 5** ||
 * **Berkman 2009-2010** || Seems to be working for now || Seems to be working for now || NA || NA ||  ||
 * **Gattis 2009-2010** || Duplicate students listed in list. Can't delete one without both going. Redid the list 3 times, ended up just leaving some of the duplicates. Other that that hard to tell because teachers can't sync after assigning classes. || When the students are playing with their "Max" they often get stuck on Max's Rewards and we can not get off of it. We do what it tells us to try and exit but it continues to go back to it. I have tried to reset the "Max," turn it off and on again, hold the red button, etc... Nothing works. || hard to tell because teachers can't sync after assigning classes. || This set can't seem to install. Many issues: I have a group that look like they were assigned students to a teachermate, but when I power up the teachermates, they just say LOADING forever. || hard to tell because teachers can't sync after assigning classes. ||
 * **Anderson Mill 2009-2010** || Initial Sync too frustrating to do initial install. Gave up for now. || Initial Sync too frustrating to do initial install. Gave up for now. || Initial Sync too frustrating to do initial install. Gave up for now. || Initial Sync too frustrating to do initial install. Gave up for now. ||  ||
 * **Callison 2009-2010** || Initial Sync too frustrating to do initial install. Gave up for now. || Initial Sync too frustrating to do initial install. Gave up for now. || Initial Sync too frustrating to do initial install. Gave up for now. || Initial Sync too frustrating to do initial install. Gave up for now. ||  ||
 * **Union Hill 2009-2010** || Set A - okay now,
 * **Union Hill 2009-2010** || Set A - okay now,

Bastrop reported to Cary that they were having no issues with assigning or syncing. Robert talked to someone from Bastrop who said that the devices weren't really being used yet, so they might not have had time to experience the "use" issues.

Cary said we have probably spent more time on issues than he would have expected.

Cary said the stories from the basals are his company's own stories, which are designed to match the vocabulary and phonics skills that are being taught in the basals.

Angie added two additional issues to wiki - one with computers that won't work with the cases and other devices that are stuck on Max's Rewards and won't go elsewhere. Cary noted that his programmer John is trying to debug problems that we noted, when we send him the CMS.sqlite file. Angie's problem with the USB ports that won't work says "power surge on hub ports." Cary says they think it is computer-related issue, not a TeacherMate related issue. Cary says he may be able to provide a netbook to use until the issue is resolved. Angie is going to work on a couple of solutions provided by RRISD Tech-Ops to see if that might solve the issue.

Continue to list issues on the wiki with a "referred to Cary for solution" pending an answer from him. Create a "Recommendations" page to share ideas with Cary.

Angie would like to have the company "pre-sync" the devices to see if there are issues before the devices are shipped out.

If there are any problems with duplicate users, STOP entering students. Try to remember what was being entered when the duplicate occurred. Copy the CMS. sqlite file and send to Cary.

Cary is going to get numbers of problem TeacherMates from us, so he will know how many to send.

In review: Can we pinpoint how many classrooms are having syncing issues? Can we document how many TeacherMates work after an initial sync but then will not subsequently sync?

Cary - during the first week of January, he wants to get back to us so that we can problem solve and get all of the units up and running by the end of January.