Return-Path: <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.9.0.Beta5/8.9.0.Beta5/980425bjb) with SMTP id OAA06970; Tue, 17 Aug 1999 14:12:01 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 14:12:01 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <01BEE267.538B4EA0.lobuglio@massed.net> Errors-To: lmann@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Stefan LoBuglio <lobuglio@massed.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:695] Re: Technology in a Detention Center X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet E-mail/MAPI - 8.0.0.4211 Status: OR I concur with Michael Cain's comments concerning the use of technology in a prison. You need to ensure that you have a plan of action to provide both maintenance and technical support for your system. You should find out if the department's MIS system will provide this support. If not, you need to devote some resources to this. Unless you do, you will find yourself dealing with frustrated teachers, staff, and students. You will find out that staff training and maintenance and technical support will dwarf the hardware and software investment. Also, I would recommend spending much time and money on computer furniture that locks up the equipment during off hours -- you will find this necessary if you want the equipment to last. Wrightline in Worcester, MA is a great manufacturer of high quality computer furniture. However, they are expensive. In terms of software, here's my list of the best I have seen: 1) Security software -- Fortress 2) Keyboarding -- Mavis Beacon 3) Office Suite -- Microsoft Works or Office (the former is much cheaper and provides fewer distracting functions than the latter) 3) Basic Literacy Software -- Reading SOS by Lexia Learning Systems 781/259-8752 4) ESL Software -- Rosetta Stone 5) Integrated Learning System Software (ILS) -- Destinations or Plato 6) Shrinkwrap software packages (i.e math blaster) that are $20 - $50 and published by Davidson and Knowledge Adventure. I strongly recommend a LAN setup and the use of an ILS if you are really serious about using the computers as a learning tool. There is so much turnover and interruption in corrections -- particularly in a detention facility that having a program that provides a prescriptive curriculum is useful. On the other hand, you need to be realistic about your goals. If the average time you have a detainee is on the order of weeks, I would only aim to teach basic keyboarding and word-processing. Hope this helps. Stefan LoBuglio Suffolk County Sheriff's Department Boston, MA -----Original Message----- From: Michael Cain [SMTP:M.Cain@worldnet.att.net] Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 11:01 AM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:694] Re: Technology in a Detention Center I teach basic skills in a state prison. This is a lot different than a detention center. However, I think that there are some common problems. We do not have any computers in open areas. They are linked in a LAN and in a classroom. You didn't specify whether the computers were IBM compatibles or Macs, or what type of cpu, or what kind of software is already installed. Without that information, I can make only general suggestions. My first suggestion is to install some security software. Second, I would make sure that the computers are supervised. Third, I would work out exactly what the goals are for what the inmates are to learn. As for security software, we use Fortres. This allows a great deal of flexibilty in allowing access. Since the computers have already been put into the housing units, you are going to have a maintenance job of great proportions ahead of you. The training should be in the form of classes. For the beginners, you could have computer literacy. For those who have used computers, you could offer classes in the use of off-the shelf applications, such as MS-Word, etc. Good luck. Misha Cain Monroe Correctional Complex/WSRU Cindi Riley wrote: > I am looking for information on technology programs in local detention > centers. We have had a literacy program in our detention center for a > number of years, staffed by 3 volunteers who teach once a week. Just > recently, the detention center upgraded their office computers and > decided to keep the old ones for inmate use. Two will be housed in the > library and the rest are already in the commons areas of inmate > housing. I would like to talk to anyone who has done anything like this > before or who has any suggestions regarding the best use of these > computers. We need suggestions for software and training. We have > already decided to train the inmate representatives on computer use. > That really should have been done before the computers were placed in > the housing units, but someone jumped the gun on that one. > > If anyone has any suggestions, please let me hear from you.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Sep 21 2000 - 11:02:59 EDT