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 NAA14160; Sat, 28 Aug 1999 13:06:17 -0400 (EDT) Date: Sat, 28 Aug 1999 13:06:17 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <E1AC0EEB95B4D211843C00062B001FC9021EC567@WDCFB6EXC02> 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: "Lovell, Mary" <Mary_Lovell@ed.gov> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:702] Re: Technology in a Detention Center X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2448.0) Status: OR > -----Original Message----- > From: Stefan LoBuglio [SMTP:lobuglio@massed.net] > Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 2:12 PM > To: Multiple recipients of list > Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:695] Re: Technology in a Detention Center > > 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. > >
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