Waterford
Early Reading Program Support
Last
update, October 24, 2006
Note
1: WEB PAGE FOR WATERFORD SUPPORT AT LAUSD
For those sites that are using the Waterford software
here at the District, we have setup a new page dedicated
to Waterford and any support items related to it. This
page can be found in the TechReps section of the ITD
Technical Support site: http://techsupport.lausd.net/waterford_techrep.htm
One item that should be noted on this page is the special
number for LAUSD support of Waterford - (888) 977-7111.
This number can be used for any issue related to Waterford.
Hardware or Software, warranty or non-warranty issues
are handled at this number. Pearson Digital Learning,
who handles this support for the District has also provided
additional contact information on this page.
Please make sure that you share this information will
all staff members who use the Waterford software in
their classroom.
Note
2: Adding licenses to a school from schools
not using Waterford computers is OK. Computers would
need to be physically transferred. Purchasing additional
licenses (ex. we have 30 and want 20 more) requires
a few approvals. Contact your Reading Coordinator for
details.
Note
3: There is a support contract in effect for
the 2006-2007 school year. Details... not here yet.
Board minutes
June 27, 2006
Item: 33.
Board of Education Revised Report No. 464 – 05/06
".. an amendment to an agreement to provide technical
support for the Waterford reading program,... ."
--
Below
is a set of exchanges on questions on Waterford support
and transfer of licenses from old computers to new computers.
Consider this information as a "work in progress".
Waterford
software is not easily installable on nor transferable
to
another machine. It can be done, and the 1st requirement
would be the hardware specs. After that, there are many
other issues. The hard drive will have to be re-partitioned.
Most drives come pre-configured with only 1, the c:\
partition. Waterford needs to be on a separate space
ont he hard drive, the d:\ partition. The software takes
up approximately 60gb on the hd, so if it's not a newer
system, that will be most of the available space. Installing
the software will take several hours with dvd's (sent
to customers), or about 2 with usb external drive (Pearson
tech tool). An easier method of installation is to create
a master image based on 1 type of hardware. The master
hd can be used to image (or clone) other machines that
are similar. This would only be helpful if you didn't
have multiple machine types with different hardware.
As you can see, Waterford is not a small program that
fits on a single
cd and can be moved easily to another pc. I'm assuming
the
decommissioned unusable computer that was referred was
the type
purchased originally in summer 2001. I am still seeing
the software run just fine on that old hardware, given
that the failing parts are
replaced accordingly.
--
(Question
on exchanging/tranferring individual computer licenses
for an web server based program needs to be reviewed)
-
The
"LAUSD Waterford Early Reading Program" MEM-2343
is here.
The Waterford rep for LAUSD is seeking to have a updated
version.
Transferring licenses is discussed in MEM-2343. Specific
details are not given.
If
you want to expand licenses without going through a
lengthy
approval process, your principal can inquire if other
schools that do
not use Waterford computers (non-repairable and deemed
salvage) and ask they transfer them to your school rather
than send them to Salvage. From MEM-2353. With transferred
computers, the licenses can be used on new or current
computers then the transferred unused computers can
be removed. (Hopefully, a way of doing this without
the moving the computers can be established.)
--
Here
is a note on Waterford upgrade considerations..
"Thanks for getting in touch with me regarding
Waterford CPU's. In
speaking with our IT (J T) there are two options for
those schools whose Waterford computers have been deemed
inoperable;
1. They would need to order a new Waterford CPU from
Arey Jones with Waterford on it or
2.
They would need to upgrade to the new Waterford 4.0
which will
allow it to be put on any CPU (PC or MAC) that meet
the minimum specs.
--
In
speaking with DK that seems to be what they are looking
to do.
Jack was adamant about not just looking at the specs.
for cpu's they
already have and trying to load Waterford onto those
computers. While that is an option to schools wanting
to do this, Pearson would not be able to guarantee that
they would operate properly nor be responsible for software
issues associated from this. Those computers would have
to be reconfigured and there would be a charge associated
with that comparable to schools site purchasing new
computers from Arey Jones or Upgrading to the new Waterford
4.0 on the Media Server. (may need a few approvals to
purchase??)
If there are any questions you might have going forward
please be in
touch.
P.
S. TS, thanks for getting me in touch with MP. We are
looking into the Waterford Informational site and some
other issues
regarding the protocol for end users calling for support
of their
Waterford CPU's. I will keep you posted as we nail this
down.
T M, M. A. Ed.
Curriculum Account Executive
Los Angeles Unified School District
.
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