Seriously, MCPS technology department?!? (teachers signing up for training on PDO)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another apology. At least they didn’t blame the vendor. Maybe they’re reading DCUM .
Dear Colleagues,

We are writing to apologize again for the issues many people encountered yesterday when attempting to log in to PDO. Last night, when PDO registration opened, as expected thousands of people logged on to register. Unfortunately, the system was not set to have the capacity to handle the volume of 6,000 staff. While the system did not shut down, it was only allowing 1,500 users at all times. As soon as we realized the problem, we increased the capacity. As staff members completed registration, the system allowed new users to register. The system was operating much like systems used to purchase tickets for concerts or other events. When a pathway opened, another user was able log on. When we realized there were people who were unable to log on, staff researched the issue and corrected it. We apologize for the confusion, anxiety, and frustration this caused.

We also understand there were some courses on certain dates that filled quickly. We recognize the need for adding additional sections based on requirements for certain roles. This afternoon additional seats were released to help create more spaces. As in past summers, it may not be possible for every person to receive their first choice for a training date and time. Staff will continue to monitor course enrollment, and where possible, create additional sections.

As of 7:00 a.m. this morning, overall there were 40,988 seats available in summer professional learning sessions, and 5,943 seats were filled. It is our goal to have as many staff members as possible be able to enroll in a course that supports their role and our students.

I still read it as blaming the vendor when they talk about how the system was set up. Did anyone bother to think that through when they made the plans to release summer training dates? I thought that the purpose of the Central Office reorg was so "everyone has a seat at the table". Was the person who had the knowledge of the PDO system absent that day? I would like to see MCPS central office staff take responsibility for all of these issues, not just narrate how and why the problems occurred. Anticipate the problems so that they don't occur. That is their job and they are failing miserably.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this how they’re going to train you on the new curriculum?!

Yes. The new curriculum is usually unrolled one unit at a time, and "training" is terribly disorganized (such as this example of the system crashing). That's why every new curriculum sucks - they give the teachers everything at the last minute. No time to plan lessons.

Maybe if MCPS stopped wasting money on some of their "vendors" (do 6th graders really need access to Naviance?) then this wouldn't be an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this how they’re going to train you on the new curriculum?!

Yes, absolutely.

How do you think the roll out for 2.0 went?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this how they’re going to train you on the new curriculum?!

Yes, absolutely.

How do you think the roll out for 2.0 went?

PP who asked that question here. We weren’t in the area for the 2.0 rollout, so I wasn’t sure how Curriculum training goes.

[Anonymous]

When C 2.0 rolled out I was teaching third grade. We went to a one day training and half of it was spent watching some webinar. It was pretty lame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When C 2.0 rolled out I was teaching third grade. We went to a one day training and half of it was spent watching some webinar. It was pretty lame.

Parents, just think about it logically. It is April 13. The middle schools don’t know which schools are getting which courses or how enrollment will be determined. Hell, they didn’t even necessarily have the names of all the students they’re getting (because some kids who were rejected from the magnet program didnt get put back in their home school’s enrollment system). So sometime soon that will maybe/hopefully be straightened out. So then some teachers will be told they’re teaching those sections. They’ll have no idea how to teach the course. Maybe they’ll be given some training, like a day or two. How well can they teach these classes? How low will their morale be?? As a teacher who won’t be put in this position, i feel sorry for everyone involved, including principals. I bet some of them are starting to miss josh starr!

[Anonymous]

(I’m referring to the GT classes for next year, not the new curriculum, thought same idea...)

[Anonymous]

None of the math teachers know what courses they are teaching next year, so they can't sign up for training yet.
D'oh!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of the math teachers know what courses they are teaching next year, so they can't sign up for training yet.
D'oh!!!

Do you know when you’ll know or does no one know? ?

[Anonymous]

I heard a rumor that a high school (more than one?) is piloting one of the purchased frameworks.

anyone else hear the same?

- teacher

[Anonymous]

I don’t know for sure but it would make sense that they’d want to nip problems at the high school level first, where the stakes are higher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When C 2.0 rolled out I was teaching third grade. We went to a one day training and half of it was spent watching some webinar. It was pretty lame.

Parents, just think about it logically. It is April 13. The middle schools don’t know which schools are getting which courses or how enrollment will be determined. Hell, they didn’t even necessarily have the names of all the students they’re getting (because some kids who were rejected from the magnet program didnt get put back in their home school’s enrollment system). So sometime soon that will maybe/hopefully be straightened out. So then some teachers will be told they’re teaching those sections. They’ll have no idea how to teach the course. Maybe they’ll be given some training, like a day or two. How well can they teach these classes? How low will their morale be?? As a teacher who won’t be put in this position, i feel sorry for everyone involved, including principals. I bet some of them are starting to miss josh starr!

The pedophiles miss Josh!

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t look like the pedophiles left when he did. And they’re apparently crawling throughout the system. It seems that what has changed is parent demands for transparency. To the extent that Jack Smith does anything differently, it so far seems like it’s all reactionary and very recent and STILL the abusers are walking the school halls. I don’t really see a difference in responsiveness from one super to the next. External factors are forcing the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When C 2.0 rolled out I was teaching third grade. We went to a one day training and half of it was spent watching some webinar. It was pretty lame.

Parents, just think about it logically. It is April 13. The middle schools don’t know which schools are getting which courses or how enrollment will be determined. Hell, they didn’t even necessarily have the names of all the students they’re getting (because some kids who were rejected from the magnet program didnt get put back in their home school’s enrollment system). So sometime soon that will maybe/hopefully be straightened out. So then some teachers will be told they’re teaching those sections. They’ll have no idea how to teach the course. Maybe they’ll be given some training, like a day or two. How well can they teach these classes? How low will their morale be?? As a teacher who won’t be put in this position, i feel sorry for everyone involved, including principals. I bet some of them are starting to miss josh starr!

So tough. So disheartening to hear about the poor leadership.

[Anonymous]

Write the BOE. Ask them to give teachers more training and lead time.