The Importance of Relationships in IT

Takeaways

• The Importance of Relationships

  Building strong relationships within the tech department, across school departments, and with vendors is crucial for success.

• Responding to Criticism

  Being able to respond to criticism constructively can lead to positive changes and improvements in processes, such as new faculty orientation.

• Onboarding New Employees

  Focus on making connections and building relationships with new employees rather than overwhelming them with information during orientation.

• Adapting to Different Skill Levels

  Recognizing that new employees have varying skill levels and providing differentiated support and coaching is important.

• Communication Challenges

  Communication between the IT team and other departments can be challenging, especially when technology is treated as an afterthought in planning processes.

• Balancing Opinions and Relationships

  It's important to differentiate between expressing an opinion about what's best for students and feeling like you're not serving a colleague by pushing back on a request.

• Transparency with Vendors

  Some participants believe in being open and honest with vendors, even discussing pricing from other vendors.

• Navigating AI Implementation

  Schools are in different stages of AI implementation, with challenges including how to choose who gets access to AI tools and addressing concerns from faculty, particularly in English departments.

• The Wild West of AI

  There's a sense that AI implementation is a bit like the "Wild West," with varying levels of adoption and understanding across schools.

• Differing Levels of AI Adoption

  Some teachers are resistant to using AI, while others are exploring its use, highlighting the need for schools to address varying levels of adoption and comfort with the technology.