Wooded Isle Computer Consultants--Chicago Youth Programs story

Chicago Youth Programs Makes the Switch to Macintosh Computers
New Macs enable youth mentors to teach younger children how to make movies using Apple products.

The Consultant
Wooded Isle Computer Consultants
• Apple Certified Technical Coordinator
• Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist
• Apple Authorized Business Agent
• CompTIA Network+ Certified
• Speakeasy VoIP Certified Partner

Wooded Isle Computer Consultants helped Chicago Youth Programs make the transition from a Windows world to an Apple environment. The organization has saved time and money by converting to a system that was efficiently set up, and staff members have been able to easily make the change thanks to the training and support of Wooded Isle Computer Consultants.

The Client
Chicago Youth Programs is a non-profit organization that has been serving at-risk youth for over 20 years. Chicago Youth Programs exists to improve the life opportunities and health of at-risk youth using a comprehensive approach aimed at developing their capabilities.

The Assignment
Chicago Youth Programs (CYP) was moving into a new building and B.J. Shoemaker, its Director of Operations, had made the decision to switch from a PC environment with an NT server to an Apple environment. She had ordered the Apple computers and some of the software and had planned to set them up herself. She soon became overwhelmed and turned to the Apple Consultant Network web pag at http://consultants.apple.com/ to find a local consultant. Enter Charlie Havens of Wooded Isle Computer Consultants (WICC).

The project required providing basic Macintosh training for staff, determining how the staff and youth would use the system and configuring the workstations and Mac server accordingly, transferring the data from the NT server to the Mac server, creating a backup system, setting up and configuring workstations and their software, and updating the FilemakerPro database system for program tracking with ebase.

In addition, a very special project had been promised as part of moving to a new building: CYP’s "Children Teaching Children" program would get video cameras, iMovies, iTunes, and sound equipment. Chicago Youth Programs encourages older youth to work with younger children as a way of helping both. The older youth get a paid job and get hands-on experience, while the younger children learn from people they like and respect. Using the new Apple computers in the new building, the older youth would learn to make health training videos and songs to use in their training program with the younger children.

Wooded Isle Computer Consultants' job was to help realize this promise by setting up an Apple computer with video and sound editing software, then teaching the youth to use the video cameras, drum machine, sound keyboard, and editing equipment to make iMovies.

The Solution
When Wooded Isle Computer Consultants (WICC) was selected to help CYP set up their network of Apple computers and bring the staff up to speed, Charlie Havens chose consultant Bill Geraci to provide basic Apple computer training classes for staff. Bill explained to staff how to translate what they already knew about PCs into what they needed to know on their new Apple computers. Charlie worked with staff to create a wish list of what they wanted the system to do.

Together with CYP staff, WICC put together a plan of action and a timeline. We used one Mac mini to manage the backup system and another to run the ebase solution on Filemaker Pro Server. We created home directories and configured printer services. Staff received group or individual tutoring as needed for their projects.

The video health training lessons started up. A computer was set up and designated for use by the youth. Bill Geraci trained both youth and CYP staff how to use digital cameras and iMovie. Staff learned to make videos with music they had created, and used their projects when teaching young children about health.

Apple Technology Used to
Deploy the Solution:

• iMovie
• iTunes
• OS X Server

Third-Party Technology Used
to Deploy the Solution:

• Retrospect
• ebase
• Filemaker Pro Server

“I have more time to spend on things, other than technology. Staff has more confidence and fewer problems with our computers. Youth are making videos for teaching children. And, the Apple computers look good!"

—B.J. Shoemaker

The Benefits and Results
B.J. Shoemaker says that the decision to move to a primarily Apple environment saved her time and the organization money. Having been through technology transitions before, she could not imagine having to make the move and upgrade the computing environment if she had been required to stick to a Windows world. WICC came in and made the Apple transition possible, working with staff and administration to create a system that served their needs.

B.J. no longer has the ongoing support headaches that she had with the old system, because staff needs less support for their workstations and the servers. The computers require less maintenance. All transitions are a challenge, but by upgrading to an Apple environment and supporting staff with the resources of WICC, this transition was smooth and manageable.

By using the easy-to-use iMovie and making good use of iTunes integration for bringing music into the movies, Bill says he could spend more time focusing on content and less time on how to use the tool.

As the youth learn to use this technology, CYP needs to stay abreast of what is available. WICC is helping them do that. Rufus McKee, Chief Administrative Officer, reviewing next year’s technology budget with B.J. and Charlie Havens of WICC, is working to continue improving the network’s capacity and performance.

Copyright © 2006 Wooded Isle, Inc. All rights reserved.