İnan Kıraç Information Processing Center
Galatasaray High School began its central mechanization works on November 1, 1984 when Ms. Necla Şükran Aktaş was assigned by Mr. İnan KIRAÇ, President of Galatasaray Education Foundation, the task of establishing and managing the Galatasaray High School Information Processing Center.
In 1984, KIRAÇ donated a Burroughs B90 computer, five Zenith computers, and two printers to the Information Processing Center of the Galatasaray High School. Since then, the hardware has been upgraded in the following ways, to address the requirements of an ever-increasing workload:
In 1986, a B27 model Unisys computer came into use. In the academic year of 1987–1988, for the purpose of Computer-Assisted Learning, a Groupil branded central processing unit, 16 student terminals, and one printer became available in the Beyoğlu and Ortaköy sections, both for the faculty members and students. As part of the Ministry of National Education’s “Computer-Assisted Learning Project,” Koç-Unisys A.Ş. provided a second computer lab, with a local network, consisting of 21 computers with 80,286 processors and installed packaged software. The lab, which was opened to students on November 3, 1989, was also used in the information processing course, which was added to the curriculum in that period.
The B27 computer, which was used to digitally maintain adminstration records and extract reports, was upgraded with the purchase of a B28 processor unit during the academic year of 1989-1990. Also, five work stations were connected to B28 as terminals. As such, the transition of workstations, for the principal, head assistant principal and their assistants, to an online automation system, was completed.
In 1992, B28 was upgraded to B39 model and the CTOS operating system replaced the BTOS. The number of work stations connected to the automation system was increased to 14.
In 1993, two computers with 80,486 processors were assigned for use at Galatasaray High School and were also connected to the CTOS. Additionally, the work for launching CTOS and DOS (WINDOWS) options began.
Starting in 1995, Mr. İnan KIRAÇ replaced the old system with an upgrade in the Galatasaray High School’s Information Processing Center, administrative units, and student labs.
The first internet connection at the Galatasaray High School was made via METU through the Turpak line in 1995. The connection had a speed of 18 Kbps for almost three years. In November 1998, the Galatasaray University began to provide the internet connection thanks to the installation of a digital data line between Galatasaray High School and Galatasaray University. This digital data line was operating at 128 Kbps, the highest speed possible with the Turk Telekom’s infrastructure at that time. It also had the capability to increase capacity to 2 Mbps in line with future improvements to the Turk Telekom infrastructure. Alongside these technical developments, the Galatasaray High School website project was launched in November 1998, as: www.gsl.gsu.edu.tr through the high school’s web server. It was designed by the GSL Computer Club students.
In mid-2000, the 128 Kbps connection speed began to fall short of the school’s requirements. This was due to the marked increase in use of the internet by way of a higher number of users, the participation of the high school in online international projects and the need to have an uninterrupted connection for the information flow for administration purposes. The problem was resolved with the establishment of two connections of 8Mbps each (ADSL) on September 9, 2005.
Tasks and Responsibilities
Galatasaray High School’s Inan Kıraç Information Processing Center provides software and hardware support for approximately 160 computers, used by students, faculty members, and administrative staff. A principle duty of the Manager of the Information Processing Center is to identify the latest technological developments by attending fairs, seminars and conferences, as well as by closely following related websites and publications. The Manager is also responsible for providing information on technological developments to the school administration by organizing meetings and training seminars.
Together with the manager, an operating specialist, a programmer and a hardware and infrastructure specialist in the high school’s Information Processing Center carry out the duties of ensuring a high level of consistent usability, organization in terms of efficiency, and carrying out upgrades and expansion of the information and communication technologies as required.
The efficient and widespread use of information technologies in the educational processes is one of the most important priorities of the high school. The Galatasaray High School Information Technologies Program, which includes student, staff, consulting, health and dormitory modules, is used by related units of the school. Also, the modules in the Ministry of National Education’s Information Technologies Systems (MEBBIS, E-OKUL) for the school, student, exam and administrative processes are used and upgraded accordingly.
The staff at the Information Processing Center are responsible for the hardware repair of the computers in the Center, administrative units and labs, the upgrading of operating systems, the installation and upgrading of licensed software, the resolution of IT issues on a daily basis, which includes problems and malfunctioning of the Mail Server, Web Server, Administration Server, Firewall andVirus Server. They are also responsible for reporting all issues, identifying and overcoming any training requirements regarding projects conducted at the Information Processing Center, the control of daily internal communication and the implementation of instructions, preparation, and updating of the website.