MetBlogger - Information Technology in Education

Getting Technology-Ready

Technologies Every School Needs to Know About

By: Eric Durrand

Making the school technology-ready is a daunting task. It is not enough to walk into a store and pick the nicest looking computer, as one might do with classroom furniture. Computers need to be installed with the right software, connected with the right networking technology, and secured against many dangers. Many complex decisions have to be made, regarding setting up the networking, security, printing, content-filtering, Virus and spam protection, Spam, Malware protection, Pop-up blockers and on and on.

One of the first decisions to be made is the kind of network the school needs. A properly configured network will allow students and teachers to share files, printers, scanners, and Internet access. The most common networking technology is called Ethernet - it's a set of standards for both hardware and software, a communication protocol that allows computers to "speak" seamlessly with one another, and share network resources. Ethernet requires special adapter cards, cables, and switches, available at any computer or office supply store.

In addition to the standard, wire-bound network, Wireless Ethernet networking can be deployed in a campus or a classroom. Wi-Fi, short for Wireless Fidelity, is a wireless Ethernet technology that allows Ethernet networking without cumbersome wiring. Wi-Fi will allow students and teachers to log-on the local network and then go out on the Internet, using their laptops, from anywhere within a campus, a library or a classroom, depending on the selected wireless range.

Whether wireless or wire-bound, once the network infrastructure is in place, the next step is to secure the communications over it. The Internet itself, being a sort of no-man's land where anyone can display anything (be it obscene images, misleading information, or harmful codes), might need to be filtered to protect children. Under the Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA), all schools and libraries who enjoy e-rate funding are required by law to filter their internet activity and certify that they have Internet filtering measures in place. This filtering solution must conform to government standards, so that children can enjoy access to the wealth of information available online, without exposure to unwanted materials.

The network should be secured not just on the content lever, but also on the technology level, to stop intruders from the outside as well as harmful codes from wreaking havoc in the school's network. To this end a firewall can be installed. A firewall is a security barrier at the network’s perimeter, typically software and hardware, which isolates the internal network from the Internet, allowing only authorized communications to go through, thus protecting the local network from prankster break-ins, information theft or sabotage. A school network without a firewall is like a house without a door.

While a firewall will mitigate some risks, dangerous and unwanted codes can still get in through authorized communication - for example, a Virus can enter the network through an e-mail attachment. No school should get by without good, updated antivirus software. Dozens of new viruses are "born" every day, and school networks are especially vulnerable to teenage mischief or carelessness. Viruses can result in loss of data or downtime, but even if it does not harm the students directly, the monetary damage to the school from a virus outbreak could be substantial.

Despite the various efforts to prevent it, some measure of data loss is likely to occur. Data Protection and Disaster Recovery is an essential part of every computing system. Data Protection is a multi-faceted effort comprising of: Building Fault-Tolerant storage servers, backup tape devices and storing data offsite. It is an essential part of good system design.

Alright; is your network in place? Are the protections on? Are the files being backed-up regularly? Very good. But what do you actually DO with all those computers? Using productivity software tools is where most of the benefits are: Word processors, E-Mail, Instant Messaging, E-Learning tools, Multimedia Encyclopedias, electronic texts, and Internet resources - all depend on having a sound, secure, and up-to-date computing infrastructure, which is the focus of this issue.

In future issues, we shall cover setting up your school’s network, and discuss fresh ideas on how to integrate new technologies into the educational experience of your students.

Fighting the Digital Divide

How to Help Students Participate in the IT Revolution

By: Eric Durrand

In the 21st Century, most schoolchildren will find their first job online, pay their first bill online, shop, communicate, and even find their soul-mate using tools that did not exist ten years ago!

The IT (Information Technology) revolution is sweeping not just individual businesses and homes, but the culture itself: Changing the way we interact with each other; bringing innovation into areas of life unchanged for thousands of years.

Unfortunately, not everyone can enjoy the tremendous benefits of Information Technology: Whether writing a school paper - using the power of word processing software - researching the vast anthology of knowledge available online, or simply communicating in a fun and creative way; children must have both resources and knowledge in order to enter this new world of possibilities.

A survey conducted in 2000 by the U.S. Department of Commerce, revealed that only 51% of U.S. homes actually had a computer, and only 41.5% of U.S. homes had Internet access. Those children, growing without access to or guidance in new technologies, are at risk of being left behind, unable to earn a decent wage, study effectively, or gain access to information crucial to their social and professional development
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The first step in helping children participate in the Information Technology revolution is to provide them with the proper resources: Computers, Secure and Content-Managed Internet, well chosen multimedia and commonly used productivity software. Simply having those around, however, is not enough.

"A narrow definition of the digital divide focuses on access to computers and the Internet" writes Kevin Taglang of the Benton Foundation, a nonprofit organization running the Digital Divide Network (www.digitaldividenetwork.org), "But access alone does not bridge the technology gap. To realize the potential of today's information tools, people need the skills to operate them to better their lives and the health of their communities".

Children need to learn basic skills that are the cornerstone of computer literacy: What is a computer file? What is the difference between Hardware and Software, and how does each operate? How to find quality information on the Internet? How to use word processing tools to create great-looking papers? How to acquire new computer skills by themselves?

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Computer Basics, helps students and teachers with everything they need to know about starting, operating and enjoying computers. Another recommended book is Kids and Computers: Helping Children Get the Most from a Computer, which focuses on the basic computer skills children must acquire in order to benefit from the full potential of computing.

Children could be taught how to handle complex tasks, like PC maintenance, online research, computer programming, website building and design, in advanced training.

The digital divide begins early in life: How much Information Technology education a student will have greatly depends on the facilities provided by the school and the ability of the school to train. How well you are prepared to teach Information Technology concepts is the first step to beating the digital divide.