CoP members,
In January, the high school wireless network will go on-line. DMTS is looking into the possibility of students with an access code having the ability to bring in their laptop/wireless device and use it during the school day for instructional purposes.
Prior to implementation, we would like your feedback on the pros and cons of allowing this to happen. What benefits would you see in your curriculum if students had access? What drawbacks do you see? Would you yourself bring a home laptop to utilize on the district network?
Please click the comment link and share your thoughts.
In January, the high school wireless network will go on-line. DMTS is looking into the possibility of students with an access code having the ability to bring in their laptop/wireless device and use it during the school day for instructional purposes.
Prior to implementation, we would like your feedback on the pros and cons of allowing this to happen. What benefits would you see in your curriculum if students had access? What drawbacks do you see? Would you yourself bring a home laptop to utilize on the district network?
Please click the comment link and share your thoughts.
Comments
First, I'll believe it when I can actually use the wireless network.
Second, I would LOVE it if both students and staff could utilize the wireless network on personal computers. The only real drawback I see are security and privacy issues. Will we be able to keep the EPS network secure? Will students and staff retain the privacy of material on their computers while using the wireless service?
B. Locklear
Students/Families must also realize that we are not responsible for lost or damaged computers that students will bring to school. They will get lost/damaged and families will need to know that we will not fix them or replace them.
It would be nice to go to online textbooks, but we also need to realize that not all students (even some that do live in Edina) can not afford to purchase their child their own computer. Until then, we can only reduce the number of textbooks we order and ask for volunteers for online textbooks.
Mellanie Pusateri
Will this allow for 'live' collaborative processes in a classroom setting?
Others have addressed technological inequities, the haves and have nots. Will there be minimum hardware requirements? Will we, as mentioned above, be able to overcome operating system restrictions? What are the legal requirements the district must follow regarding privacy if a private device is being used?
How do we simplify access to printers for users with private devices? (Or do we allow printing?)
Will we need to establish document protocols? What open format(s) will be chosen? Do we provide training so users understand how to save or convert documents to the chosen protocol.
Do we give students access to their folders at school so they can access them 24/7?
Will this enhance an instructor's ability to create a working social network enticing to their students?
Rick Hendrickson
To answer Rick's last question, yes, I think this would "enhance an instructor's ability to create a working social network enticing to their students." It would be much easier, for example, to get my students to comment on each other's blogs if class time were provided AND I could stay in my room and not have to go to the media center.
Also, this would lessen the strain on computer time at home. Now, students couldn't say "My so-and-so needed the computer so I couldn't blog/wiki, etc.," and parents/siblings wouldn't complain about how teachers are requiring all these blogs and they can't get on the computer.