NEIT2008-5I

For about 20 years or so we have struggled to create stable, useful networks that offer a host of educational opportunities. Some schools advocate for content filters, some not. Some have complex networks involving security and telephone facilities, some basically give access to the internet and a local server or two.
 * Original proposal: (note - this barely scratches the surface - those who attended added another universe of issues - Bill Waldman)**

Now kids are coming to school with devices that bring their own networks with them (BYO network) and even setting up ad-hoc networks within the school net.

How shall our community react to this radical shift in the "ownership" of the network? Does your AUP anticipate this technical reality?

Come and discuss. Suite 130, First Floor, 5 PM

(Partial) Participant list: Grant Olds Basil Kolani Bill Waldman Carollyn Gallagher Joseph Dioguardi Michael Sullivan Lots of others (sorry - don't know your names)

THANKS to Basil Kolani from Dwight who volunteered to be the scribe for this session, and took the following notes in real time. About 20 people were in attendance, please add you name to the participant list if you were there.

Anything you've been doing for years must be old by now

Hard at work building networks that are safe, reliable, useful now there are iphones, laptops, ad hoc networks, working around, can’t print from another network

Why should I spend on bandwidth when students are bringing their own bandwidth?

What can we bring to the table so that students see added value

Databases, infrastructure, availability

All cities will be wireless -- what's the point of school wireless/networks?

AT&T wifi service is free for iphone users

Joining another wifi network

What prevents them:

Our moral responsibility to teach them not to steal wifi

Responsibility to provide service for those that can’t afford everywhere access - $80 a month iphone access

Infrastructure is set for next five to ten years

There will still be a need for us to have a solid groundwork

All bets are off after five years

Security cameras, telephones -- other things you can't see five years out

A computer at home isn't a given anymore

Really have to closely monitor user population to see what they’re using and adjust accordingly

Check against a baseline

What’s the baseline?

Varies by location

40-50%, closer to 40 - reassess technology needs

Bring your own hardware, build integrated services instead

Eventually everyone might bring his or her own hardware

Recognizing that users can do everything at home, so need to provide services to students away from campus

Cloud computing -- services everywhere

From an end user's perspective, they don't care what hardware they're using as long as the services are available -- treat any device agnostically

With ten times as many users, the service gets outpaced

Service-oriented is the only way to do it

Using own computers/iphones/etc. is between student and parent

Should we filter? Should it be about teaching and education?

Keep a couple of steps ahead?

Filtering more designed to monitor kids

ISA server running smart filter

Have to start worrying more about parent education

Parents want monitoring; don't want to parent as much

Filtering, other school/neighbor's available network

Liability is why we filter - if a parent gets up in arms, school as done due diligence

Filtering for e-rate money

Striving to be as transparent as possible

But will our networks be devalued?

Why will it matter?

Printing? Provide secure printing over Internet?

Encourage users not to print

Protective about bandwidth

Bandwidth has to increase, as we want teachers to use technology more

Streaming articles, utilities, videos - lack of bandwidth hindering education

Want to create the monster, but also have to feed it

Become a provider of services

School-owned computers mean more power

Create sandboxes for users - doesn't matter where hardware comes from, can still provide reasonably secure environment

Again, providing a service

Creating one more distraction in the classroom

Are we teaching to our kids' strengths?

It’s different student than five, ten years ago

It’s the way kids operate now, need to harness their natural inclination and adjust

Teacher-centered approach doesn't necessarily work anymore

We’re watching this culture of dissipation and distraction, which is more a part of the culture they swim in, and it is invading their classroom. That can't be the only model that students see.

How will students learn to be effective doing just one thing if they only simulate-tasking.

Not going to come up with any big epiphanies without concentrating whole brain

We’ve always thought that the kids that have the talent will rise to the top; how will those that can’t see that there is another way to use their brain

Not an issue if everyone is motivated to excel

Is this a technology question or a pedagogy question?

Teacher will tell student playing cards to stop. Why is it different with laptops?

If a teacher was engaging enough, students might not be distracted.

Technology makes it easier...

More is better -- nobody wants to hear an opposing view

We should still use the technology and make it clear when it’s ok and when it's not

Is it up to kids to reel themselves in, or do we strive to maintain a more rigid academic environment

All games are blocked; kids bring flash games on usb sticks

Technology can't keep up with blocking everything

How do you effectively give a teacher a tool with a room full of computers?

It’s too easy for a student to minimize a window to hide something from a monitoring teacher; we need to give tools to increase a teacher's monitoring

It’s about classroom management

Smart teachers figure it out, those that don't need to be educated

If teachers are given a task that needs to be completed within a certain time

We have to give teachers tools to help them with management

italc - open source monitoring software

What tool do you give a teacher at a laptop school where kids own their laptops?

Requirements to use outside hardware

Teacher training in classroom management has to be handled delicately

Hassle vendors to make IP signons available

easyproxy - provide IP authentication to anywhere

technology vs. curriculum

Do we just become the geek squad and get out of curriculum, just deliver services?

what’s it for the tech to say what's appropriate for a class?

will curriculum stagnate without technology? whose job is that to ensure that it doesn't happen?

curriculum has to say that teachers need to open their mind to technology.

how am I empowered to change or not change the curriculum? what's the expectation from supervisors?

it doesn’t always have to be a delicate balance - top-down approach.

not all schools operate top-down.

are we just adding technology to pre-existing dysfunction? technology won't fix that.

we don't expect teachers to adopt technology that will hinder them, but they do have to look at technologies that will help them improve.

them=teachers

decisions have to be in line with school's philosophy.

empowering students (science leadership academy as a model)

students can interview teachers, tell teachers when something isn't working

when teachers and administrators come to you with problems, it’s our job to tell them that we can't make that decision.

how is the technology person placed? do they have a curricular role? if they are, it can be constructive. if not, technology can look to fill holes when asked.

is it as black and white as bottom-up or top-down? can one-person implement change? do we want to fight that battle?

what is technology? ink and paper, or more than that?

if you want technology to be a catalyst for bettereducation, you have to try and eliminating problems that arise from technologyuse.

you have to make an attempt if you want technology used.

missed opportunities everywhere -- laptops closed, laptopsopen -- part of planning out a curriculum, working within limitations

curricular suggestion: eighth grade class to get a studentready to be a laptop-toting high schooler, with a parent portion too

convergence can upset acceptable use policies

ipodsare phones are computers

3Gcards are now coming inside computers

even if it takes a decade, a user will be in your school anddoesn't need your network

curricularly, we're not asking the right questions

what happens when they go to the other classes?

responsible digital citizens -- re-emphasized in all classes

partof daily life AND school life

at what point do we become irrelevant, and do we want that?

if they don't need out networks, we can concentrate on otherthings

bigger question: are we afraid of or ready for change?

when children are in our schools, we are parents

we have a responsibility

back to pedagogy

curricular changes or delivery changes?

afraid of being a commodity

wantto be the content, not the printing press

youhave to be someone who the teachers can see as a valid classroom component, butyou can't make yourself that person -- has to be validated

the ideal is that in the future, both network administratorsand technology integrators won't matter -- teachers will be savvy enough

do teachers wait until they get trained? do we expect themto try?

we should recommend to teachers

in any industry, we need people to push limits and bring itback to organization

knowledgeable vs. specialist in the field

does technology still require specialists?

involved in interviewing process?

removing tech coordinators... removing curriculumcoordinators...

should curriculum person be a technologist

business is specializing more

going the other way, we lose some deep knowledge

hire people that have the desire to learn

reactionary changes vs thoughtful change

curriculum = guidelines

visual literacy? no one talks about that anymore.