Reflections on Chapter 3 - Week 4

Why is it advantageous for educators to share resources and programs on a network? What concerns are associated with program sharing?

From pre-K to PhD. programs, instructors are continuously looking for new resources to enhance their lessons. The sharing of information, of what works and what doesn't, of how to approach a situation, or of materials on a particular topic plays a vital role in today's classrooms.
With the advent of the Internet, information came at the tips of one's fingertips. There are literally millions of programs, lesson plans, classroom management tips, and letters to parents available to teachers today. Often times, there is more information on a topic that it is impossible to sift through it all and find that one thing you're looking for, like the proverbial needle in the haystack.
Not only are there millions of resources available on the web, but there are also hundreds of thousands of programs in which to use for education of every conceivable age at any conceivable level. In my limited experience, very few of these programs are worthwhile. Some of them are useful, but many are not worth exploring. These programs range from educational to administrative and usually have one or two minor user oriented problems.
Networking systems help alleviate some of these problems. Linking a classroom to a local area network (LAN) line or a school or district to a wide area network (WAN) line just makes good business sense. Networking can help teachers in different schools tap into what each other are doing and keep pace with each other. This allows for continuity throughout a district among topics and even lesson plans.
Workstations are the general term for computers hooked up to a network. These workstations are usually connected to a powerful computer called a server. The server can print on multiple printers and operate other "sharable peripherals". It is the server that manages the network-wide communications. Servers are usually made of large, hard disk drives and store management software and common files. it is the server, the workstations, the peripherals, and the wiring that make up the network.
Networks can be configured to meet the particular needs of a company or school. Retrofitting old buildings can sometimes become expensive. Luckily, wireless network systems are becoming ever more popular. These wireless systems can not only save money, but also incorporate hand-held devices, projectors, and smart board technologies.
Among all the advantages of networking, there are several concerns that should be addressed. One of which is security. Especially with a wireless system, savvy computer geeks can hack into a system and change grades or reek havoc. It is virtually impossible to watch all of the computers all of the time, especially on a WAN.
Schools and districts address this problem with software that needs updating constantly. Today, most districts have an IT department to handle updates and security issues. Administrators, teachers, assistants, secretaries, and students all handle a multitude of passwords just to access the simplest of files.
Another drawback to networking is traffic. Even large bandwidth networks can slow when there are a lot of stations logged on at the same time. Just like traffic on the highway, network traffic can slow to a crawl at the busiest times of the day. File size can also be an issue on a network. Large files and programs may take several minutes or even longer to load or transfer.
In spite of these drawbacks, networking is usually the best way to keep a school's curriculum consistent. Sharing programs, data, administrative tools, and hardware can save a district time and money.
Networking also has many practical classroom applications. Students can work as a group on the same project, printers can be shared, and software can be installed in the server instead of on each individual computer. Grades and lesson plans can be viewed by teachers and administrators. And maybe most importantly, networking instills a sense of community in those who are connected, building bonds that make us better educators. That's what networking is really all about.