2. The Internet
When you access the Internet through the
web browser of your choice you are using
the worlds largest network.
3. LANS (Local Area Networks)
This type of network allows classrooms, schools, and the
district to share hardware resources, interdisciplinary
curriculum, email, access to lesson materials, and the
internet with better performance and lower costs.
4. Meridian School District's LAN
Our schools run much more efficiently with the LAN that has been
developed for our school district by Zayo Group. Without the
district LAN we would not be able to perform daily necessary
tasks that make us the best teachers.
When you enter your username and password on your classroom
computer, you are connected to the district's LAN.
5. This is How it Works
Meridian School District's employees are the
clients
The infrastructures in our schools and at the
district office hold the wires, fiber optics, and
transmission media
The networking electronics move, route, and
store data
6. Sharing Information
Most of you probably have noticed a device in
your classroom that looks like the picture
below. This is what connects us to our LAN
allowing us to access the internet, printers,
and shared files on our classroom
computers.
This is why we can access the shared drive,
and install printers from across the building,
even other schools.
7. Sharing Information
Our network allows teachers, administrators,district
office staff members, and guests to access valuable
learning resources and information, such as shared
documents (common assessments to use for the
standards based report card), curriculum maps,
student hand in/out folders, and the district intranet.
When you log on to www.meridianschools.org the
Meridian School District Website pulls up. Once you
log into the staff page you have entered our LAN.
8. Students
It is important that students understand the
acceptable uses when accessing the LAN.
Our parent handbook on the district's website
provides this information.
They also need to be aware that when they
are using the network all information that
they have created, and searched can be
tracked by the technology department at the
district office.
Our goal is for students to use the network to
enhance their knowledge.
9. Links
What is a Network?
How LAN Switches Work
Article: “Zayo Implements Fiber Network for Idaho's Meridian School District”
Article: “Meridian School District Puts New Dedicated Network to Work”
10. Assignment
Please reflect on this in-service and provide
me with answers to the following questions:
What information that you learned today was
new?
Explore the staff intranet page. What
resources will you use to make your
planning more efficient?
Email your answers to
bass.amy@meridianschools.org
11. References
Northwest Regional Educational Technology Consortium. (n.d.)A Guide to Networking for
K-12 Schools. Retrieved from http://www.netc.org/network_guide/
Chris Peters. (February 8, 2011). Networking 101: Concepts and Definitions. Unclear
about computer networking? We lay out the basics for nonprofits and libraries.
Retrieved from http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/networks/page4774.cfm
12. Lesson Plan
Name: Amy Bass
Title: How a LAN Benefits Teachers in the Meridian School District
Introduction: Slides 1 and 2
Students: Meridian School District New Hires
Objective: New employees will understand why a LAN is needed in our district, the basics of
how it works, and use the connectivity from the LAN to enhance their teaching.
Relative Advantage: Employees will use the resources provide on the Meridian School
District's LAN to plan, organize, and develop meaningful lessons.
Timeline: Presentation: 1 hour; Exploration of LAN:ongoing; Assessment:due within 1 week.
Materials: Power point presentation, email, handout of the presentation, link to presentation,
projector, computers.
Grouping: After the presentation, teachers will move the the computer lab to read
supplemental links and complete the assignment.
Learning Activities: Presentation, link exploration, LAN exploration
Assessment: Assignment
