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The 3-2-1: This Week’s Skinny on TEch @ CSD

Today is Sunday, September 30, 2018. Work on the new WiFi network is underway!

On these pages, you'll find:

  • A 3-part update as we rocket toward technological greatness,
  • 2 answers to your questions about the digital classroom, and
  • 1 short lesson on how technology works at CSD.

WHOA.

Moving forward at the High School

The current schedule for new cabling at the high school building remains on track. Eighth grade, science hall, arts wing, and some of the front cables are already complete. Our best guess continues to be that the crew will be wrapping up cabling work at the high school toward the end of this week.

Nothing looks different.

It shouldn’t. For now the crew is pulling cable and should leave your room just as they’ve found it. We had a few slip ups early last week with a couple of doors inadvertently left open and a ceiling tile or two out of place. The contractors are really conscientious and seem to have responded well to our feedback. If you do find that something is out of place in your room, don’t hesitate to tell us. As the cabling project comes to a close at high school you’ll begin to see new access points installed on the ceiling or the wall in your classroom and at points around the building. Those APs will signal that the next phase of the project—networking—is getting ready to begin.

Do you have all the testers you need?

We could use several more folks at K7 to volunteer, but you have time to consider. Cabling should begin at your building after next week.

Your Questions

  1. My wireless device isn’t connecting! While we want to make sure that your instruction isn’t completely undermined by the slowly dying access points on the current network, we are not going to invest in intensive fixes or replacements going forward. Please still let us know what’s troubling you but please also be ready for us to say that we know, that we feel your pain, and that the best solution is to wait for the new installation to be complete. At this point it is absolutely a waste of time and money to try to make the current access points work any better than they do now.
  2. Did you hear about the Facebook hack last week? Yes, we did. Follow the link below to learn about the extent of the hack and find step by step instructions for making sure your account is secure.

Tech @ CSD 101:

What’s wrong with the old network OR why will the new network be better?

Recall that last week we outlined the three components of the new WiFi install in this space. Let’s go back and take a look at what weakness those changes address in the current system.

  1. New, upgraded cabling, capable of carrying more bits of data, faster. Beyond simply moving data faster, the cabling project gives us the opportunity to make sure that there are no broken or mislocated bones in the skeleton that supports the network. This upgrade project represents the first time that we are running cable as part of an overall plan for coverage and capacity. To this point, cabling at both sites has represented path of least resistance planning. Think of it like this: Imagine that someone presented you with a pile of bones and told you to build a skeleton without telling you what the animal looked like. We have arm bones connected to knee bones connected to ribs. They provide a framework; they just don’t add up to one that walks upright or that distributes the weight effectively.
  2. New, more functional access points. Our current inventory of access points represents some of the very first WiFi access points offered on the market. As you know technology evolves quickly and not only do new access points represent a general increase and expansion in functionality, the system we are installing is made specifically for the demands of operating a WiFi network in a school environment. They are designed with the types and varieties of end-user devices that are typically present in schools. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach that signals a technology in its infancy, the new hardware reflects user needs rather than the standardized, proof of concept approach to which we’ve all been yoked.
  3. A new controller that offers us options for management that also represent the unique demands of differentiated users in a school environment. Perhaps the most challenging tension for us to date has been the inevitable comparison to our students’ and staff members’ experience with home WiFi networks. We’ve explained in this space previously that home networks are no point of comparison for institutional environments because of the sheer number of users and limited degree of control we have over those users’ choices. The current WiFi system is frustrating to you because it doesn’t work like home or Starbucks. It is frustrating for us because it wants us to look like a large corporate headquarters, which is no more apt a comparison than the WiFi network most of you run at home. Look forward to a far easier interface because on the backend we will have to do less work to try to conform to a model of use we do not represent.

What’s your point?

The design of this new network is intentional. The vendor’s product is positioned for use specifically in schools. The system framework and layout reflects usage patterns in both our buildings. And the Internet connectivity the new WiFi network facilitates is now aligned with our documented needs. Hang in there. The end result should be that your technology life at school feels simpler.

Next stop: wrestling wireless printing to the ground!

Don't forget:

Support@nucentric.com: wired pcs and laptops, CSD.local domain, wireless or wired Internet connection, etc. AND SEND A SCREENSHOT!!!!!! (Know that we will poke back and insist on a screenshot. It is the most efficient way to help us diagnose what's up.)

Tech Team Students are available for triage and diagnosis ONLY. Please do not tempt them to make changes to your device! They remain on provisional licenses only!

Please know that we know that Dan and Joe are two of the nicest guys in the world, but if you just resort to calling out randomly for help when you see them, you will likely be taking them from an already scheduled task to help a colleague. We promise to churn through support requests as quickly as possible, but please help us maintain a queue.

Godspeed. See you next week!
Created By
Connie Wessner
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