1. Why Network?Networking provides the connectivity needed in a school, organization, or business.

2. The InternetWhen 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 thedistrict to share hardware resources, interdisciplinarycurriculum, email, access to lesson materials, and theinternet with better performance and lower costs. 4. Meridian School Districts LANOur schools run much more efficiently with the LAN that has beendeveloped for our school district by Zayo Group. Without thedistrict LAN we would not be able to perform daily necessarytasks that make us the best teachers.When you enter your username and password on your classroom computer, you are connected to the districts LAN. 5. This is How it WorksMeridian School Districts employees are the clientsThe infrastructures in our schools and at the district office hold the wires, fiber optics, and transmission mediaThe networking electronics move, route, and store data 6. Sharing InformationMost 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 InformationOur 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. StudentsIt is important that students understand the acceptable uses when accessing the LAN.Our parent handbook on the districts 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. LinksWhat is a Network?How LAN Switches WorkArticle: Zayo Implements Fiber Network for Idahos Meridian School DistrictArticle: Meridian School District Puts New Dedicated Network to Work 10. AssignmentPlease reflect on this in-service and provideme 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. ReferencesNorthwest 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. Unclearabout computer networking? We lay out the basics for nonprofits and libraries.Retrieved from http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/networks/page4774.cfm 12. Lesson PlanName: Amy BassTitle: How a LAN Benefits Teachers in the Meridian School DistrictIntroduction: Slides 1 and 2Students: Meridian School District New HiresObjective: 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 Districts 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 explorationAssessment: Assignment