Department of Educational Technology
2650 Elliot Street - Room 215
Denver, CO 80211
Phil Lingwood, Coordinator
303-964-3112
Date: November 6, 1998
Subject: Internet Update
This memo is being written on behalf of the Internet Task Force to
summarize important information regarding the use of the Internet in
the Denver Public Schools.
Summary of DPS Internet Procedures
• Teaching/Instructional Staff
Without exception, district instructional staff who wish to access the Internet from within DPS must complete 15 hours of DPS Technology Academy Internet Training (see training options later in this document). Individuals may choose to “test out” of the training by taking a test that demonstrates a thorough understanding of the use and applications of the Internet software used in DPS. The
employee will sign the last page of the Denver Public Schools DPSNet Internet Use Agreement when this obligation has been met. By signing the agreement the individual agrees to abide by the district’s network rules contained therein. Teachers and other instructional staff need to be experienced and well trained in the use of the
Internet so they can adequately train district students to use these resources.
Teachers are encouraged to sponsor student use of the Internet by completing a DPSNet Agreement form for each student and by having the student and a parent or legal guardian sign the form. After the Agreement has been read and signed by the teacher, the student, and an adult parent or guardian, only then can a student legally use the district’s network (DPSNet) to access the Internet.
• Non-Instructional Staff
The Internet Task Force has reevaluated the 15 hour training requirement for non-instructional staff and determined that such training, though recommended, is not essential. As such, district staff who have non-instructional roles are no longer required to train or test out of the Internet prior to having their computers
configured for Internet access. However, all users must sign and submit the DPSNet Agreement, have a computer configured with Ethernet (see below), and, in order to receive a CEO email account, pay the initial $10 account fee, prior to having their computers configured for Internet access by a DoTS technician.
Revised DoTS Network Connection Policy
The Department of Technology Services (DoTS) has instituted a new policy regarding the addition of new computers connected to the district's network for the purposes of accessing the Internet. As of September 1, 1997, any computer to be newly connected to the Internet must now be configured with an Ethernet connection. For many this
will require that additional Ethernet cards and cables be purchased for a school's older computers in order for the Internet connection to be made. For information on purchasing Ethernet cards and cables for computers, contact Tyler Harris @ DoTS, 303-764-3172.
Ethernet connections to DPSNet and the Internet are required to accommodate increasing network utilization and maintain network viability. All new computers purchased by the district come equipped with Ethernet, although an Ethernet cable should be purchased with each machine. The DoTS policy seeks to address these issues by not allowing any more LocalTalk connections (the basic "out of the box"
network connection capability integrated into all Macintosh computers) onto the Internet. LocalTalk is not viable for the requirements of a modern network. This will require schools to migrate from LocalTalk to Ethernet for connections to DPSNet and the Internet. Schools should begin preparations now for removing LocalTalk connections from the DPSNet wide-area network. Each school will be required to disconnect the building-level LocalTalk connection to the DPSNet wide-area network during the 1999-2000 school year. Any machine currently connected to LocalTalk will be unable to send or receive information over the wide-area Ethernet network once this conversion has been made. This will leave the existing building-level LocalTalk networks in place for printing, but only for printers that are connected to the LocalTalk network. After the LocalTalk migration, all connections to DPSNet or the Internet will require Ethernet.
DoTS has maintained a budget priority to purchase an Ethernet hub for each building where the LocalTalk migration takes place. Hubs will not be purchased by DoTS for connecting a computer lab, however, DoTS is committed to providing one Ethernet connection for each classroom. DoTS will continue purchasing a hub to assist in the process of migrating to Ethernet for as long as their department’s budgetary considerations will allow. It’s understood that this information may be confusing to many. Please contact your building’s DoTS support representative for information on how these changes will affect your school.
When a school has purchased the requisite Ethernet cards and cables and is ready to have them installed on computers, the school should call the DoTS Hotline 720-423-3888) and a technician will be sent to the school to install the card and configure the computers accordingly for Internet access. Internet addressing is done by DoTS personnel only. An on-site visit from DoTS is required before schools begin upgrading their network equipment. Any new servers on DPSNet also require approval and configuration from DoTS. Call the DoTS Hotline 720-423-3888) to arrange for a visit.
Internet Monitoring
DoTS has installed a networking software program that allows them to monitor the use of the Internet on all district computers. The purpose of this software is not specifically to monitor computers that are accessing inappropriate sites, though it does log that information. The software has primarily been employed to locate computers that are using "Push" technologies that use an inordinate amount of the district's network bandwidth. Schools with computers running such programs are asked to discontinue doing so immediately. If questions exist about deploying specific software, please call the DoTS Hotline 720-423-3888) for clarification.
You may check the browser history of a computer by typing in the location line of a Netscape window, i.e., about:global. This will bring up an unsorted list of all Internet destinations visited by that computer. This list may be very large and take several minutes to load. More detailed instructions on this procedure can be found at the Educational Technology home page: http://www.denver.k12.co.us/departments/et
Internet Training Options
There are now three Internet training options for DPS teachers to
consider:
- “Introduction to the Internet” classes will continue to be offered through the DPS Technology Academy. These are 15 hour classes that can be taken for university or CDE credit. Tech Academy brochures will be sent to all DPS schools at the beginning of each semester. Historically these classes have filled very quickly so interested individuals should consider hand delivering their registration forms to the Tech Academy office in the main office of the Career Education Center.
- On-site training can be conducted at individual buildings with a qualified trainer, provided the site has the requisite lab and computers with Ethernet network connections to make such a class feasible. Contact Dale Downing (303-964-3139) for further details.
- Individuals who have considerable experience in using the Internet may wish to consider “testing out” of the required 15 hour class. The three remaining test out sessions this school year will be held on the following dates: December 10, January 28, March 25. Contact Gloria Lopez (303-964-3116) for further details.
School Web Pages
If you’ve visited the main DPS Homepage on the Internet and gone to the “Schools” site, you’ve noticed that many DPS schools now have their own individualized Internet Homepages. If your school is interested in creating such a page, contact Josh Allen, DPS Webmaster (303-964-3565). Additional information is available at the DPS Homepage, http://www.denver.k12.co.us
For More Information...
The Department of Educational Technology will be regularly posting new Internet information (and technology information in general) on our department’s web site. To find us, go to the DPS Homepage and select “Departments.”
The DoTS Homepage also has updated information on these and other related topics. DoTS, too, can be found via the “Departments” section of the DPS Homepage.
Approved
Tom Stevens
Educational Technology, Executive Director
c Irv Moskowitz, Superintendent
Craig Cook, Chief Operating Officer
Sharon Johnson, Assistant Superintendent, Administrative Services
Bernadette Seick, Assistant Superintendent, Secondary Education
Mary Ray, Assistant Superintendent, Elementary Education
Ron Huston, Executive Director, DoTS