A teachers's guide to networking and the Internet.

Everybody, from President Clinton to the president of the local PTA, is eager to get teachers and students connected to the Internet. But how do you go from being"unplugged" to "wired"? With this comprehensive clip-and-save article, you'll be better equipped to decide what you want and need in your classroom.

The first step to understanding new technology is to become familiar with commonly used jargon and acronyms. So if your computer coordinator tells you, "You need to connect to your ISP using PPP to simulate TCP/IP with your PC," tell her you'll get back to her ASAP - then read this guide FYI.

NETWORKS

This refers to ways in which computers are connected to each other, enabling the exchange of information and the sharing of resources, such as programs, disk space, and printers.

* LAN (Local Area Network)

A group of computers connected using cables over a relatively short distance; such as within a room or a building.

* WAN (Wide Area Network)

A group of computers (indirectly) connected using telecommunications equipment over a long distance; such as schools within a district.

* Intranet

A network (either LAN or WAN) or group of networks with a common system of communication. One example is a system that serves a corporation with offices across a state; employees can communicate with colleagues inside their building as well as in the other offices.

* Internet

A group of networks using a common communication standard in order to allow the exchange of information around the world, such as the World Wide Web.

TYPES OF NETWORKS

The purpose of networking is to allow computers to communicate with each other. To do that, they must use a common networking system.

* Peer-to-Peer Network 

Primarily used where you have a small number of computers connected, each user decides which files and hardware devices they are willing to share. Both the Macintosh and Windows 95 operating systems have peer-to-peer networking built in.

* Client-Server Network

One computer acts as a server, managing the resources (software and hardware devices such as printers) for all of the connected computers. Each user has a log-in name and password. Users have access rights based on their login name (see Network Security). Typically, many programs are stored on the server rather than on each computer, which makes upgrading the software much easier.

NETWORK IDENTIFICATION

For computers to talk to each other, they must have some means of identifying each computer and user. This ensures that users get the information directed to them, and that they can't access restricted areas or information.

* Names and Addresses

In a small LAN, this may be as simple as assigning a name to each computer. In larger LANs, WANs, or Intranets, users need log-ins and passwords, and each computer had its own identity. Computers are organized into work areas called domains. The domain name is part of an e-mail address.

* TCP/IP

On the Internet, computers have number names, called Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, assigned by an Internet provider. Computers directly connected in LANs and WANs usually have IP addresses permanently assigned to computers. People who access the Internet using a modem and a commercial service provider would typically be assigned temporary IP addresses by those companies.

NETWORK COMMUNICATION

* PPP and SLIP

When PCs are connected to a large computer, they usually access the Internet using a modem. The TCP/IP protocol does not know how to talk with modems, so two methods, SLIP and PPP, were devised to allow individual modems to get onto the Internet.

* Ethernet

Ethernet is the protocol which allows individual computers to exchange information through a network via cables. Using EtherTalk, computers can communicate at about one million characters per second.

NETWORK SECURITY

Making sure that students and teachers can access the files they need and are kept out of those areas where they shouldn't be is a matter of security.

* Intranet Security (within the classroom, school, or district)

This is accomplished at two levels, user (assigning individual log-in names and passwords) and group (assigning users to groups and then specifying that certain groups have access to only certain areas). In a school, you might have three groups, system access (everything), teacher access (everything except critical system areas), and student access (only their own files). Client-Server networks all come with built-in security systems.

* Internet Security (outside of the school)

Internet security, to most teachers, means allowing students access to only appropriate information. A number of programs use the methods of word and Universal Resource Locator (URL) matching to restict access. The word-matching method scans the text of a site before it loads it, looking for hot-list words. The URL hot-list of sites also can be checked, and access can be prevented that way. Some programs update their hot-lists automatically. Most hot-lists are editable.

INTERNET CONNECTIONS

There are several ways to connect computers via the Internet.

* Modem

A modem converts a computer signal into a sound that can be sent over a phone line to another modem that converts it back. At press time, the fastest modems send 7,000 characters per second (CPS).

* ISDN and T1

These are two methods of connecting to the Internet more directly and faster than a voice modem. ISDN uses a special phone line for data only and allows communication at up to 16,000 CPS. You must have an ISDN modem to connect. A T1 line is a very fast - allowing speeds of 32,000 to 128,000 CPS.

* Cable Television and Satellite

Cable modems allow computers to connect to ISPs via cable-TV boxes or satellite systems. Still new, this technology allows your computer to receive data at speeds rivaling the T1, but may require a standard voice modem to let your computer send data.

* Internet Service Provider (ISP)

These businesses (i.e., Prodigy and America OnLine) provide access to the Internet usually through T1 connections, allowing users to connect with them via modem, ISDN, or cable-modem for a monthly fee.

INTERNET SUBSCRIPTION SITES FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS

SCHOLASTIC NETWORK

http://www.ScholasticNetwork.com

More than 400 skill-building activities/games with lesson plans, reviews of Web sites, and more. Features include Global Kid Connections with virtual visits to schools around the world. Scholastic Network is now offering the Discovery Program, allowing any educational venue free access for three months (offer good through June 1998). For Information, call [phone].

Individual Account (single user/teacher): $249 School Site License: $2,199

SITES ALIVE!

http://sitesalive.com

This site offers virtual field trips that combine science, communication, teacher's curriculum guides, newsletters and more, in semester-length or full-year sessions. Programs take place in several locations around the world, simultaneously.

Individual Accounts (single teacher, per semester): $99/$149 (Internet only/Internet + print)

School Site License: (half year, under 500 students), $349; (half year, up to 1,000 students), $524; (full year, under 500 students), $499; (full year, up to 1,000 students), $749

I*EARN http://www.iearn.org

An active site with links to schools and/or departments of education in more than 40 countries, with 40 to 50 ongoing school-to-school conferences at any given time. All projects have a social action component; project topics cover science, the environment, social studies, more. In the U.S., schools are funded via scholarships, district-level funds, and individual school or teacher accounts.

Individual Account (includes access by all teachers and students covered by account): $260/year

CCCNet (Computer Curriculum Corp.) http://www.cccnet.com

Offers subscription-based student projects for middle- and elementary-school students. The site also features Teacher Link, an area where more than 6,000 teachers can participate in online conversations on a wide range of educational issues. Teacher Link is free, but registration is required. For subscription information, call [phone].

Individual Subscription: $7.95/month, $65/year Starter School Subscription: $595/year Multi-Classroom Subscription: $995/year (includes 20 teacher accounts)

Networking Resources

INTRANET SECURITY

Security for peer-to-peer networks

* At Ease for Mac (Apple; www. apple.com, [800] 800-2775)

* Fool Proof for Mac?Win (SmartStuff Software; www.teleport.com/~smrtstuf, [800] 671-3999)

* Classware for Windows (Tandex Technologies; www.tandex.com, [888] 882-6339)

INTERNET SECURITY

Programs that filter internet data

* Cyber Patrol (Microsystems Software; www.microsys.com, [800] 489-2001)

* Cyber Sitter (Solid Oak Software; www.solidoak.com, [800] 388-2761)

* SafeSurf (InterGo Communications; www.intergo.com, [972] 424-7882)

* Bess Filtering Services (N2H2 Software; www.n2h2.com, [800] 971-2622). This is an ISP that filters content for schools.

MODEMS

Companies providing connections via voice lines, ISDN and/or cable boxes

* Diamond Multimedia Supra; www.diamondmm.com, [800] 727-8772

* Hayes; www.hayes.com; [800] 377-4377

* Zoom; www.zoomtel.com, [800] 631-3116

WEB SITES

* The Network Buyers Guide from Strategic Research, http://www.sresearch.com

* Kids' Security on the Internet, http://jaring.nmhu.edu/kid-sec.htm

* 8 programs to Porn-Proof the Net, http://zeppo.cnet.com/Content/Reviews/Compare/Safesurf/index.html

* Microsoft in K-12 Education, http://www.microsoft.com/education/k12

* Apple Education, http://www.apple.com/education