Activity 1: School Infrastructures activity
 Module 5: Connectivity, Infrastructure & Networks

Overview & Instructor Notes

This activity has two purposes:

• To consider various configurations of hardware, software, and communications for use in a school and to design a strategy to maximize the benefits for students and teachers.
• To engage participants in considering the human variables to consider when implementing ICT infrastructures in schools. The effect of teacher acceptance of using technology may be a more critical variable for the success of ICT in schools than whether or there is a local area network or a single computer in the school.

The scenarios should be adapted to fit the current situation in the host country to make this activity more relevant.

Have each group consider scenario one and then report to the large group. Then have them each consider the second and subsequent scenarios reporting back to the group after each scenario with their decisions.

This activity takes between 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete.

Activity

Instructions - Groups: One | Two | Three | Four

Group One

Describe how you would arrange the use of the computer hardware in the situation described below to maximize the benefit for the students, teachers, and the community.

Scenario One

The school has 350 students, 15 teachers, and 1 computer. The computer has a printer and a modem with a telephone connection.

Scenario Two

This is the same school you worked with in scenario one; the situation has changed as described below.

In the school there are 350 students and 15 teachers. There are 20 computers without hardware to network them. There are 5 printers and 3 modems with telephone connections.

Scenario Three

Describe how you would arrange the use of the computer hardware in the situation described below to maximize the benefit for the students, teachers, and the community. This is the same school you worked with in previous scenarios; the situation has changed as described below.

There are 2 teachers who are very enthusiastic about the use of technology in the school, they are quite skilled and willing to stay up late and experiment. Of the remaining 13 teachers, 8 are skeptical about the value of the technology and 5 are interested but quite worried about their ability to learn the new things.

Scenario Four

Describe how you would arrange the use of the computer hardware in the situation described below to maximize the benefit for the students, teachers, and the community. This is the same school you worked with in previous scenarios. This scenario describes the community in which the school is located.

The parents and citizens of the neighbourhood are excited about the introduction of IC technology into the school. Many of them have expressed interest in learning about the technology.

Group Two

Describe how you would arrange the use of the computer hardware in the situation described below to maximize the benefit for the students, teachers, and the community.

Scenario One

The school has 350 students, 15 teachers, and 1 computer. The computer has a printer and a modem with a telephone connection.

Scenario Two

Describe how you would arrange the use of the computer hardware in the situation described below to maximize the benefit for the students, teachers, and the community. This is the same school you worked with in scenario one; the situation has changed as described below.

In the school there are 350 students and 15 teachers. There are 20 computers with hardware to network them. There are 2 printers and 1 modem with a telephone connection.

Scenario Three

Describe how you would arrange the use of the computer hardware in the situation described below to maximize the benefit for the students, teachers, and the community. This is the same school you worked with in previous scenarios; the situation has changed as described below.
The 15 teachers are united in their skepticism about the value of the technology in the school. One teacher said, "I don't understand how a bunch of new toys will help us when we lack so many other things!" and the other teachers agreed.

Scenario Four

Describe how you would arrange the use of the computer hardware in the situation described below to maximize the benefit for the students, teachers, and the community. This is the same school you worked with in previous scenarios. This scenario describes the community in which the school is located.

The local community college has expressed an interest in using the school's equipment for adult upgrading classes after school hours. Several volunteer community groups are excited about the possibilities that enhanced communication will provide them and are actively inquiring about using the schools equipment.

Group Three

Describe how you would arrange the use of the computer hardware in the situation described below to maximize the benefit for the students, teachers, and the community.

Scenario One

The school has 350 students, 15 teachers, and 1 computer. The computer has a printer and a modem with a telephone connection.

Scenario Two

Describe how you would arrange the use of the computer hardware in the situation described below to maximize the benefit for the students, teachers, and the community. This is the same school you worked with in scenario one; the situation has changed as described below.

In the school there are 350 students and 15 teachers. There are 30 computers without hardware to network them. There are 6 printers and 4 modems with telephone connections.

Scenario Three

Describe how you would arrange the use of the computer hardware in the situation described below to maximize the benefit for the students, teachers, and the community. This is the same school you worked with in previous scenarios; the situation has changed as described below.

There are 2 teachers who are strongly opposed to any use of technology in the school and 2 who are strongly in favour of a rapid introduction of the technology. The other 11 teachers are undecided and have been lost in the disagreement between the other 4 teachers.

Scenario Four

Describe how you would arrange the use of the computer hardware in the situation described below to maximize the benefit for the students, teachers, and the community. This is the same school you worked with in previous scenarios. This scenario describes the community in which the school is located.

Many of the parents fear that introduction of the ICT will lead to a reduction of the time spent on the basics of education which they feel their children must know to be successful after school. While they are not opposed to the technology they are worried about the time that will be taken from other subjects.

Group Four

Describe how you would arrange the use of the computer hardware in the situation described below to maximize the benefit for the students, teachers, and the community.

Scenario One

The school has 350 students, 15 teachers, and 1 computer. The computer has a printer and a modem with a telephone connection.

Scenario Two

Describe how you would arrange the use of the computer hardware in the situation described below to maximize the benefit for the students, teachers, and the community. This is the same school you worked with in scenario one; the situation has changed as described below.

In the school there are 350 students and 15 teachers. There are 20 computers without hardware to network them. There are 5 printers and 3 modems with telephone connections.

Scenario Three

Describe how you would arrange the use of the computer hardware in the situation described below to maximize the benefit for the students, teachers, and the community. This is the same school you worked with in previous scenarios; the situation has changed as described below.
There are 10 teachers who are excited about the enhanced opportunities for students that the technology will provide and 5 who have taken a wait and see attitude.

Scenario Four

Describe how you would arrange the use of the computer hardware in the situation described below to maximize the benefit for the students, teachers, and the community. This is the same school you worked with in previous scenarios. This scenario describes the community in which the school is located.

The local library is very excited about the introduction of ICT into the school; they feel that as the students become familiar with the technology they will be a valuable resource for the library. The Chamber of Commerce, in particular a local handicraft coop, is interested in using the Internet to expand their business opportunities and is optimistic that the school may provide assistance.