Tour du Jour

The Senior Computer Information Technology students are studying introduction to networks right now. I asked Eric, the Technology Director at the JVS, where some wireless access points were around school. He dropped whatever it was that he was doing and offered to tour my students. It turned into an unplanned field trip, sans yellow school bus.

We learned where the catchments (new word to all of us) were located, how they came to be located where they were, and many of the other features and functions of the computer network at the JVS. It was quite interesting to learn how the school network was developed, and how a building that was 36 years old was adapted to handle the ever-changing needs of computer users. The JVS building was made to accommodate typewriters and telephones and is now rigged to host hundreds of computers, servers, printers, scanners, projectors, antennas, network equipment, and various copper and fiber optic cables. We saw the wizardry behind the screens that students gaze at everyday. We answered a question we had about whether the JVS network was a LAN or a WAN by learning that the features of the JVS network were really closer to a MAN. LANS, WANS, and MANS are all terms that describe networks.

What a great opportunity to connect our learning with a tour of the school network led by an enthusiastic tour guide. Eric is a former teacher of computer-related curriculum. His enthusiasm with the students makes me wonder if he doesn't occasionally miss his time in the classroom.