Wireless Network Access Policy

[Marianne Hunter]

We are trying to increase the use of online teaching and learning tools by convincing our district tech people to allow open access to our wireless network. They are reluctant to do so. I'm searching for examples of policies that address this issue. Anyone out there letting students and/or teachers use their own computers to access the wireless network at their school?

[Jennifer Arnott]

We do - but with some limits.

Anyone can access our guest network which allows web access if they also have a password for the proxy: we don't filter, but we do require everyone - students, teachers, administrators, etc. - to log in to access any sites outside the school servers. (We have some temp passwords for things like substitutes, parents visiting to work on a volunteer task, etc.) In order to print or access FirstClass (our email program), machines must be registered on the network.

Registration requires having virus software installed (we install Sophos, unless they already have something installed and updated) and then sending the MAC address to our IS folks (this means that if they replace their computer, we have to re-register the new one.) The process takes about 20 minutes for the first part, and then 5 minutes the next day to confirm they're set up correctly and show them a couple of useful location settings.

[Marianne Hunter]

Thanks for your reply. That system seems workable to me, but our IT folks are reluctant, and maybe that's a time issue. Would you mind telling me the name of your district (or school) and where you're located?

[Megan Blakemore]

We have one-to-one laptops, so all students can access the web. We use our acceptable use policies as guidelines.