2004-2005 School Year

Minooka Community High School

Technology Primer

Dear students,

MCHS underwent one of the biggest technology upgrades in its history this past summer, and you are the first year to see the new capabilities. Below is a quick overview on how to gain access to the systems. I'd like you to PLEASE review the technology rules that follow. The tech department is re-doubling its efforts to keep our equipment in good shape. Know that the rules outlined at the bottom of this document will be enforced to the fullest. Also know that the tech department will go out of its way to help you with any problem, and is always available to answer any questions you may have. Though the course of the school year we will release updates on how to use the equipment. You will see them appear in the labs from time to time.
Use the equipment as much as you want, work hard, work safe, and have a great year.

Les Kern III

Director of Technology

Debbie Dobson

Assistant Technology Director

Network Access Primer – Minooka Community High School 2004-2005 School Year

Overview:

Almost all of your work, whether on a laptop or desktop, will take place across the network. When you log into a machine, you are connecting to your share point on a server. The only exception to this is in the case of making an iMovie or a DVD. Our security in the past has been pretty good, but this year it was improved further. Know that the tech department can trace everything you do; what web sites you go to, documents you made, what you threw in the trash, how long you were on and where, etc. We can even watch your screen as you work and record it.

Next Page: Logging in and what you see

The login screen is identical on every machine at MCHS. Enter your FULL name in SMALL letters like the picture below. Use the name you were enrolled with. It would be more like "michaelsmith" not "mikesmith"

Your password is your student ID number. Later we will get a sheet describing how to change it.

Enter the info and press your return key (Or the log in button)

You may not see the next screen UNLESS you are in a workgroup. Workgroups are set up for the web class, yearbook and newspaper. More on this later. If you see this screen, click on the STUDENT icon. (We have four student servers, hence the number "4" on this user)

Immediately double-click on the "Macintosh HD" icon so your desktop looks like the picture below.

This is a busy screen, but let's take a few minutes to describe it. Remember, you are on a server, NOT the machine in front of you!

1. The "House" (A) with your name on it is your "home" folder on the server. In it are folders you will be using to store your work.

2. You must keep your work in the "Documents" folder (B) When you generate a file, it will save by DEFAULT to this location. So no mater where you log on in the school, your documents will follow you.

3. The "dock" (C) has often used applications, but they are NOT the ONLY applications you can use.

Accessing the "DROP" server

On the dock there is an icon. Put your mouse over it, and see that it is named "DROP.MCHS.NET" This is a quick link to get you on the teacher drop server.

Go ahead an click it once.

You will be asked to log in. Notice your name here is "last, first". It is equivalent to, in this case, "andrewfryer". (Thanks Andrew for the use of your login!). Use the SAME password you used to log into the machine itself.

Andrew is a member of the workgroup "yearbook_publishing". You may have other choices, but all of you have the "drop_boxes" option. Double click on DROP BOXES.

Notice that the LEFT column now has an icon called "drop_boxes". Find the teacher you want to give a file to, and drag/drop on the "HAND IN" folder. Anything a teacher wants to give YOU will be OUTSIDE this box. (Warning: remember record ALL of your actions! Dropping inappropriate things to teachers will be dealt with severely!)

Let's log out now. Go to the Apple Menu and select logout (name)

You are back to the login screen, and your first visit was a success.

If you are a member of a workgroup, now log in again and select the workgroup. In this case for Andrew it's "Yearbook". Notice: Your SHARED directory (A) for Yearbook is mounted for you to access. Different icons appear on the dock. You still have access to the teacher drop boxes on the dock. Saving to the SHARED folder is NOT the default! Watch where you save your work! If you open a document in the shared directory as opposed to making a new one, it IS the default save location.

WARNING! Working on an iMovie or DVD MUST be done locally! More info will be coming your way on the procedure, but below is the "path" your files must be kept. After the movie is created, you can drag it to your documents folder.

Noteice below the "path for LOCAL saves (saved on the desktop in front of you), is: Macintosh HD > Users > Shared

If you attempt to work on a multimedia project across the network, it will be horribly slow, and MAY cause your computer to crash!

A Final Note

The technology department worked incredibly hard this summer readying these machines for you. But like all technology, it can go crazy on occasion. We attempted to test every conceivable problem, but it's impossible to test everything. Please remember the following:

1. Computers freeze, that's the way it is. BE SURE to SAVE your work REGULARLY! Every few sentences, hit the APPLE and "S" key.

2. Report problems immediately. If you lose a file we might be able to save it, if YOU saved it!

3. If the computer freezes, hold the power button in for 7 seconds, then restart. It should be fine.

4. The tech department is here for you. Stop by if you have a question. We'd be glad to help you.

STUDENT REGULATIONS Ð Technology

From the Student Handbook Ð Minooka Community High School

1. Action: Defacing equipment, including but not limited to writing on or covering the equipment with any foreign substance. Reaction: replacement costs, forbid use of equipment for one calendar month, any other action deemed appropriate by administration.

2. Action: Unauthorized attempts at access to critical areas on our network, including but not limited to downloading or bringing in software to accomplish this. Reaction: Forbid use of equipment for one calendar year, any replacement or consultant costs, any other action deemed appropriate by administration. Any success in access of critical areas including but not limited to teachers stations or any server the student is not authorized to use will see a penalty as stated above and to include any indicated retribution and police involvement.

3. Action: Downloading materials from the Internet that are considered unacceptable, including objectionable graphics or links to inappropriate sites and software considered damaging. Reaction: forbid use of equipment for one calendar month, other action as suggested by administration.

4. Action: Tampering with the equipment in any way, including but not limited to network interfaces, mice and peripherals. Reaction: replacement costs, forbid use of any and all equipment in the building for one calendar year, other actions as suggested by the administration.

5. Action: Theft of computers and/or computer components, including but not limited to mice, mouse balls, wires and interface components. Reaction: replacement costs, file charges with the police liaison, forbid use of any and all equipment in the building for one calendar year, other actions as suggested by the administration.

6. Action: Wanton damage/destruction of computers and peripheral equipment. Reaction: replacement costs, police involvement, forbid use of any and all equipment in the building for one calendar year, other actions as suggested by the administration.

7. Action: Using the MCHS servers for sharing files for the purpose of cheating, storing unauthorized software and any other copy-written materials, using e-mail for cheating, modifying, erasing or removing files that do not belong to you. Reaction: Forbid use of any and all equipment in the building for up to one calendar year, other actions as suggested by the administration.

L Kern Debbie Dobson

Director of Technology Assistant to the Director