Assignment 4

Why is it advantageous for educators to share resources and programs on a network? What concerns are associated with program sharing?

The benefits of networking are obvious to anyone in education or any other field. In fact, it is quite difficult to comprehend a world where share folders, common printers, and even interconnected IP phones were not the norm. And yet, it still remains an elusive reality in a lot of school districts where clear advantages go beyond the understanding of some of those who are in control.
The expense associated with an organization without a good networking capability is just ridiculous and almost not worth mentioning. But often and as I hinted before, some administrators remain stubborn to the most basic necessities in technological advances; hence, a sufficient explanation is always useful to have at hand. At the same time, it is also worth recalling that dangers do exist in networking. Therefore, a good system is necessarily followed by a solid security and maintenance support, as attacks, failures, and accidents are too predictable and almost always sure to occur. It is not uncommon to hear of a whole system crippled by some twelve year old boy.
Coupled with a solid computer support system, computer networks are bound to evolve and continue to be part of education. In fact, the technology is growing so fast that it will ultimately go beyond the stationary and, as it is already seen in many places, be replaced by wireless systems.