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The Use of Intranets in Schools - P.J. Challinor

We are all aware of the internet and the world wide web. It's basically a group of computers joined together, which are being used for the exchange of information. It is, however, a direct precursor of a much more important development that involves unprecedented, inexpensive communication. All computers will be connected together to communicate with us and for us, forming a global network which is being called the information highway and which constitutes a major revolution in how information is transmitted, accumulated and used.

The development of the information highway is currently underway; no-one knows what promises and perils await us. The current Internet has given us a glimpse of some of the undesirable elements that may arise, for example, pornography and excessive violence. Schools are hence, very cautious and hesitant in their adoption of the Internet. The advantages for schools are, however, very clear. 

How can we overcome education's fears of the Internet, it's technology and what it represents?

The Intranet

One of the concerns of schools is the cost of setting up an Internet system. Although it is relatively cheap, there are the costs of a new phone line and its use to be considered. Security is another issue. Access to unsuitable material needs to be eliminated, and although many Internet providers offer some protection, none can guarantee against children actually being able to access this type of material.

How can we make the Internet, or it's concept, of immediate use to teachers other than those who actually teach Information Technology? Time is precious to teachers. Surfing the Internet to find a required piece of information can take time unless you know exactly where to look?

There is a way in which all of these points can be addressed, which would allow a gradual introduction to the Internet proper; how it works, using the salient software correctly, what it can offer etc. In fact, a method, which if adopted with enthusiasm, could offer a school much more in the short term than immediate connection to the internet ever could. All the hype for the Internet is disguising the development of a much more potent tool. A tool that is currently achieving far more interesting results in business and industry by using the same technology internally. It's called the Intranet.

You can think of an Intranet as a closed garden internet. Users of the Intranet can "surf" within a closed environment. Offering no access to the outside world has obvious advantages for security. This does not mean that the Intranet can not be connected to the Internet. It's just a way of providing a standardised environment for managing information; in essence it's a big, functional web site. You can connect to the Internet or stay on your own, it doesn't matter.

Recent surveys, for example, the Wharton Information Systems survey, have found that the number of Intranets in place in the UK, is expected to grow by some 100 per cent per year - and that this rate of growth will actually increase each year for the next four years. The IT industry considers this extraordinary success to be due to the fact that the intranet is so good at delivering information quickly, and at a low cost. Over half of the new web sites currently being created are intended for internal use. There are good reasons for this. Intranets are a quick and efficient method of delivering the right information into the right hands. People can therefore make more informed decisions, faster. Using an Intranet system requires only those skills users presently need to exploit the Internet. Email on an Intranet, allowing a full interchange of information regardless of the type of computer, physical location or network connection, is possible.

Another advantage is cost. There are no phone charges for calls or the rental of a telephone line. You don't need a modem. All that is needed is the same software that you would use on the Internet i.e. a web browser, and an HTML file author. You can get this software free. The better software, however, you have to pay for.

"Intranet" is a confusing term. I prefer the term "virtual web". In any case, there is a general consensus that the term refers to the use of Internet Technology, most notably the Web browser as the client software, on a private network. The network does not necessarily have to be local. Many teachers would benefit from school network connection at home, and one can envisage many advantages were secondary schools to be connected to their feeder schools and other important establishments e.g. a local college or university. Schools could connect to business partners, industrial and community links could be enhanced, all providing for cost savings in time. Intranet partners could access school information, press materials, artwork, news, events, etc. via password-protected access to appropriate parts. All of this is currently possible.

So, what can a school expect to gain from the adoption of an Intranet system?

1. It allows the development of Internet skills by staff and pupils without the need for connection to the internet.
2. It assists the implementation of the statutory requirements for the teaching of IT at Key Stage 4.
3. It offers opportunities for pupil creativity in a new medium.
4. It facilitates improved school communication. (Less paper must be a good thing.)
5. It provides pupils and staff with easy access to important information e.g. exam results, school diary, worksheets etc. The ease of access to this information will ensure faster and more informed decisions.
6. It's ease of use may encourage reluctant computer users to participate more.
7. The development of a web site before linking to the Internet means that schools will have more to offer the Internet community when it eventually goes on line.
8. The possibility exists of extending the system out over the Internet to reach business partners, other educational establishments and links with industry and the community.
9. Pupils will become familiar and comfortable with a technology which will undoubtedly play an important part in their future lives.

Intranet at Painsley R.C High School (North Staffordshire)

Painsley has been developing its Intranet over the last two years and is now at the stage where pupils and staff are surfing the internal network with few inhibitions and much enthusiasm. Staff are using the Intranet to post important teaching and departmental information. Pupils are using the Intranet to, among other things, check when their homework is due in, practice their knowledge of maths by using the worksheets in the Maths Department’s Web site, check the school calendar for important events, see the date of the next chess club meeting, see if there are any special requirements for their R.E coursework, see what is this month’s prize for being the first to solve the mathematics problem of the month, research into the Korean War for GCSE History etc. All staff have e-mail addresses and new web sites within the Intranet are constantly being created and updated by staff and pupils alike. Examination results and pupil options for Year 10 are being entered into databases using interactive form pages and children are enrolling into clubs via any terminal.

Although the Intranet was originally set up by two teachers, Peter Weatherby and Peter Challinor, the project has really expanded and progressed through the creation of an Intranet Building Team managed and run completely by pupils. At present there are over 20 members of the team, split into 6 groups. Each group has a team leader who is responsible to two Deputy WebMasters, who are in turn responsible to the WebMaster. Each group has specific duties such as error checking / problem identification and solution, graphics creation, departmental web site development, staff page development, administration web site development, pupil page and web site development and help development.

The team members carry out day to day management tasks and offer staff the service of web page, or web site development, and even training if necessary. The pupils are extremely keen and enjoy the autonomy they are given. Of course, they are monitored and nothing is allowed on the Intranet, which is unsuitable, but to date, there have been few problems. The pupils enjoy the Intranet too much to risk having their privileges revoked. Those involved feel a great sense of pride and accomplishment, stemming from the knowledge that they are amongst the very few persons in the UK using an Intranet in school. The prospect of going "on line" via the Internet provides a tremendous motivation for them to improve the quality in their work. The fact that their work will be out there for the world to see makes it all the more important and worthwhile.

The more pupils that become interested and involved with the Intranet, the faster it will grow as a platform for them to learn that their words, pictures and ideas have value, and that they have as much potential as anyone else, and the means of communicating and distributing their ideas and knowledge.

I believe that Intranets will revolutionise computing and communications in education. All published surveys indicate that Intranets are going to be very big. It shouldn’t be a matter of if your school should adopt intranet technology, but when. Perhaps the answer is "before other schools do". You can find a sample of the Painsley RC High School Intranet at http://www.painsley.org.uk/painsleyintranet/default.htm.

Revised: 24 August 1998. (e-mail at [email protected])