03+Network+Project+-+File+Syncing+Between+Home+and+School

The video (below) is a presentation designed for teachers to introduce them to network computing and file syncing. I created this video in partial fulfillment of the requirement for Ed Tech 541, one of the graduate courses at Boise State University that I am taking to pursue a Master's degree in Educational Technology. A teacher lesson plan is included below.


 * Name **: Kyle Purpura


 * Lesson Title **: File Syncing Between Home and Work Networks


 * Introduction **: This is a screencasted PowerPoint tutorial for teachers presenting an overview of networks, the basic terminology associated with networks, file management between two networks, and syncing files between two networks. The lesson focused on teachers’ home and work networks (PANs and LANs). The tutorial guides the teachers through the process of using Windows Live Mesh to sync home and work computers.


 * Content Area and Grade or Age Level of Students **: Professional educators.


 * Objectives **: Teachers will be able to:
 * Define the terms, “network”, “PAN” (Personal Area Network), “LAN” (Local Area Network), and “sync”
 * Distinguish among peer-to-peer networks, client-server networks, and cloud-based networks
 * Address the importance of maintaining synced files located on two or more computing machines
 * Set up a syncing system using Windows Live Mesh


 * Standards Addressed: **not applicable


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Relative Advantage: **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Windows Live Mesh keeps files stored in multiple locations (like work and home) synced. This saves the teacher time by eliminating the need to email or swap files via a flash drive. This is also a much safer way of keeping files maintained because Live Mesh backs the files up via a cloud storage system.


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Timeline **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">: 1 to 1½ hours


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Materials: **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Teachers either each working at individual computer stations in a computer lab or teachers with their own laptops; lesson loaded on the school server or third party website for teachers to access in lieu of a physical handout.


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Grouping Strategies: **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Teachers have the choice to work individually or in pods of 2-3


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Learning Activities: **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Teachers download the lesson from the school intranet or Internet (depending on the technology of the school involved). After a brief introduction, teachers view the video with the instructor circulating to address questions or troubleshoot problems. Teachers then follow the directions to install Windows Live Mesh, perhaps setting up Windows Live accounts if need be. Each teacher follows the tutorial to set up their Window Live Mesh accounts. The group can then break up and the instructor can work with individual teachers to sync work computers with home computers (for teachers with laptops as home computers).


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Assessment: **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Instructor can verify with individual teachers that Windows Live Mesh has been installed and set up correctly.


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Adaptations for Learners with Special Needs: **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">The tutorial is self-paced and the instructor is available for individual attention.


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">References: **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">References for the photographs used in the presentation are listed on the “Photo Credits” slide of the PowerPoint.

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