Technology is constantly moving forward and innovation in ICT continues to challenge education, forcing the pace of change in didactic activity. Teachers in schools cannot afford to isolate themselves and they should examine new possibilities of teaching and learning carefully, as offered by new structures such as the local areas network (LAN).

One new and very important approach is collaboration between all members of our world, from teachers to students: the key aspect of the new didactic scenario is sharing resources, which can be facilitated by a Local Area Network. Under this process, we can integrate internal and external resources, making use of them at school, while able to communicate in the open space of the real world. This allows us to transcend traditional boundaries of study in a school environment and work together in cross-curricular ways, while working economically and effectively.

However, we need to remember that in this scenario, the role of the teacher is new and as yet not fully defined. The teacher becomes a kind of coordinator in a process of work, which focuses on motivating and guiding students in good ways of learning. This new perspective allows for an emphasis on interactivity and group work. In this way, a real learning community can come into prominence in our schools, with intellectual growth in different areas, by a process of sharing and comparing.

On a LAN, Classics Teachers can share:

• a personal folder in which to save lesson notes and all materials needed for daily work, such as Latin and Greek documents, pictures, texts and tests
• a classroom folder in which students can save their own documents or webpages from the Internet, as found in their own research or as suggested by teachers
• an archive of materials for shared access to support research or discussion, such as a school electronic library or personal electronic library to share with others
• a common and controlled use of the Internet and communication systems, such as email or chat
• equipment, such as printers or scanners

• But what is a LAN?

  A Local Area Network (LAN) is a structured network of computers connected in a clearly defined system and spread across a local area (a school, bank or other institution), to permit users to share documents, programs, printers and Internet connections across the computers. This can include software and hardware resources and allows network computers to make optimum use of shared resources. Many institutions in recent years and in different EU countries have installed a LAN because it can be an excellent support system for different educational objectives.

  A LAN, working as an intranet, can reproduce in a small scale many of the greatest advantages of the Internet.What do we need for a LAN?

  Essentially a LAN needs hardware and software. A network card has to be installed in each computer and then the connections have to be made and the software installed. Technical tasks of management should be reserved for network administrators. Often the only question a teacher should need to ask is, "Who is the Network Manager?".

  A LAN needs one or more administrators, depending on how extensive it is in terms of computer rooms and workstations. Basics tasks of management might include switching machines on and off, controlling log-in activity, assigning permissions to teachers and students in using the network.Why do we need a LAN?

  A well-implemented LAN guarantees that users can share a new, universal communication system and that students will be motivated by bringing their life in school closer to real life. The most fundamental aspect of its use is the sharing of resources, from didactic software to intranet productions, to websites on the Internet. In a modern day school environment, to be without a LAN is to be impoverished.The real advantage of a LAN

  A LAN brings a lot of advantages to a school, including:

  • Sharing of resources and data
  • Internet connections with controlled access and scheduled activities
  • Shared use of software and management of permissions, especially laboratory environments in networking mode
  • A lot of users can share expensive devices, such as printers and scanners
  • Communication by shared email systems
  • Teachers can show their own resources and control and assess students’ work directly
  • Contact with the outside, real world, within the safety of the school environment

  Further informationSee also LAN and didactic motives, in Italian, at http://www.docenti.org/td/riflessioni/larete.htm

  To learn more about technical details, topology and possibilities offered by a LAN:

  http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/cisintwk/ito_doc/introlan.htm

  To read about pedagogical and didactic uses of a LAN:

  http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/l/local_area_network_LAN.html In Italian language, you can find a lot of useful LAN details at: http://www.docenti.org