Students will soon be able to access wireless Internet from their mobile devices with the introduction of a network open to students, according to Palo Alto Unified School District technology director Ann Dunkin.
While there is currently a school wireless network in place, it is password-protected and can only be accessed by school laptops. Dunkin said the new network will be open for use by all students once it is operational.
“The equipment arrived a couple days ago and network manager Mark Wei is in the process of setting it up,” Dunkin said. “Both Paly and Gunn [High School] were very supportive of giving students wireless access.”
The Paly administration is now working on an access agreement with the district that must be signed by students and parents to gain access to the network once it is online.
“The access agreement is in development,” Dunkin said. “I’ve drafted it and sent [the agreement] to a few people at both high schools to review. After they have reviewed it, the school and district administrators and the district’s attorneys will review the agreement.”
According to Dunkin, the access agreement will likely cover the acceptable devices, content, personal responsibility, security, appropriate and inappropriate use, privacy expectations, disruptive activity, unauthorized networks, use of wired networks and consequences.
The new network was funded by money from the Information Technology budget and will provide more than just student access.
“The money for the student wireless came from the IT operations budget,” Dunkin said. “The same equipment will be used to provide guest wireless access to campus visitors and access for adult school students.”
According to Vice Principal Todd Feinberg, the administration has not set a date for when students will be able to access the network, as the acceptable use policy has not been completed. However, he expressed no concerns involving student wireless use.
“It really isn’t any different than having 3G capabilities on iPhones,” Feinberg said. “Class rules will still apply for usage of personal devices during class. Having WiFi access would not change this policy.”
A network for students was first tested at Paly in May 2009, but students were unable to join the network.
Teacher Pat O’Hara believes student wireless access will be a positive addition to Paly.
“I think it will be a good thing in general,” O’Hara said. “Many students have access to Internet content today via 3G. Access for more students would be a good thing, although I do have some concerns with additional student distraction.”
Junior Cooper Levitan expressed optimism when told of the new wireless network.
“I think it would be good because it would allow students to have a lot more mobility while at school and it could help get work done faster,” Levitan said.
Senior Malaika Drebin had a similar view.
“While I think there’s potential for wireless access to cause people to use their phones more often in class, it will give students greater access and allow them to use their laptops at school,” Drebin said.