Okay, I'm Convinced...Now How Do I Convince Others?

Even after you're convinced of the value of having the Internet in your classroom, there are still plenty of other people whose opinions you'll have to sway to pull it off. Below we list some common questions which you're sure to run into, and their answers.

• How do I develop a technology plan?
• What technologies will I need to know about to make an informed choice?
• How do I convince the school board or the PTA to build a network?

How do I develop a technology plan?

• National Center for Technology Planning -- The NCTP has an entire site full of information for how to develop a technology plan and then enact it.
• K-12 Technology Planning at State, Local and District Levels

What technologies will I need to know about to make an informed choice?

• The PC-Mac TCP/IP & NFS FAQ gives some good information on TCP/IP and how it works with both Macintosh computers and PC's; a good basic understanding of Internet protocols.

How do I convince the school board and the PTA to build a network?

• Getting Support from Those Around You is an interview with Sue Rogers of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, conducted by your own NOC administrator on how to get support from parents, administrators, etc., and what resources are available here in North Carolina.
• How to Rebut Arguments Against Your School Going Online is a well-organized and convincing argument which offers rebuttals for all the most common excuses not to mix classes and the Internet.
• FYI RFC #1578, from NASA NREN/Sterling Software, answers many questions about why and how the Internet can be used in conjunction with the classroom.