RFC 1941 (rfc1941) - Page 2 of 70
Frequently Asked Questions for Schools
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
RFC 1941 Frequently Asked Questions for Schools May 1996
1. Introduction
As more and more schools begin using technology to achieve
educational goals, access to the worldwide network of computer
networks known as the Internet is expanding. Help for schools in the
form of printed materials, electronic resources, and people is also
expanding. The Internet School Networking (ISN) group of the Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF) remains committed to articulating the
advantages of Internet connections for schools and providing
solutions to the challenges schools face in getting connected. The
FYI (For Your Information) series, which is a subset of the IETF-
produced RFCs (Requests for Comments) is one way to achieve these
goals. (See Appendix A, "Glossary of Terms Used in This Document" for
further explanation of "FYI" and "RFC.")
While the IETF and ISN are international groups, the authors of this
document are experienced only in bringing the Internet to schools in
the United States. We are aware that culture and the national economy
effect how one views the issues surrounding school networking. (To
give just one example, in the United States, educational reform is an
important reason for schools to get connected to the Internet. Other
countries may not have the same incentive to transform the teacher's
role to more of a guide toward knowledge and less of a sole provider
of information.) So, while this document may have a U.S. flavor, we
feel that the focus will not prevent it from being useful to those in
other countries!
Some of the questions educators have about the Internet are of a more
general nature, and for those we recommend reading FYI 4, "Answers to
Commonly Asked 'New Internet User' Questions." (For information on
how to get this and other IETF documents of interest to the general
Internet user, See Appendix B, "Ways to Get RFCs.")
Remember that the Internet is a changing environment. Although we
have tried to include only the most stable of network services and
contacts, you may still find that something listed is unavailable or
has changed. The positive side of this constant change is that you
will discover much on your own, and some of what you discover will be
new since the writing of this document.
This is an update of an earlier document (FYI 22/RFC 1578, "Answers
to Commonly Asked 'Primary and Secondary School Internet User'
Questions"), and renders that document obsolete. If future updates
are produced, the RFC number will change again, and the FYI number
(22) will remain the same.
Sellers & Robichaux Informational