If a teacher is basing the students' lesson on a network resource, it's mission-critical and must be fault tolerant and redundant. More than 33,000 students have network accounts and can access everything the computer network has to offer, including the Net and educational videos. Students can log onto an electronic encyclopedia for information on topics from birds to the periodic table. They also can watch lectures held in other district locations from the desktop. Administrative and management departments utilize the network to communicate with staff members via videoconferencing, send e-mail, share files and printers and access the Internet.
Employees use desktop videoconferencing for staff development and planning.
For instance, staff members can access CD-ROM archives and legal information online. The Macintosh operating system's publish and subscribe feature lets users maintain a live link to important pieces of data. For teachers visiting Los Angeles County correctional facilities for GED instruction and vocational training, the computer network extends to these location s for administrative support, such as file sharing and videoconferencing. Inmates use the computers for their studies, but on a very limited basis, particularly with Internet access. They use self-contained software for studies.