[LM_NET] VENT: Hold their feet to the fire! File management!

[Harry Coffill <HCoffill@EGRPS.ORG>]

Friends,
 
I just spent 20+ minutes with a student who needed a file converted from *.docx to 
*.doc. The papers were, of course, due at 8 am.
 
Our district provides home file access through our network. Students can reach 
their network folders from home through net folders. It's simple to set up and use. 
We've made instruction sheets for them and put instructions in their planners. 
We're open and honest about our district software capabilities. (XP, Office 2000.) 
This students work was, of course, on an external flash-drive that required a 
software install. (You cannot install software on a student machine at our school.)
 
So, let's recap:
Due RIGHT NOW
Not printed
Wrong file format
Wrong storage device
(and no "thank you" at the end of the transaction!)
 
It's a really simple matter to include in your rubric that software incompatibility 
is not an excuse for late work. But I have staff members who baby students through 
this important skill! It's the "My little sister ate my homework" of the 21st 
century.
 
The equation is simple, and timeless. IF YOUR WORK IS LATE, YOU ARE PENALIZED. (Are 
future employers going to say "That's ok--we understand that you don't know how to 
save an Office document.")
 
Today's students deserve to be held to the same standards they always have been. 
Work is submitted on-time and in the format expected.
 
We teach kids to put their names on their work, use MLA headings, etc. Why is it 
that much more complicated to teach them to use *.RTF?!
 
You can't imagine (actually, you probably can...) the blank stares I get from 
students when I tell them we simply can't convert their ka-schmillion k *.pptx file 
mail-attachment from hot-mail. ("But I need it NOW!")
 
Teachers--hold their feet to the fire! Remember "Lack of planning on your part does 
not constitute an emergency on my part!"
 
Sorry, Vent over.
 
(Wait, no. "AAAAAAUGH!" OK, vent over now.)
 
Harry
 
 
 
 
Harry F. Coffill
hcoffill@egrps.org 
Media Center Specialist
East Grand Rapids Middle School
Drama Department
East Grand Rapids High School 

"A learning experience is one of those things that say, 'You know that thing you 
just did? Don't do that.'"-- Douglas Adams

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