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Today was a very happy and long awaited day for all at Knox Academy. Today we were finally converted to our high speed Wide Area Network (WAN). This conversion ultimately means that the speed and capacity of our Internet connection has dramatically increased. Prior to this up-grade, connecting to the Internet and school server could at times be very slow or impossible. This meant that to use the net with a whole class could be tricky. However, we now have our super new connection, which has a capacity to cope with the ever-increasing needs of online users. In order to allow the upgrade to take place, all machines within the School had to be switched off for the day. This meant that all staff were to be without computers or net access for the best side of the day. Having used a computer in nearly every lesson (at some point) for the last 5 years, is was quite a shock to myself, my colleagues and my pupils as to how accustomed (not depended) we have become. For the first time in three years I took out my old binder of hand-written OHTs (Over-Head Transparencies). When I started teaching OHTs were one of the best classroom resources; now, I can’t actually remember the last time I wrote one! I have to say, I did miss my PowerPoints today. But what about the pupils? What did they think of a day with out PowerPoint, Internet or virtual experiments? Their first complaint was with my writing- too small. To make the screen bigger means it becomes lighter. Next complaint- too faint!

Onto the practical side. Setting up an Elodea Bubbler experiment is part of a number of Biology courses. Although I always like to set this experiment up, the majority of times, it will not give you the results you require with in one lesson. I like to leave the experiment set up over night. In addition, we have a virtual Elodea Bubbler experiment online that I like to refer to. This resource allows pupil’s to alter variables such as CO2 concentration, temperature and light (these are factors that directly affect the rate at which photosynthesis occurs).

Not only can we easily alter the experiment we are also given results instantly. I will show the pupils this tomorrow as they were not overly enthused with looking at a piece of pondweed sitting under a lamp. 

Now that we have had the upgrade of our connection, using the Internet with classes will always be an easy, quick and even more enthusing experience. All boding well for EduBuzz and Glow! 

However, back to my original thought. Can I survive as a teacher with out my computer for a day? Answer- Yes, but it is nowhere as easy, engaging, interesting or fun. And my pupils agree!