[LM_NET] Gen: Why can't I play games?

[Harry Coffill <HCoffill@EGRPS.ORG>]

LM_Netters-

I recently shared this with my staff and thought you might enjoy it, too.

Harry



Staff-

I have had several students in the past 3 days ask:

"Why can't I play games on-line?"

It's not because I'm a meanie--staff members should know the real reasons why.

--If you think of our Internet access as a pipe, it helps explain why access might 
slow down at points during the day. Do we want file saving at the end of the hour 
(when games are typically played) being clogged up by a kid playing breakout? Games 
are resource-intensive, too, and can slow down computers.

--Games can leave "cookies" on the computer that can slow down machines for others!

--Games, especially from shockwave.com, can come bundled with spyware. Most 
shockwave games go through a small installation before running on a computer. We 
don't know what else is coming with that copy of "Bejewelled." We don't want to 
completely block shock content, as there is some legitimate web content that uses 
it, but we don't need to add to our network's workload with more spyware. When you 
decide to let your students play a game, it affects everyone else who needs to use 
those computers!

--There are lots of inappropriate on-line games! (One where a playground bully 
smacks kids in a sandbox with a shovel comes to my mind!)

--Are they really educational? (Really?)

The LMC is happy to host your students with magazines, newspapers, books, or our 
stellar view of the lake, but we cannot allow students to use the Internet to play 
games in their "spare" time!

Thanks for your understanding.

Harry


Harry F. Coffill
hcoffill@egrps.org
Media Center Specialist
East Grand Rapids Middle School
TV Production
East Grand Rapids High School

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