GoalDecide which information goes on a private school network (intranet) and which on the open web.
New words
private · for chosen people onlypublic · open for anyone to seeaudience · the people who read or see your workschool website · a public page about the school
Explanation
Before you share, think about your audience: who should see this? Information for the whole world goes on the open internet, such as a school website with the date of an open day. Information only for the school stays on the closed intranet, such as pupils’ marks, class lists and a draft timetable. A mistake in sharing can be hard to undo, because a picture on the open web may be copied by anyone. So choose the safer place when you are not sure, and ask your teacher. A good question is: would I be happy if every stranger could read this? If not, use the intranet.
Information
Where?
Why?
date of the open day
open web (school website)
everyone should know
pupils’ marks
intranet
private to the school
draft class timetable
intranet
not final yet
a poster for a charity day
open web
we want many people to come
Worked examples
The school wants to tell parents about the football match on Friday. It puts the date on the school website. Anyone may read it, and nothing private is on it.
Habiba’s teacher saves everyone’s marks on the school intranet. Only teachers and the pupil’s family can see their own marks. Other classes cannot.
Karim wants to share a photo of his class on the open web. His teacher asks, ‘Would you be happy if every stranger could see it?’ Karim says no, so they keep it on the intranet.
Class activity
Sort the shares. Write eight pieces of information on small cards (for example ‘a lost-and-found notice’, ‘the pupils’ phone numbers’, ‘an invitation to the school fair’, ‘a draft of next week’s lessons’). Make two columns, intranet and open web, and place each card. Explain two choices to a partner. Which cards were hard to place?
Practice
1
Which place is for information only the school should see?
The intranet.
2
Is a school’s open-day date public or private? Where does it go?
Public, on the open web (school website).
3
What question helps you choose where to share?
Would I be happy if every stranger could read this?
4
Where would you put pupils’ phone numbers?
On neither without a teacher’s permission; at most on the closed intranet.
