The following instructions can be used to set up a shared folder in a school or lab using networked Windows 95 or 98 computers. All computers which are connected to the same hub can be connected this way regardless of which room they are in.

Peer to Peer Networking
 

Step 1:  To Set Up File Sharing On The Host Computer:

1.      Open the control panel.

2.      Double click on "Network."

3.      Click the Identification tab.

4.      The computer name is listed here. Write down this name, which is a unique name in the system for the particular computer you are working on. It will probably be numbers like this: "68-1-118." Do not change this name, as it was chosen by the IS department and is related to other network settings.

Write the host computer name and keep it in a safe place ready for step 4

5.      Click on the Configuration tab.

6.      Click File and print sharing.

7.      A Small window will open. If "I want to be able to give others access to my files" is not selected, you should select it now.

8.      Press OK.                         If you made any change in step 7, you will be asked to reboot the computer.

Step  2:  To Create A Shared Folder On The Host Computer:

1.      Open windows explorer and create a new folder, with the name "shared".  This can be located anywhere on the hard drive, including the desktop.

2.      Right click on the folder, and select Sharing.

3.      Choose the access control required for the folder: read only, full or password. Select Full.  If you use a password, once other computers in the lab have used the password to log into this file, they will not be asked again if a virtual drive is mapped to reconnect at logon (see below), so this may have limited usefulness.

Step  3:  To Set All Lab Computers To Quick Logon:

1.      Open the control panel.

2.      Double click on "Network."

3.      Click on the Configuration tab.

4.      Under "The following network components…" double-click on Client for Microsoft Networks.

5.      Under Network Logon Options select Quick Logon.

6.      Click the OK Button.

7.      While you have the Network Dialog open, check the section for Primary Logon:  If this says Client for Microsoft Networks, the setting is incorrect for computers that do not have a true Fileserver.  This setting causes your computers to always ask for a password whenever they are booted, which is unnecessary in an elementary school. If you are only using peer networking in your lab, change this setting to Windows Logon so that students will not be asked for a password.

8.      Click the OK button in the Network settings window. You may be asked to reboot the computer.

Following Step 7 you may be asked if you want to keep an older or newer version of a file.  If so, always keep the newer version.

Step  4:  To Use The Shared Folders From Another Computer:

1.      Open Windows Explorer.

2.      If the toolbar is not visible, click on VIEW>TOOLBAR

3.      Click on the Map Network Drive button

4.      Select a drive letter that is not already in use (in this example, choose Z).  F, G and H are not recommended as these are in use on the main district servers, and their existence on your local network may confuse some users.

5.      Enter the path for the folder on the host computer.  For example:

\\68-1-118\sharedfolder

6.      Select the box beside Reconnect at Logon.

7.      Click OK.  A new network drive has been created, and is visible in My Computer and Explorer.  You can place a shortcut to the drive on the desktop if you want it to be really handy.

8.      Repeat steps 1 - 7 on all the computers in the lab that need access to the folder.

The new shared folder will now appear as a drive  icon in the My Computer folder on each computer. All students can save to the drive. Files can be opened by all students. However. It is important to remember that only certain kinds of files can be simultaneously opened by multiple students: HTML documents, database files and templates. Most other regular documents saved in the shared folder can only be opened by one person at a time.

Templates can be opened by multiple students at a time but they actually have a copy of the template which has to be saved with a new file name. The original template cannot be overwritten.

HTML documents can be read by any number of users simultaneously but if the document is edited it needs to be saved with a new name or the last person to save will overwrite every one else's work. An HTML form can be used to input various student's data simultaneously without danger of loosing any data. The data can be emailed automatically or stored in a text file and imported into a database manually later.

Database files (such as Access) would permit multiple students to access or enter data simultaneously.

Programs like MindManager have a function which permits collaborative planning or diagramming and more than one student is able to work on the same diagram at the same time without overwriting each other's work if they are also connected to the internet..