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Posted
I have being trying for over a year to get a school to use VNC to enable visually impaired pupils at KS3 to receive the IWB image on their laptops. However there is a universal dislike of it down here in sunny Dorset. I am told it is too difficult to install, or too insecure or it will enable the student to corrupt the school network. I am unable to argue the case because I am a guest in the school and have no real authority to insist on it unless I envoke the DDA which is a big hammer and immediately gets backs up. All I want is access to the IWB!
Posted

The Main reason is that a student could then potentially view information they are not supposed to if they connect when they are not supposed to. We use it as a technical tool but not one if that way.

 

Personally for this type of thing there are better ways to do things then use VNC. Something like Adobe Connect but again there could be the same problem as above.

Posted
Thanks Glenda. I have been told that it opens up the system to the student. I am at my wits end on this one. My visually impaired students are at a real disdvantage and nobody seems to have a solution.
Posted
VNC is also about as efficient as a 18L V16 plane engine. It comes in many guieses some which may as well send BMP screenshots over the network and as such has rather large CPU usage in comparison to more efficient solutions designed for screencasting. Also all that is needed for all hell to break loose is one dodgey/corrupted/messed with setting on the host and then the 'viewer' has control, couple that with no-one else watching the PC and trouble follows.
Posted

Any of the Educational Tutor / Classroom Management based software will do what you need.

 

iTalc is a free version you could try I would suggest having a play with that first. Or if you want to pay for more features you could try RM Tutor, AB Tutor Control, Impero. Of the pay ones I would say AB Tutor is the best value.

  • Thanks 1
Posted

I'd definatly avoid sharing the whole screen, the last thing you want is for a teacher to freeze the screen via the projector to check their email and still have pupils able to view it

 

You'd want something that only shares what you want to share - I know webex does this but haven't looked at the software mentioned above

Posted
If you secure it with something like VNCScan, it's actually a very effective tool for school admins. I'm not going to be a spammer and post a link so if you want to check it out, you can Google VNCscan or Bozteck. :-)
Posted (edited)

(Slighly off topic to the orginal post, sorry!)

 

I'm a little confused why some people can get a bit touchy with VNC........I've used it my last 2 places and works great if you configure it correctly, firstly down the VNC Deployment Tool:

 

RealVNC - VNC® Deployment Tool

 

Create your config with the deployment tool (encryption, password etc etc) and then download VNC software and install only the server part on a workstation remotely

 

RealVNC - Download VNC® software

 

I think its a great little tool and saved my legs walking everywhere! :)

Edited by IanT
Posted

The problem is that the logistics of visually challenged students moving around the school and allocating a VNC viewing session to them just for one lesson that just lets them view the teachers screen in the classroom they are in. Basically VNC doesnt have the admin options to securely deal with making sure that the pupils that need to can use it and the pupils that shouldn't be using it don't.

 

I use it in my primaries where its installed on the visually challenged pupil's laptop but of course security/abuse isn't an issue.

 

Si

Posted
Um - we just use a splitter and connect the student's laptop using this so that they can see what is on the whiteboard screen. Obviously it means a cable lying about but the visually impaired student is usually at the front of the class anyway so it isnt too much of an issue. In the IT suite we have a splitter and a cable that goes up through the ceiling space, coming down above the first machine for when it is needed.
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Posted
Not that the OP seemed too interested in other solutions.

 

I think he'll go with any solution that school tech teams will allow :)

 

He just doesn't understand that they view VNC as too insecure and open to to much abuse to allow on the networks :)

 

That desktop sharing app looks as if if might tick all the boxes :)

 

Si

Posted
I wouldn't use VNC - for me it allows too much access, even witht the client sat there idle. We use Impero and I could not champion it enough. It's a product I've been with since V1.0 and it's best in my opinion as its been written by people who worked in education! The broadcast facility would enable the staff to deliver full screen copies of any work on their screen, straight to the pupils laptop etc. Not to add the fact that the logging, hierarchical web filtering, file send and remote log on etc are all valuable lab management tools.
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Posted
It's a product I've been with since V1.0 and it's best in my opinion as its been written by people who worked in education!

 

Careful there, education written software can be some of the worst software known to man. Written by some english teacher who fancies themselves a developer after running though a few tutorials on Flash or worse, 'education proffessionals' from universities who manage to make simple quiz applications 700mb in size and use every bit of open source software that exists.

 

Ideally you want the ideas and the input of the technical and teaching side while the software side is handled by people who know what they are doing in terms of software.

  • Thanks 2
Posted

I completely agree with you on this one... I will rephrase my badly written post!

 

The idea was conceived by a couple of chaps who had experience managing school IT infrastructure. The product has developed over several years with input coming via their forums and support desk, allowing educators to suggest features and changes. This on top of a stable product, makes it an ideal choice for what you are trying to achieve here and I am using the product to do just what is described.

 

:)

  • Thanks 1
Posted
Careful there, education written software can be some of the worst software known to man. Written by some english teacher who fancies themselves a developer after running though a few tutorials on Flash or worse, 'education proffessionals' from universities who manage to make simple quiz applications 700mb in size and use every bit of open source software that exists.

 

Ideally you want the ideas and the input of the technical and teaching side while the software side is handled by people who know what they are doing in terms of software.

 

Can honestly say Lee & Jon are not English teacher who through they were developers... :) Just clarify Lee & Jon worked as IT Managers and from that the product developed... In fact Lee & Jon even through we have expanded our development teams still today do some coding on the product..

 

Making it useful for schools is probably number one focus of the product maybe why developers hate me so much ;)

 

Russell

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