Technical
Preparation
- Meet with the
site administrator, the school organizer, and the school
facilities manager or engineer to conduct a site survey,
then complete a wiring plan. The facilities administrator
or engineer will know how to make the work conform to code,
what permitting issues are at stake, and how to avoid hazards
such as asbestos.
- With
the school or district facilities manager
or engineer, document the materials needed
to figure a budget. Give the school organizer
a copy of the documentation and budget so
that he or she can proceed with obtaining
a NetDay wiring kit and other needed materials.
Volunteer
Preparation
- Meet with the
school organizer to assess the skills of the volunteers.
(The Web site classifies volunteers by skill level, from
experienced Category 5 cable installer to handyperson to
quick learner/willing volunteer.) List the areas to be wired
and assign team leaders and team members to each. Installers
or other people who know how to get into ceilings, read blueprints,
and use power tools make good team leaders. Five people make
up an ideal team - the team leader, two people to "spot" or
hold the ladder, and two more to run errands and feed the
cable to the person on the ladder.
- If
you can't find technicians to volunteer as
team leaders, organize a pre-NetDay training
session to show the NetDay wiring video (see
the Web site or contact your state organizer
for information on getting a copy).
Site
Preparation
- Make sure that
the tools and ladders are set up before the volunteers arrive;
don't make people wait around to start working. You may want
to ask volunteers to bring tools and equipment such as wire
strippers and ladders; ask sponsors to supply more specialized
wiring items such as punch-down tools and testing equipment.
- Clearly
label the classrooms to be wired and the
locations of the drops, or spots where jacks
are to be installed in each schoolroom.
- Work
with the
school organizer
to ensure
that the
NetDay kit
arrives at
the school
in time for
NetDay. See
the NetDay
Cable Installation
Guide for
a list of
suggested
tools and
supplies.
On
NetDay
- Before any work
starts, meet with the volunteers. Walk the teams through
the school to go over what they'll be doing, where to do
it, and the schedule. Post the wiring plan and team assignments.
- A
typical schedule is work from 9:00 a.m. to
noon, break for lunch and photos, then go
back to work until around 3 or 4 p.m. The
time it takes to wire a room depends partly
on the distance between the classroom and
the central point; plan for about three hours
per room. Monitor the teams' progress.
- Test
the connections.
Be sure to
document
what-ever
you install.
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