> >From: MX%"CSTP-OPS@CSTP.UMKC.EDU" 6-NOV-1996 17:56:26.15 >To: MX%"cstp-ops@CSTP.UMKC.EDU" >CC: >Subj: cs100 > >Return-Path: >X-ListName: CSTP Operations Staff Distribution List >Warnings-To: <> >Errors-To: owner-cstp-ops@CSTP.UMKC.EDU >Sender: owner-cstp-ops@CSTP.UMKC.EDU >Received: by CSTP.UMKC.EDU (MX V4.1 VAX) id 64; Wed, 06 Nov 1996 17:55:47 CDT >Date: Wed, 06 Nov 1996 17:56:15 CDT >To: cstp-ops@CSTP.UMKC.EDU >Message-ID: <009AAF94.44B36CDA.64@CSTP.UMKC.EDU> >Subject: cs100 > >I have become aware of a problem that I think needs some attention. I have >been asked on more than 1 occasion to try to "revive" a cs100 floppy disk >for a student. My boss has asked me numerous times whether >or not the instructors have been telling the students to make back-ups of >their work as they progress. This is probably the *most* important thing a >computer survival class should teach a student. To make back-ups, what a >simple concept, but so many people inevitably find theirselves at the mercy >of some guy running Norton Disk Doctor only to hear "yep its all gone, you >*DID* make backups didn't you?" Well I answered yes to my boss assuring him >that the 101 students are being told to frequently back up their work. >Well... I have been proved wrong. I was brought in to a class today to look >at a students floppy, "it isn't saving" was the problem. However, as usual >that is only a symptom to a larger problem, the disk is going, going, gone. >This student has spent the last 9 weeks working off this 1 floppy disk, all >her work on a disk that as far as she knows will last forever, she wouldn't >know any better. How could she have known that a study has shown that after >5 reads from a floppy it starts to deteriorate ? That is an accident >waiting to happen so I asked the $million question "you *DID* make backups >didn't you?" I got that look that a deer gets when you shine your lights on >it at night. She said the teacher has *never* mentioned making a backup >disk to the class. I asked her again to make sure, I stressed to her that >this was a very important thing to try to remember, did the teacher tell >you to make backups, with out a hesitation she replied "No never". So here >is our problem, we give all the students in cs100 1 disk, not 2, 1 we never >tell them to make back-ups, the odds are that at least 1 of the 120 or so >students are going to have their disk go bad. As the semester approaches >finals the odds increase, they are continually writing/deleting to the same >1 disk. When it goes bad their choices are limited. I spose the teacher >will have to give her some kind of break, I am only speculating though. My >point is that this class is supposed to help people get over their fear of >computers, but what is happening is we are showing the students just how >"out of control" computers can appear to be. One moment your disk is fine >the next, all gone. Is this fair? I refuse to say what class this happened >in, its not my place to get someone into trouble, BUT someone had better >get off their comfy chair and have a nice long chat with the instructors. >I know my boss will blow a fuse when he reads this and I think he is %100 >justified. If anyone disagrees show me where your back-up files are ... >then we'll talk. As the great McKeever once said "a lack of planning on >your part does not constitute an emergency on my part" well said Brian. >Please forward this to someone who can do ... something, otherwise make a >backup and delete it. ;) > --Name withheld