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Rumor central has it that we can’t use our personal Netflix accounts (with the plethora of documentaries) to supplement student learning ANYWHERE in the building! True? False? Can somepeep (or Cookie Monster) attending ‘Cookies and CAST’ confirm?
The Harold Lounge 
Thanks for the plug Realist. I’m looking forward to hanging out with my fellow faculty today (maybe you too though I wouldn’t know who) and sampling cookies (or as CM would say COOKIES!).
As for Netflix I hope that this isn’t true. I’ve liked the fact that we’re not restricted (within reason) of our internet use. I often use videos from the internet and am pleased that no restrictions are in place unlike those placed on CPS folks.
It’s been true that we can’t access Netflix thoughout the district for about a month now. However, I know the issue is currently being addressed, and that we should expect that classrooms, at the very least, and possibly instructors’ offices, will soon have access to Netflix again (there is a possibility that it will be back today).
This was an important issue for the Humanities department, as some of our instructors regularly rely on Netflix for classroom content relating to film and pop culture. But our excellent chair Amanda Loos and Ewa from OIT have both told me that a solution is imminent.
The origin of the ban is mysterious, though this was an action begun by District, to my understanding. Perhaps too many students in computer labs were watching movies for pleasure when other students needed to use it for work. That seems reasonable though shortsighted, considering the diversity of things taught in our classes.
Enabling access to targeted locations, such as classrooms and instructors’ offices, seems to be the approach that OIT is taking now.
Thank you Kamran.
So it is not a rumor. Good to know.
Can’t access Netflix. Bad to know.
Origin of the ban is mysterious? Only to those who are directly suffering from the consequences.
I ask for transparency in this matter. Someone, somewhere had to know what they were doing, why they were doing it, and what effects it would have in our classrooms. However, if nobody knew a darn thing, then I thinks we’d better be very concerned.
What’s next? No TED? No YouTube?
I’m not sure if Ewa was working on all of the classrooms or just those from our department (since I was a wheel that squeaked), so if you still can’t access it from the rooms you use, I would request that your Dept. Chair provide Ewa with a list of classrooms in need of access…
Sorry, I’m not actually “Anonymous.” 🙂 – Amanda Loos
Thanks for the update, Anonymous Amanda!
Were you told why the access was cut-off in the first place?