Infrastructure
In order to deliver
this rich information and communication environment it is necessary
for every classroom to have access to infrastructure software, application
software, curriculum based software as well as an effective hardware
and cabling infrastructure.
Infrastructure Software
& Standards: a brief list of the essential infrastructure software
tools and standards that schools now require can be quite overwhelming.
- Nationally
delivered (not necessarily free) high speed filtered internet service
within an educational
- VPN
environment which functions within Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees.
- Published standards
for Infrastructure hardware (cabling/routers et all)
- Published Interoperability
standards (such as the Schools Interoperability Framework)
- Student Management
System (SMS) software (including truancy management)
- Assessment software
- Remotely hosted
(ASP) internet/intranet/extranet/Knowledge NET©
- Library and resource
software
- Web based browser:
Mozilla, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Netscape . . .
- Access to Digital
learning Objects (DLO's) via the intranet/Knowledge NET©
1. Authentication
should be managed by the centralised Ministry/Department of Education
via an LDAP (or similar) authentication server which provides access
to recognised services via a single password and username. Services
that could be supplied in this manner include access to a school's Knowledge
Net © management and assessment software, ministry/department of
education information, libraries of Digital Learning Objects bought
under licence for teacher access . . . .
2. The Quality of
Service (QoS) provided by all recognised suppliers must meet quality
standards set by the ministry/department of education. These "quality
of service standards" should be published and made publicly available
so that any software developed meets the required standards for interoperability,
speed, reliability and ease of use. It may be that auditing of this
will be necessary.
3. Schools will
all be part of a Virtual Private Network (VPN), allowing filtered and
controlled Internet access and a safe, secure (firewalled) environment
where every user can be tracked, if and when necessary. The Virtual
Private Network environment will allow for free exchange of information
and material (including rich data transmission), from any point to any
other point within that environment,. The Virtual Private Network will
be governed by standards set by the Ministry/Department of Education.
Application
Software:
- Office OUT
- WYSIWYG to WEB
IN
- Only acceptable
file format s are web based formats i.e..html .xml .asp. php .mp3
.shtml .jsp .jpg .mpg4 . . . .
The
computer/laptop:
For some time now,
some schools have been experimenting with the use of wireless networks
and now with the establishment of 56 Mb per second wireless LANs using
the 802.11g standard [http://www.teachers.work.co.nz/archive_June_2004.htm]
we believe that the best combination for schools for "last mile"
delivery is the use of category 6 (for new installations) to individual
buildings and then wireless distribution within the building. The main
reason for the wireless application is a pedagogical one.
To remove cables
completely from the classroom, we need not only a wireless LAN but also
lightweight laptop computers that are low-powered and have a battery
life of 4-5 hours. Centrino low-power chip based laptops [http://www.teachers.work.co.nz/archive_June_2004.htm]
meet this specification and can be housed in a simple docking station
so that once they are placed back in the docking station the batteries
are automatically being charged. The potential for tablet-based computing
is considerable.
Display
Technology:
Quite simple really:
One class: One multimedia projector
Augmenting the use
of multimedia projector technology has been the rise of "smart
whiteboard" technology. Smart whiteboards are electronic whiteboard
devices that allow the demonstrator/teacher (this demonstrator may also
be the student), to operate software packages directly from the whiteboard,
add anecdotal notes to the presentation, interact with other smart whiteboards
in other schools anywhere in the world and store the modified presentation
in an animated format either on the local hard drive or on the Knowledge
NET©.
Another technology
that is entering the market place is the "portable interactive
tablet", not to be confused with the tablet laptop technology.
The interactive tablet is generally the size of the screen element of
a laptop computer and uses Bluetooth © technology allowing either
the teacher or the student to "write" on the plastic screen
of the tablet and have whatever is written down appear on the screen/smart
whiteboard via the multimedia projector.
