Infrastructure: Network & Internet Options
The school network can provide powerful support for
education reform. A network that provides easy access to finding,
creating, and storing information resources will allow students
and teachers to produce materials, collaborate, and share resources.
A network can help end the isolation of remote students and teachers
and can promote equity of access to online resources. The success
of such a network will depend on ease of access, flexibility, and
affordability.
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The school network should integrate data, voice, and
video components and should extend to every school and library in
the district. Such a network may also provide distance learning
opportunities for students as well as professional development opportunities
for staff. After all, professional development will be required
to achieve maximum benefit from the network investment.
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Kozma and Schank
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suggest installing the highest speed Internet connection that can
be afforded and investigating the possibility of a wireless networkat
least a wireless local area networkthat can integrate support
services for handheld, laptop, desktop, and even wearable technologies.
Satellite and wireless broadband services (fast Internet connections)
have potential for rural areas, as the distance has no effect on
cost.
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On
the Horizon
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Wireless Networks
Will a wireless network solution work for your school? There
are really two wireless solutions to considerclose range
(under one mile) and distant (from one to 40 miles). Many
schools are using distant wireless networks as a wide-area
network (WAN) and the close-range networks for providing links
to outer buildings, such as mobile or temporary classrooms
where it may be too expensive to establish a physical network
or the need is only temporary. Other considerations include
how the wireless system connects to your existing network,
the speed of the wireless network, and what protocols can
run over the wireless. Additional information about wireless
resources is available at the sites listed below.
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Internet 2
Internet2 is a consortium of more than 180
U.S. universities that is designing and deploying advanced
network applications and technologies to support education
and research and to foster the creation of tomorrow's Internet.
Internet2 allows people to collaborate and access information
through such applications such as virtual laboratories,
digital libraries, and advanced audio- and videoconferencing.
Public schools have been granted access to this network
for education and research.The Institute for the Advancement
of Emerging Technologies in Education (IAETE),
in partnership with Virginia
Tech, is undertaking cutting-edge research to identify
ways in which this broadband technology can support innovative
and effective K-12 teaching practices that result in high-performance
learning communities. For more information, visit
the Internet2 Web site.
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