Apprendix

=Additional Information regarding Connected Classrooms and Laptops for Learning.= = = = = This information comes from Department of Education intranet. DET intranet is on a private network so we are unable to supply a hyperlink for the reference page we decided to include this as an apprendix. The reason why this was included is these too programs influence the design of our project as they enable Web 2.0 technologies to be used in NSW schools. =Connected Classrooms /Interactive Classroom= =Wireless= Welcome to the Wireless Connectivity in Schools website. This site provides information and resources regarding the new wireless networking service to be installed in schools as part of the [|Laptops for Learning] program. IBM Australia has been selected to provide and install the wireless system in schools that will enable wireless connectivity to online curriculum material and other online services such as email and filtered browsing. This service will be available to authorised users while on school premises in wirelessly enabled areas. As part of the agreement IBM will also be responsible for:
 * Introduction**
 * Background**
 * contacting schools to arrange installation dates
 * gathering necessary local information from schools to assist with installation planning
 * providing a detailed statement of works for each site
 * working with the Information Technology Directorate to establish the state-wide wireless network management system.

Installations will occur at most sites in two phases. Phase 1 will provide wireless coverage to a set of learning spaces in close proximity and the school library. The size of the school will be the main factor in determining the number of learning spaces enabled in Phase 1. Phase 2 will aim to provide coverage to all remaining learning spaces. Learning spaces are those defined in the Department's Asset Management System. It is expected that installations will begin towards the end of May 2009. Schools will be contacted by an IBM representative within the coming weeks. Details regarding installation dates will be available on this site. The new wireless network will run, where possible, in parallel with the school's existing wired network. It will leverage existing fibre optic links between buildings. To achieve this IBM will install:
 * Wireless Installation**
 * Installation schedules**
 * Wireless Network**
 * new cabling within buildings to link wireless access points and switches
 * new cabinets to house the wireless network components
 * a mobility controller at each school
 * a number of network switches to support the solution
 * wireless access points in designated learning spaces.


 * For the more technically minded**
 * The new wireless system is based upon the 802.11n protocol.
 * An Aruba mobility controller at each site will manage local wireless access points.
 * Ethernet cabling will link wireless access points to new switches.
 * Hewlett-Packard PoE switches will be used to link and power the access points.
 * All cabling will adhere to the Department's Structured Cabling System Standard.
 * Aruba access points will be configured to operate in the 5 GHz range.
 * A server provided by the Department will allow quick authentication for wireless clients.

A set of frequently asked questions is provided [|here]


 * new cabling within buildings to link wireless access points and switches
 * new cabinets to house the wireless network components
 * a mobility controller at each school
 * a number of network switches to support the solution
 * wireless access points in designated learning spaces.

[]

=Interactive Classrooms Project=
 * The project will:**
 * equip every NSW public school with an Interactive Classroom (interactive whiteboard, video conferencing facility and data collaboration)
 * enable direct video links to allow online field trips to places such as the State Library, The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the National Museum of Australia
 * allow university and industry experts to be connected into classrooms to deliver lectures and respond to questions and ideas
 * support increased use of ICT within Quality Teaching
 * support teachers to personalise learning
 * enhance opportunities for collaboration between students, teachers, classes and schools across DET
 * provide necessary infrastructure to enhance collegial support networks for teachers.

This is from the Det intranet so yan and I can have access but I don't think you can worth a read

Connected Classrooms Program is a NSW State Government initiative to provide Department of Education and Training (DET) staff and students with new opportunities to connect with each other across enhanced technology facilities for sharing resources and data collaboration. Commitment to the program was made by the NSW State Government on 16 March 2007, when the Premier announced a $158 million investment over 4 years to enhance the Department's ICT capacity for teaching and learning. The Connected Classrooms Program is bringing to DET a capability to deliver and sustain a standard set of technology learning capabilities across the State. The Connected Classrooms Program has three projects:
 * 1) [|Interactive Classrooms]
 * 2) [|Learning Tools]
 * 3) [|Next Generation Education Network] (NGEN).

The need for Connected Classrooms comes from the demands of today's students. The Program will facilitate wherever/whenever learning as students consume, remix and create knowledge; it will deliver a set of tools to meet the needs of today's learners in their school context that can also be accessed in other environments.
 * Why are we doing it?**

Teachers, students, parents, and the business community will benefit from the Program in the following ways:
 * What are the benefits?**
 * teachers use of interactive whiteboards and video conferencing in teaching increases student engagement and motivation in learning. See [|Exploring Pedagogy Using Interactive Whiteboards (pdf 8.25mb)], students access to a personalised online workspace 'where and when they require' means greater opportunity to access appropriate resources. See [|Supporting Student Learning Environments in a Digital Age (pdf 197kb)]
 * parents will have online access to their children's student reports
 * parents will have increased 'peace of mind' in relation to the appropriateness of digital content their children are exposed to due to filtered browsing of the internet.

The Program has a business executive, program control group (PCG) and a business executive for each project. In addition, there is a project control board (PCB) for each project, on which key DET stakeholders are represented.
 * How is the Program governed and organised?**

=Laptops for Learning (L4L)= The Commonwealth Government's Digital Education Revolution includes an element called the National Secondary School Computer Fund. The Commonwealth and NSW Governments have agreed to work together to provide a wirelessly enabled specialist educational laptop to every NSW public school student in years 9 to 12 by June 2012. The Office of Schools has taken the lead on this program to ensure that the focus remains firmly on transforming teaching and learning. In cooperation with the Information Technology Directorate this $386million project will see over 200,000 laptops distributed across 500+ school sites. The two-week test drive is taking place at Cherrybrook Technology High School, Denison College in Bathurst as well as Arthur Phillip High The wireless networks have been installed and the Technical Support Officers appointed to each school for the trial. As part of the test drive we will also be trialling the pre-release version of Microsoft Windows 7, the latest operating system from Microsoft. Windows 7 has been built specifically to maximise performance on devices such as the Lenovo S10e, so this test drive will assess its capabilities in our working environment. The test drive has generated considerable excitement in the schools involved and will provide invaluable data to evaluate the different aspects of the program. Congratulations to Dianne Marshall for her appointment as Program Manager of the Laptops for Learning Program. Dianne will lead the team in this most exciting program for the next four years. On the 6th and 7th of May an exciting Laptops for Learning forum will take place as part of the ongoing partnership between the Laptops for Learning Program, Curriculum K-12 Directorate and the Centre for Learning Innovation. This forum will focus on what learning with laptops will look like in our context. Outcomes from this forum will inform the professional learning and curriculum resources produced by all partners in the program. A test drive of the new wireless connected student laptop computers will take place in two city and one country school from May 25 to June 5. Ninety Year 9 students and fifteen teachers at each of the Bathurst High Campus of Dennison College, Arthur Phillip High School and Cherrybrook Technology High School will receive laptop computers and give them a thorough workout. They will be used in a variety of school settings and subject areas to thoroughly test the technology and technology support as well as teaching and professional learning strategies. Feedback will be sought from students, teachers, parents and technical support officers in order to uncover any teething problems and to highlight the benefits of this exciting initiative. The arrangements for the provision of school-based Technology Support Officers to support the Laptops for Learning program have now been finalised and it is expected that recruitment will commence immediately in readiness for the start of the roll-out of the wireless networks and the learning devices. IBM Australia has been selected to provide and install the wireless system to support the Laptops for Learning Program. It is expected that installations will begin towards the end of May 2009. Agreements have been signed with Microsoft and Adobe to provide an extensive suite of software to support the laptop roll-out. The Microsoft agreement is the first the company has signed for unlimited deployment based on student numbers rather than a count of computers. The Adobe agreement is the company's largest and most comprehensive rollout in Education, worldwide
 * News**
 * Test Drive**
 * Congratulations to Dianne Marshall for her appointment as Program Manager**
 * Laptops for Learning forum**
 * Test drive of the new wireless**
 * Technology Support Officers to support the Laptops for Learning program**
 * IBM Australia has been selected to provide and install the wireless system**
 * Agreements have been signed with Microsoft and Adobe**