Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Copyright Jennifer MacDougall 2001
This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-
commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires
written permission from the author.
CENTRE INTERUNIVERSITAIRE DE CALCUL DE GRENOBLE
The University of Pennsylvania
The Value of High Performance Networking & International
Distributed Learning
Jennifer MacDougallApplications Coordinator
MAGPI / University of Pennsylvania
EDUCAUSE MidAtlantic Regional Conference
Dec. 4, 2001
What’s MAGPI, you say? MAGPI is
A private network, created for the sole purpose of promoting education and research for its member institutions.
Operated by the University of Pennsylvania Located in Philadelphia, PA Current Subscribers = 3
Lehigh UniversityUniversity of PennsylvaniaChester County Intermediate Unit
Signed Subscribers (not yet connected) Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals Princeton University
Non-profit aggregator of education and research traffic for the region and Internet2
Provides backbone infrastructure services Facilitates and supports regional and
international collaborations Promotes K-12 to higher education projects
MAGPI is the Local Connector or “GigaPoP”
The (Changing) Role of “GigaPoPs”
Regional Aggregation Points for I2 Providing cost efficient access
Scalable, affordable bandwidth Value added services
Commodity InternetPeering Relationships with ISP’s
Facilitator of Regional ProgramsDistance Learning, interactive videoScientific, Social, research initiativesAnd yes…government and commerce
Today’s Presentation Objectives
Demonstrate the value of international distributed learning using high speed networks
Show how Internet2 high speed connectivity is a key success factor
Discuss ways to use existing equipment and low or no cost solutions to build international distance ed into current curriculum
Some obvious high performance applications…
Teleimmersion
Digital Libraries
Virtual Laboratories
But also…
the not so obvious high performance application
Distributed Learning!
“The French Project”
A Videoconferencing Learning Experiment Two business schools: France (ESA)
and U.S.A. (Lauder Institute)
Foreign language and cultural Exchange
Using a business case scenario
Points de vente aux USA
The Project Stated Objectives
Use of existing high performance networks
Development of language proficiency Understanding different business
cultures
The Project
Unstated Objectives Team Building
Mixing central IT with academics in different disciplines
Technology as a tool, not for its own sakeControlled, stable, and in support of the
application The value of documentation
Lessons learned are easily shared
Global Education
http://beansidhe.isc-net.upenn.edu:8080/ramgen/magpi/french.rm
Collaboration:
The People Process
People International
Six hour time differenceFrench/English
Inter-disciplinaryBusiness, Language, Technology
Inter-departmentalSchool of BusinessSchool of Arts and SciencesCollege of General Studies
People Technology Team
ISC Networking & Telecommunications Internet2 STARTAP Renater 2 Centre Interuniversitaire de Calcul de Grenoble Campus Pierre Mendes France
The Technology Process
TechnologyDecisions Driven by Convenience
Low RiskH.323 videoExisting Equipment
Tandberg 2500Polycom Viewstation 512
Existing Nodes on Internet2 and Renater 2
University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Grenoble
The Network Path
ChicagoSTARTAP
ParisRenater 2 Univ de Grenoble
Grenoble
Ecole Superieure des AffairesPierre Mendes Campus
MAGPIPhiladelphia
Washington, DCInternet2
Univ. Penn
SEAS
Video
Video
France
USAFrance
USA
Renater2
International Network Partners
The Teaching Process
MethodologyLanguage proficiency and cross-cultural
competenceCollaborative curriculum
Use of “BlackBoard” as a coordination tool
Face to Face Faculty ConferenceFace to Face Student Conference
The new classroom
The roles of professor/students
“from sage on the stage to guide on the
side”
Powerful learning momentsThe motivational factor
“This is not e-learning, just Learning”
Other Current/Recent Projects World Tour
K-12 teachers in Chester County Connecting to other K-20 teachers and students
around the world through high speed video Building language learning curriculum using high
speed video Coping with Crisis: Effective Strategies for
Educating During Difficult Times International virtual panel Experts from Tel-Aviv Israel, Northern Ireland,
Texas and Chester County 4-way, continuous presence video panel
CCIU International Panel
Future PlansExpansion to other languages with
LauderCollaborative business cases in several
languages
Increased K-12 and K-20 InvolvementVirtual - Language & Culture ImmersionPartnered with International/Global Education
International Faculty Discussion GroupsPlanning, enrichment, collaboration
Student Self-Paced InteractionInternational Video from the Dormitories
Future OpportunitiesResearch and education networks of the
world are growingPossibility for collaborative efforts is
only limited by the imagination of the educators
All areas of study can benefit using technology to reach out to the resources of the world
Set-up time will decrease as the technology matures
Challenges Communication
Across time zones, international cultures, fields of specialty
Coordination Set up a timeline of all critical dates
(P.S. PAD IT!) Establish and introduce the team, distribute
emails, contacts, pagers, IP addresses, etc. Testing – set dates, and test OFTEN!
The PEOPLE process Be genuinely respectful of cultural differences
Remember – we’re learning about each other, too!
Technical issues
Technical Problems
IP Route Announcements
Grenoble - Renater2 – STARTAP
Get Internet2, STARTAP, and Int. Network Contacts involved early
Penn On-Campus Distribution
Switched 10 Mbps Segments
One Disconnect per Call
Excessive packet loss 10-15 minutes into call
Benefits Enhanced learning
Students loved it, more engaged Truly global classrooms
The time is here, the technology is too Global faculty
Collaboration and the shift in role Good visibility for your school Increased funding sources
NSF/NIH/L2L/etc./etc.
On the subject of visibility French Project
http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/2001/04/07/business/PENN07.htm
http://www.upmf-grenoble.fr/upmf/actualites/Telechargement/432.pdf
Event was picked up by local radio stations
Great turnout at special viewing
Conclusion and Additional Resources
http://www.internet2.edu http://www.magpi.net http://www.renater.fr http://www.STARTAP.net http://www.unc.edu/cavner/videnet/ http://www.internet2.edu/international/
Thank You for Your Time! and for not leaving and for not leaving earlyearly
Questions / Comments
Jennifer MacDougall, Applications Coordinator, MAGPI
Greg Palmer, Director, MAGPI [email protected]
