Transcript PPT - EDUCAUSE Library

Copyright Jennifer MacDougall 2001
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CENTRE INTERUNIVERSITAIRE
DE CALCUL DE GRENOBLE
The University of Pennsylvania
The Value of High
Performance Networking
& International
Distributed Learning
Jennifer MacDougall
Applications Coordinator
MAGPI / University of Pennsylvania
[email protected]
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 University
 University of Pennsylvania
 Chester County Intermediate Unit

Signed Subscribers (not yet connected)
 Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals
 Princeton University
MAGPI is the Local Connector
or “GigaPoP”
 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
The (Changing) Role of
“GigaPoPs”
Regional Aggregation Points for I2
Providing cost efficient access
Scalable, affordable bandwidth
Value added services
Commodity Internet
Peering Relationships with ISP’s
Facilitator of Regional Programs
Distance Learning, interactive video
Scientific, Social, research initiatives
And 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 sake
Controlled, 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 difference
 French/English
 Inter-disciplinary
 Business, Language, Technology
 Inter-departmental
 School of Business
 School of Arts and Sciences
 College 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
Technology
Decisions Driven by Convenience
Low Risk
H.323 video
Existing Equipment
Tandberg 2500
Polycom Viewstation 512
Existing Nodes on Internet2 and Renater 2
University of Pennsylvania
University of Grenoble
The Network Path
Chicago
STARTAP
Paris
Renater 2
Univ de Grenoble
Grenoble
Ecole Superieure des Affaires
Pierre Mendes Campus
MAGPI
Philadelphia
Univ. Penn
France
Video
Washington, DC
Internet2
SEAS
USA
France
Video
USA
Renater2
International Network Partners
The Teaching Process
Methodology
Language proficiency and cross-cultural competence
Collaborative curriculum
Use of “BlackBoard” as a coordination tool
Face to Face Faculty Conference
Face to Face Student Conference
The new classroom
The roles of professor/students
“from sage on the stage to guide on the side”
Powerful learning moments
The 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 Plans
 Expansion to other languages with Lauder
Collaborative business cases in several languages
 Increased K-12 and K-20 Involvement
Virtual - Language & Culture Immersion
Partnered with International/Global Education
 International Faculty Discussion Groups
Planning, enrichment, collaboration
 Student Self-Paced Interaction
International Video from the Dormitories
Future Opportunities
 Research and education networks of the
world are growing
 Possibility 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/P
ENN07.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 early
Questions / Comments
Jennifer MacDougall, Applications
Coordinator, MAGPI
[email protected]
 Greg Palmer, Director, MAGPI
[email protected]