Fine-Tuning Critical Infrastructures for Education. Ensuring data center infrastructure and network readiness

Transcription

1 Fine-Tuning Critical Infrastructures for Education Ensuring data center infrastructure and network readiness

2 Introduction The foundation of efficient digital teaching, learning and testing is critical technology infrastructures, such as wireless networks and data centers. Many school districts have upgraded these key infrastructures, but they may need modifications to guarantee the most efficient and reliable operations. Others may be maintaining antiquated environments. Now is the time to rethink wireless network and data center technology strategies, and plan potential upgrades. This ebook will help school districts evaluate and fine-tune technology infrastructures to ensure they re ready to provide optimal support for Common Core State Standards and online assessments.

3 Wireless networks in education are overburdened. In spite of education s increasing dependence on technology, many wireless networks are woefully unprepared to support technology deployments. Research shows that 75 % of U.S. schools do not have the appropriate network bandwidth to support 1:1 computing initiatives. 1 FCC will revamp E-rate funding The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will revamp the E-rate funding program by dedicating $2 billion to wireless networks, providing opportunities for underserved, underfunded small and rural schools to ensure their networks can effectively deliver Common Core-based teaching, learning and assessments. Wireless networks and data centers must sustainably support all core components of modern education: Increased personalization 1:1 classrooms Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives Learning management systems Collaborative learning Streaming video

4 Building a 5-year plan As K 12 school districts enter the era of Common Core curriculum and online assessments, it s important to evaluate and potentially upgrade key technology infrastructures to ensure they cost-effectively, reliably and sustainably support modern technology solutions, platforms and initiatives. Schools and districts that are considering upgrading their wireless infrastructures can start by developing a five-year wireless network plan, based on the school s strategy for integrating technology into teaching. 2 Determine peak data rates. The first step is to determine peak loads on the infrastructure. Try these approaches: Method 1 Common Core, the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) and the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter Balanced) suggest 100 kbps per student for assessment and instruction, and between 5 and 10 kbps per student for assessment only. 3 Understanding how much bandwidth each application requires, estimating the number of devices that will simultaneously access each application and testing during peak loads can help schools determine if their current network will make the grade. Method 2 If the first approach does not give you proper guidance, try the following: Evaluate the entire data path. Check for deficient or aging switches, routers, wiring and other equipment, and monitor network performance on an ongoing basis. Invest in the most current standards-based technology. At this writing, that s the fifth generation of the IEEE wireless networking standard, known as ac. Select a high-density solution. This will minimize interference and spectrum capacity issues. For best results, install an access point in every classroom, and make sure appropriate outside areas are covered using outdoor routers.

5 Upgrading data centers, storage and servers Needs: With Common Core, online testing and other digital learning initiatives come a mountain of data to be collected and analyzed, including: Common Core-related curriculum data Cached test content that has been downloaded prior to the assessment Content and data related to other assessment tools, such as formative assessments Personalized learning plans Student portfolios Data from content management systems, student information systems and other systems that collect and track student, teacher, school or curriculum performance Requirements: District data centers must support this dramatic evolution. Server architectures must have the computing capabilities and processing performance to quickly display and analyze assessment results. Storage infrastructures must meet demands for peak loads and massive volumes of data, and reliably archive, manage and distribute data according to federal and state security and privacy mandates and guidelines. Both systems must be able to scale quickly and cost-effectively without overtaxing IT staff. Requirements Needs

6 Upgrade options Districts can begin to plan for upgrades by determining the compute and storage requirements for assessment, learning, teaching and administration, and mapping them to technology requirements that guarantee optimal usage for a three- to five-year period. The following technology trends are viable options for district data center upgrades: SERVER, STORAGE AND DESKTOP VIRTUALIZATION Deploying multiple virtual compute, desktop or storage machines on a single physical data center-located server has numerous benefits: a smaller real estate footprint even as data volume grows, decreased energy consumption, faster service deployment and simplified server maintenance. TIERED OR HIERARCHICAL STORAGE Less valuable data that is rarely accessed may be stored on cost-effective but slower-loading tape drives, while personalized learning plans, student portfolios and other longitudinal student output that must be retrieved quickly is stored on high-performance, high-cost solid-state or flash drives. STANDARDIZATION AND CONSOLIDATION SERVICE-ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE (SOA) An application architecture in which all services or functions are used to perform specific business processes, SOA simplifies the interaction of multiple services or functions over the network without requiring changes to infrastructure or human intervention. THE CLOUD The cloud has the potential to give school districts access to advanced technologies and enables IT leaders to turn resources on and off as needed without management or maintenance. The cloud s elasticity allows districts to provision servers and storage as needed, providing a tremendous opportunity for districts to cost-effectively scale. SECURITY AND COMPLIANCE TOOLS To comply with government regulations and records retention rules, district data center storage should be equipped with security features such as built-in encryption to protect data as it s resting in hard drives or traveling across the network to and from end users.

7 Conclusion For schools that lack the network bandwidth to support content-intensive initiatives, the time is right to evaluate and upgrade aging wireless networks. Many options exist for storage and server technology and architectures in district-owned, cloud-based or hybrid shared data centers. Insight can help you take full advantage of these enhancements and ensure key infrastructures are optimized for Common Core and online assessments.

8 About Insight Insight works with you to design, deploy, implement and maintain the IT environment that helps your organization achieve its true potential. Insight partners with more than 5,000 of the world s top hardware and software manufacturers and publishers to provide you with the best possible technology. Then, Insight s 1,200 certified consulting, service and delivery professionals work with our state-of-the-art labs and national distribution center to ensure that your multisite rollout is a success. For more information on wireless networks from Insight, visit insight.com, contact your Insight representative. ips.insight.com/education

9 Resources 1. Kerravala, Zeus, How the FCC s in-school Wi-Fi program could affect vendors. July 14, 2014: NetworkWorld Dell. Best practices for WiFi in K-12 schools. August url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ccaqfjaa&url=http%3a%2f%2fen. community.dell.com%2ftechcenter%2fnetworking%2fm%2fnetworking_ files%2f %2fdownload&ei=vsnivlcin9sxogslt4hibw&usg=afqjcnfjc_ FGawhACl4OHtpZezZ1HXlpBQ&sig2=MDdqRZBGkVgPjnw_LNdyYg. 3. Center for Digital Education, Top 5 Technology Priorities to Prepare K-12 Infrastructure for Online Assessments. Oct. 24, Priorities-to-Prepare-K-12-Infrastructure-for-Online-Assessments.html.