Copyright Jennifer Mac Dougall 2001 This work is

Copyright Jennifer Mac. Dougall 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 Mac. Dougall Applications Coordinator MAGPI / University of Pennsylvania jmacdoug@magpi. net EDUCAUSE Mid. Atlantic Regional Conference Dec. 4, 2001

What’s MAGPI, you say? Ø MAGPI is A private network, created for the sole purpose of promoting education and research for its member institutions. Ø Operated by the University of Pennsylvania Ø Ø Located in Philadelphia, PA Current Subscribers = 3 Ø Lehigh University Ø University of Pennsylvania Ø Chester County Intermediate Unit Ø Signed Subscribers (not yet connected) Ø Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals Ø Princeton University

MAGPI is the Local Connector or “Giga. Po. P” Ø Ø Non-profit aggregator of education and research traffic for the region and Internet 2 Provides backbone infrastructure services Facilitates and supports regional and international collaborations Promotes K-12 to higher education projects

The (Changing) Role of “Giga. Po. Ps” Ø Regional Aggregation Points for I 2 Ø Providing cost efficient access ØScalable, affordable bandwidth Ø Value added services ØCommodity Internet ØPeering Relationships with ISP’s Ø Facilitator of Regional Programs ØDistance Learning, interactive video ØScientific, Social, research initiatives ØAnd yes…government and commerce

Today’s Presentation Objectives Ø Demonstrate the value of international distributed learning using high speed networks Ø Show Internet 2 high speed connectivity is a key success factor Ø 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 Ø Two business schools: France (ESA) and U. S. A. (Lauder Institute) Ø Foreign language and cultural Exchange Ø Using a business case scenario

Points de vente aux USA

The Project Ø Stated Objectives Ø Use of existing high performance networks Ø Development of language proficiency Ø Understanding different business cultures

The Project Ø Unstated Objectives Ø Ø Ø Team Building ØMixing central IT with academics in different disciplines Technology as a tool, not for its own sake ØControlled, stable, and in support of the application The value of documentation ØLessons learned are easily shared

Global Education http: //beansidhe. isc-net. upenn. edu: 8080/ramgen/ magpi/french. rm

Collaboration: The People Process

People Ø International Ø Six hour time difference Ø French/English Ø Inter-disciplinary Ø Business, Language, Technology Ø Inter-departmental Ø School of Business Ø School of Arts and Sciences Ø College of General Studies

People Ø Technology Team Ø ISC Networking & Telecommunications Ø Internet 2 Ø STARTAP Ø Renater 2 Ø Centre Interuniversitaire de Calcul de Grenoble Ø Campus Pierre Mendes France

The Technology Process

Technology ØDecisions Driven by Convenience Low Risk H. 323 video Existing Equipment Tandberg 2500 Polycom Viewstation 512 Existing Nodes on Internet 2 and Renater 2 University of Pennsylvania University of Grenoble

The Network Path

Renater 2

International Network Partners

The Teaching Process

Methodology ØLanguage proficiency and cross-cultural competence ØCollaborative curriculum Use of “Black. Board” as a coordination tool Face to Face Faculty Conference Face to Face Student Conference ØThe new classroom The roles of professor/students “from sage on the stage to guide on the side” Powerful learning moments ØThe motivational factor

“This is not e-learning, just Learning”

Other Current/Recent Projects Ø World Tour Ø Ø Ø 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 Ø Coping with Crisis: Effective Strategies for Educating During Difficult Times Ø Ø Ø 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 Ø Expansion to other languages with Lauder Collaborative business cases in several languages Ø Increased K-12 and K-20 Involvement Virtual - Language & Culture Immersion Partnered with International/Global Education Ø International Faculty Discussion Groups Planning, enrichment, collaboration Ø Student Self-Paced Interaction International Video from the Dormitories

Future Opportunities Ø Research and education networks of the world are growing Ø Possibility for collaborative efforts is only limited by the imagination of the educators Ø All areas of study can benefit using technology to reach out to the resources of the world Ø Set-up time will decrease as the technology matures

Challenges Ø Communication Ø Across time zones, international cultures, fields of specialty Ø Coordination Ø Ø Ø 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! Ø The PEOPLE process Ø Be genuinely respectful of cultural differences Remember – we’re learning about each other, too! Ø Technical issues

Technical Problems Ø IP Route Announcements Grenoble - Renater 2 – STARTAP Get Internet 2, STARTAP, and Int. Network Contacts involved early Ø Penn On-Campus Distribution Switched 10 Mbps Segments Ø One Disconnect per Call Excessive packet loss 10 -15 minutes into call

Benefits Ø Enhanced learning Ø Students loved it, more engaged Ø Truly global classrooms Ø The time is here, the technology is too Ø Global faculty Ø Collaboration and the shift in role Ø Good visibility for your school Ø Increased funding sources Ø NSF/NIH/L 2 L/etc.

On the subject of visibility Ø French Project Ø http: //inq. philly. com/content/inquirer/2001/04/07/business/ PENN 07. htm http: //www. upmf-grenoble. fr/upmf/actualites/ Telechargement/432. pdf Event was picked up by local radio stations Ø Great turnout at special viewing Ø Ø

Conclusion and Additional Resources Ø Ø Ø http: //www. internet 2. edu http: //www. magpi. net http: //www. renater. fr http: //www. STARTAP. net http: //www. unc. edu/cavner/videnet/ http: //www. internet 2. edu/international/

Thank You for Your Time! and for not leaving early

Questions / Comments Ø Jennifer Mac. Dougall, Applications Coordinator, MAGPI jmacdoug@magpi. net Ø Greg Palmer, Director, MAGPI gpalmer@magpi. net