The wireless standard in education is set by NexGen Solutions’ Campus-wide wireless networks, delivering ambient & pervasive learning environments The number one choice for Enabling mobile services within learning communities
Campus-wide Wireless Networks – Leading Next Generation Learning Your aim will be to provide a platform from which students and staff members can enrich their learning experience through the use of digital media and information from anywhere on campus. By providing the means through which students and staff can use a variety of devices to access key learning resources you are enabling a next generation learning environment to flourish. Campus-wide wireless networks are key to the educational transformation taking place throughout hundreds of schools and colleges across the country.
Why Schools Are Going Wireless? Schools need to provide secure and scalable wireless network access to students, faculty and staff in common areas across the campus. This is required in order to make maximum use of your existing and newly acquired laptops and be capable of supporting your flexible learning provision throughout the campus. The Learning Context and Its Drivers
Adoption and proliferation of NetBooks and wireless devices Flexible access to learning resources and information Mobility and ICT in the curriculum Creative teaching strategies inside and outside school Evolution of e-Learning platforms such as Frontier, Moodle, Uniservity and Sharepoint Pupil engagement and participation in the learning process through emerging technologies Access to virtual communities for distance learning The delivery of personalised learning to help pupils reach their potential The integration of disparate technologies through a common network platform across the campus
Features & Benefits
The consolidation of various technology initiatives through a common network platform The ability to access critical learning materials from anywhere on campus The implementation of curriculum ICT in all subjects in personalised ways
Why NexGen Solutions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Flexibility & deployment options Market leading position High performance solutions Proactive approach & initial demo Excellent pricing model Partnership approach NexGen Solutions 152 Walpole Road, Slough Berks SL1 6PG T: 01628 662 517 F: 08701 307 736 info@nexgensolutions.co.uk www.nexgensolutions.co.uk
You Know What You Want, You Know Who You Are, You Know Where You Stand, But You have many separate buildings across the campus, including residence halls, academic centers, libraries and administration offices, which require wireless connectivity supporting different classes of users – students, faculty and visitors – each requiring connectivity to the wireless network Your goal is to find a wireless solution that can enable you to provide seamless wireless access from anywhere on the campus for every student and staff member. However with so many different types of wireless devices, operating systems and wireless network interfaces on the market today, not having that control would make it almost impossible for you to implement a unified and easy to manage wireless network. What you need is a wireless system that is easy to deploy across many buildings on campus, can be centrally managed over an IP network, and can implement different security policies for different classes of users. Most education campuses will need the ability to deliver several times the current traffic of their current networks. More importantly for the networks team, the wireless system must simplify management tasks such as hardware provisioning, adapting the network to new applications and user requirements, and troubleshooting. Chances are you would like a wireless model that gives you the flexibility to easily add capacity along with the ability to remotely monitor and manage capacity from a central point, in addition to the abilities to
Upgrade current distributed Wi-Fi network with easy to manage, centralised system Reduce the cost of deploying Ethernet connections in buildings Increase wireless security without touching client devices Increase performance with a single 802.11a+b/g / n infrastructure, and Scale to support dense AP deployments for performance or ever increasing numbers of users
So what Should You Do? Understand the strategic vision and objectives you are trying to achieve by 1) 2) 3)
Understanding the purpose of the wireless network, number of users, scope of coverage and applications to be run on the network Consult with a specialist provider of wireless networking for schools and colleges Work together to detail a proposal outlining the objectives, costs, network design and terms of service
NexGen Solutions are the market leader in providing wireless networks into UK education, with solutions catering for small schools to some of the largest campuses in the country, with thousands of pupils and laptops. To date we have deployed more than 400 campus wide wireless networks for customers just like you. NexGen is a participant or sponsor to many educational bodies including the following amongst others:
All logos are the copyright of the respective companies, Copyright 2009 NexGen Solutions. Rights reserved
Campus-wide wireless networks, delivering ambient & pervasive learning environments The #1 choice for Enabling high density wireless networks within learning communities
Leading Schools – What Early Adopters of Managed Wireless Networks Are Thinking Wireless solution being used at schools have out grown their capabilities due to the following reasons –
No centralised management capability of the wireless AP’s Poor performance when more than 20 users were concurrently logging onto the system Patchy Coverage No integration to the server and ICT domains No centralised dashboard for statistics and reporting Dated wireless technology going back a number of years
Decision are based upon a number of the areas, with the final decisions being based upon –
Performance and the ability to allow concurrent use by sets of 30+ students in classroom contexts Future scalability Price The ability to integrate the solution into the existing infrastructure with minimal disruption Features and benefits of the solution including security and manageability
Most schools and colleges up and down the UK are faced with the challenge of providing mobile ICT provision within their institutions as part various learning initiatives including –
Why Do You Need A New Wireless Network?
What Are Schools & Colleges Looking For In A New Wireless Network?
What Challenges Are Schools & Colleges Facing?
Handheld Learning Computers for Pupils, including NetBooks Personalised Learning Access to the VLE / MLE or Learning Portal
In other contexts it is a case of providing a more robust wireless infrastructure to allow all pupils and staff to access their learning resources from anywhere within the school or college grounds.
Campus-wide wireless solutions for schools & colleges fall into one of three categories including – 1. 2. 3.
Those looking at rolling out ‘device per pupil’ strategies Those where designated high density areas have been identified, together with general coverage, and Those looking to provide general coverage over a school or college campus for staff and students in ‘lite’ manner.
NexGen Solutions are the only vendor neutral wireless services company to focus exclusively on the UK education market, specifically to schools. With the ability to deploy wireless solutions from all wireless manufacturers NexGen bring significant insights in to the process when customers are evaluating a managed wireless solution for their school or college. NexGen have, to date deployed over 400 campus wide wireless networks into the UK education market across 97 local authorities. If you would like to discuss similar requirements please contact us using the details on the previous page.
What Are Schools & Colleges Looking For?
Why NexGen Solutions? 1. 2. 3. 4.
5.
UK market leader in wireless networking into schools Vendor neutral company Pick & Mix costs for an enterprise class of solution Significant understanding of educational strategy and objectives Active customers in 97 local authorities