The Network for Learning. The Network for Learning will be an online network for schools, which will run over the ultra-fast broadband infrastructure currently being rolled out across New Zealand. This is the first in a series of 4 videos that outlines how the Network for Learning might be designed and implemented.Building a world-class network for learning requires effort and attention in three distinct areas, or layers: infrastructure, services, and teaching and learning. When attention is given to building each of the three layers simultaneously, the network for learning will be effective in supporting high quality teaching and learning, and ensuring improved outcomes for learners.
The overarching goal of the network for learning, is to contribute to the process of raising student achievement across the board in our education system.
Building a world-class network for learning requires effort and attention in three distinct areas, or layers, as illustrated here – infrastructure, services, and teaching and learning. All of these must be worked on in parallel, as each requires the other to achieve the full potential of what the network has to offer. The triangle represents some of the fundamental understandings about the structure of the network, and why it is constructed in this way. The use of the triangle represents both the size of the investment that needs to be made at each layer, and the time over which this investment can be realized. The size of investment decreases as you work your way up, and the time over which the investment is to be realized also decreases. For example, the cost of installing a fibre network across the country is very high, but the time over which it is expected to last is quite long. On the other hand, the investment required to purchase a digital resource may be quite low, and the time it is expected to remain current is short.
The triangle can also be used to represent the aspirational intent of the network, providing a broad, reliable base for the education system, working up to a peak of improved learning outcomes for students. The diagram is separated into three layers to illustrate how the network design creates an opportunity for multiple providers to participate. The network uses the notion of an ‘ecology’ to emphasise the importance of building up a range of services from different providers, ensuring the network remains flexible, relevant and sustainable.
To achieve the overarching goal of improving student learning outcomes within the education system, the network for learning must provide opportunities for innovative teaching and learning practices, using information and communication technologies to provide resources, enable collaboration and record assessments for example. This activity will be enabled by services that provide the appropriate tools, applications, and resources to support this teaching and learning at school and at home. This in turn, must be enabled by a robust infrastructure that provides optimal speed, capacity and reliability over the network, enabling the user to access these services in a timely and seamless manner.
When attention is given to building each of the three layers, the network for learning can be effective in supporting high quality teaching and learning, and ensuring improved outcomes for learners. All must be addressed simultaneously. The infrastructure on its own will be no more than an expensive link to the Internet. Services without a high-speed broadband connection will perform poorly or not at all, and attempts to use technology creatively at the teaching and learning layer, technology that is not supported by innovative services across a robust infrastructure, will result in frustration and loss of motivation.
Addressing the three layers simultaneously will contribute to the process of raising student achievement and developing capable, competent, life-long learners who can contribute to a productive and growing economy.
The Network for Learning. The Network for Learning will be an online network for schools, which will run over the ultra-fast broadband infrastructure currently being rolled out across New Zealand. This is the first in a series of 4 videos that outlines how the Network for Learning might be designed and implemented.Building a world-class network for learning requires effort and attention in three distinct areas, or layers: infrastructure, services, and teaching and learning. When attention is given to building each of the three layers simultaneously, the network for learning will be effective in supporting high quality teaching and learning, and ensuring improved outcomes for learners.
The overarching goal of the network for learning, is to contribute to the process of raising student achievement across the board in our education system.
Building a world-class network for learning requires effort and attention in three distinct areas, or layers, as illustrated here – infrastructure, services, and teaching and learning. All of these must be worked on in parallel, as each requires the other to achieve the full potential of what the network has to offer. The triangle represents some of the fundamental understandings about the structure of the network, and why it is constructed in this way. The use of the triangle represents both the size of the investment that needs to be made at each layer, and the time over which this investment can be realized. The size of investment decreases as you work your way up, and the time over which the investment is to be realized also decreases. For example, the cost of installing a fibre network across the country is very high, but the time over which it is expected to last is quite long. On the other hand, the investment required to purchase a digital resource may be quite low, and the time it is expected to remain current is short.
The triangle can also be used to represent the aspirational intent of the network, providing a broad, reliable base for the education system, working up to a peak of improved learning outcomes for students. The diagram is separated into three layers to illustrate how the network design creates an opportunity for multiple providers to participate. The network uses the notion of an ‘ecology’ to emphasise the importance of building up a range of services from different providers, ensuring the network remains flexible, relevant and sustainable.
To achieve the overarching goal of improving student learning outcomes within the education system, the network for learning must provide opportunities for innovative teaching and learning practices, using information and communication technologies to provide resources, enable collaboration and record assessments for example. This activity will be enabled by services that provide the appropriate tools, applications, and resources to support this teaching and learning at school and at home. This in turn, must be enabled by a robust infrastructure that provides optimal speed, capacity and reliability over the network, enabling the user to access these services in a timely and seamless manner.
When attention is given to building each of the three layers, the network for learning can be effective in supporting high quality teaching and learning, and ensuring improved outcomes for learners. All must be addressed simultaneously. The infrastructure on its own will be no more than an expensive link to the Internet. Services without a high-speed broadband connection will perform poorly or not at all, and attempts to use technology creatively at the teaching and learning layer, technology that is not supported by innovative services across a robust infrastructure, will result in frustration and loss of motivation.
Addressing the three layers simultaneously will contribute to the process of raising student achievement and developing capable, competent, life-long learners who can contribute to a productive and growing economy.
The Network for Learning. The Network for Learning will be an online network for schools, which will run over the ultra-fast broadband infrastructure currently being rolled out across New Zealand. This is the first in a series of 4 videos that outlines how the Network for Learning might be designed and implemented.Building a world-class network for learning requires effort and attention in three distinct areas, or layers: infrastructure, services, and teaching and learning. When attention is given to building each of the three layers simultaneously, the network for learning will be effective in supporting high quality teaching and learning, and ensuring improved outcomes for learners.
The overarching goal of the network for learning, is to contribute to the process of raising student achievement across the board in our education system.
Building a world-class network for learning requires effort and attention in three distinct areas, or layers, as illustrated here – infrastructure, services, and teaching and learning. All of these must be worked on in parallel, as each requires the other to achieve the full potential of what the network has to offer. The triangle represents some of the fundamental understandings about the structure of the network, and why it is constructed in this way. The use of the triangle represents both the size of the investment that needs to be made at each layer, and the time over which this investment can be realized. The size of investment decreases as you work your way up, and the time over which the investment is to be realized also decreases. For example, the cost of installing a fibre network across the country is very high, but the time over which it is expected to last is quite long. On the other hand, the investment required to purchase a digital resource may be quite low, and the time it is expected to remain current is short.
The triangle can also be used to represent the aspirational intent of the network, providing a broad, reliable base for the education system, working up to a peak of improved learning outcomes for students. The diagram is separated into three layers to illustrate how the network design creates an opportunity for multiple providers to participate. The network uses the notion of an ‘ecology’ to emphasise the importance of building up a range of services from different providers, ensuring the network remains flexible, relevant and sustainable.
To achieve the overarching goal of improving student learning outcomes within the education system, the network for learning must provide opportunities for innovative teaching and learning practices, using information and communication technologies to provide resources, enable collaboration and record assessments for example. This activity will be enabled by services that provide the appropriate tools, applications, and resources to support this teaching and learning at school and at home. This in turn, must be enabled by a robust infrastructure that provides optimal speed, capacity and reliability over the network, enabling the user to access these services in a timely and seamless manner.
When attention is given to building each of the three layers, the network for learning can be effective in supporting high quality teaching and learning, and ensuring improved outcomes for learners. All must be addressed simultaneously. The infrastructure on its own will be no more than an expensive link to the Internet. Services without a high-speed broadband connection will perform poorly or not at all, and attempts to use technology creatively at the teaching and learning layer, technology that is not supported by innovative services across a robust infrastructure, will result in frustration and loss of motivation.
Addressing the three layers simultaneously will contribute to the process of raising student achievement and developing capable, competent, life-long learners who can contribute to a productive and growing economy.
Douglas Harre is Senior ICT Consultant at the eLearning Unit at the Ministry of Education. He talks here about the progress made to date in upgrading schools' infrastructure, as well as plans for the delivery of high speed broadband to schools. Douglas describes how the MOE is funding network upgrades that will provide a foundation for the new products and services to be delivered by high speed fibre connections to NZ schools.
The infrastructure layer of the Network for Learning will provide the ‘highway’ across which all of the services that support the teaching and learning will be delivered. Students and teachers want easy, reliable access to their resources and to be able participate in online communities and forums. This is the 2nd video in this series.
Marg McLeod, CORE Education Project Director, talks about the growing number of fibre optic loops being established across New Zealand. Marg describes the opportunities these bring for collaboration, and what she calls the potential for the 'democratization of knowledge'.
