Schools broadband trial a great success

media release

2 February 2009

Schools broadband trial a great success

A trial to provide schools with fast and unrestricted broadband to empower teaching and learning has been hugely positive.

In the second half of 2008, REANNZ piloted a National Education Network (NEN) – providing 20 schools with high speed, high capacity broadband drastically improving their access to information and communication technology tools. The trial was funded by the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education Commission and the National Library.

Phase one of the trial was successfully completed on 15 December 2008. View video commentaries from participating schools at http://www.core-ed.net/karen/

Teachers got a chance to expose their students to the sort of tools, techniques and experiences that will equip them to be the knowledge workers New Zealand requires to drive its future productivity.

One teacher commented, “The benefits of connecting to KAREN are immense; students and staff can reach the resources of universities in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States; show maps and satellite footage to Geography classes using Google Maps; and collaborate via high definition video conferences with other students around the world”.

The trial proved the resilience and performance of the NEN architecture. The network is based on KAREN, the Kiwi Advanced Research and Education Network.

The NEN continues into 2009 with 20 schools connected. Further schools can join at any time. Standard REANNZ fees will apply.

The NEN trial was such a success that we are recommending a complete national network be rolled out to all schools. We are talking with the Ministry of Education about the next steps for the NEN.

ENDS

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