Welcome to the discussion around all the information on the Wellington Loop project.
Currently Citylink are supporting
Wellington Girls' College,
Wellington High School,
St Mary's College,
Wellington College
to develop the Wellington Loop for schools. In essence the Wellington Loop is a fibre optic network that will provide high speed (I Gigabyte per second) connections for all participating schools. In doing so, however it provides an opportunity for a ‘blue sky’ view of teaching and learning. The development process will involve the prospective close collaboration of schools within the Wellington Loop and partnership with Wellington Business and Wellington City Council.
What is the Wellington Loop and why do we need one?
The Wellington Loop is based on a fibre optic cable that runs around the CBD, and is capable of moving data at a very high rate. This cable and the switches that allow clients to connect to a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), or the Internet, are owned and managed by City Link.
This existing infrastructure is important to the successful implementation of the Wellington Loop. Other similar projects, such as the Nelson Loop, have had to procure their own infrastructure that has led to increased funding requirements and a diversion from the focus on pedagogical thinking.
Why does a Loop of this fibre and the hardware that schools use to connect make a difference?
It will be at a faster data transfer rate than is currently available in schools
The envisaged urban fibre network will provide 'open access to Loop members' and provide two-way data transfer rates of at least one Gigabyte a second
It will conform to international technical standards allowing connectivity with other advanced networks such as the KAREN, and the Ministry of Education Virtual Learning Network (VLN)
It will enable real time multicasting – a set of technologies that enables efficient delivery of data to many locations on a network e.g. to allow content sharing between schools
Why should we develop this now?
The stage is being set for a new era of global network systems
The demand for global information is growing exponentially
All technology evolves. All technologies commonly used today will be replaced by something new
Communication systems are continually changing the way people access information
“If schools don’t take control someone or something else will control and manage these connectivity and communication systems - these may be global corporates who don’t have Learning or social justice as a top priority”
- Jane Gilbert address to Ulearn conference, Christchurch, 2006
Dr Jane Gilbert states in her speech to Selwyn College 2006 that all educational institutions in the future will be multi-campus entities, offering multi-layered and modularized learning programmes; functioning as learning ‘brokers’ – matching students with whoever/whatever can best meet their learning needs and working closely with other agencies and communication organisations.
The Broadband Challenge projects The Hon David Cunliffe
- North Shore City - Vector
- Hamilton City Council
- Smartlinx
- Nelson Marlborough Inforegion Here is a link to Learningontheloop for Nelson
- Canterbury Development Corporation
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