Scalable CommunicationsHereward College
Hereward College is a National Residential College for disabled students and a day college for able-bodied students studying a range of subjects from Business Studies and Creative Studies through to Basic Skills. The classrooms, learning centres and studios are equipped with the latest e-learning technology, much of it adapted with specialised hardware and software to ensure disabled students in particular have full access to all learning opportunities.In 2005, Hereward College contracted Scalable Communications to integrate a fully converged wireless and IP-ready network to increase voice and data mobility for students and staff across campus, support applications such as NurseCall, and secure the integration of future application deployments.
Background
Designed and built to meet the needs of students with a wide range of disabilities, Hereward offers academic and vocational courses as well as programmes to develop skills for a more independent and fulfilling life. Accessibility is critical and new technologies play a significant role in the educational and personal development of students.
Identifying the potential for technology in education – interactive learning, multi-ability teaching plans, and information on-demand – Hereward has long integrated both proprietary e-learning applications as well as electronic administrative and medical support in order to deliver a streamlined and efficient operational service.
Couple this with a student body whose lives have been shaped by the emergence of the Internet, and whom take it for granted that they can access information anytime, anywhere, and Hereward was keen to migrate its existing network architecture into the 21st century.
To do so, Hereward realised a wireless network could deliver greater accessibility to educational resource, and ensure all students, whatever their disability, have access to the highest quality of education.
They subsequently invited responses based upon the deployment of a WLAN that would support the integration of their data applications.
We went one step further.
Securing site visits prior to submitting our tender, we were able to identify Hereward’s operational requirements and also learnt that their existing wireless voice infrastructure (DECT) was in need of a major upgrade. As a result we proposed a fully converged wireless and IP-ready network to support both voice and data applications.
Proposed Solution
In a campus environment like Hereward, and with students requiring round-the-clock care and medical attention, it is essential everybody has access to some form of communications device, and even in this day and age, telephony is still the critical application. In an emergency, would you send an email or dial 999?
With patchy coverage and limited functionality, the DECT system was hindering the day-to-day activity of support and medical staff. We suggested VoWLAN.
This had three objectives; firstly, to enable cost savings; secondly, to fully mobilise support staff; and thirdly, allow the integration of specialist applications.
The latter two objectives had significant implications for Hereward. Blanket voice coverage is critical to medical support staff, and VoWLAN would tie in with NurseCall, a specialised call-alert for residential areas of the campus, which students can use if they need assistance, 24/7. This alert activates an alarm on the IP handsets onto which Hereward will be migrating, and not only provides an efficient communications solution, but it will also help save lives.
Working to our Secure Convergence blueprint, which ensures security is built in throughout all our solutions, we submitted a proposal incorporating the following technologies:
- Wireless controller – supporting up to 50 wireless domains, including security, access control and QoS
- Provision of Mitel IP Telephony throughout campus to support Spectralink wireless voice deployment
- LAN switching Quality of Service (QoS) and Power over Ethernet (PoE)
- Integrated support offering for all of the above
Appreciating the dynamic environment of Hereward College and the emergence of new technologies and applications, we’re continuously reviewing how new and existing applications can also be migrated onto the WLAN.
Implementation
As with most, if not all, educational establishments, Hereward College has to manage its budget stringently and, knowing this, we proposed a three-phase migration that would enable the most effective control of college funds.
As well as maximising Hereward’s budget, the proposed migration would ensure uninterrupted performance of existing infrastructure and applications during the school term, and ease of adoption by staff and students.
Phase 1: Commenced and completed August 2006
Deployment of an IP WLAN. This first phase has facilitated the implementation of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) across campus. Students are able to access extensive online resource libraries, e-assignments and collaborate on coursework projects, whilst teachers can access secure applications such as attendance tracking and lesson scheduling via their laptops.
Phase 2 & 3: Commenced August 2006
Deployment of VoWLAN, IP handsets, and the integration of NurseCall.
Ensuring Hereward’s IT team has been involved at every stage is really important to the success of this project. Making sure they understand how the technology ticks and how they can make it work for them is crucial to its longevity.
Importantly, this gives Hereward IT independence – they learn about new technologies, the importance of WLAN security, and can provide ongoing training to end-users ensuring the network is utilised to its full potential.
Results
- Greater access to and delivery of educational resources
- Mobility has increased interaction between teacher and student, reducing in-class behavioural issues and creating a mature learning environment
- Campus-wide voice and data connectivity, incorporating emergency medical alerts
- WLAN will accommodate growth and allow Hereward to integrate new technologies
Whilst the essence of our proposal was based upon a data WLAN, as directed by Hereward, we were able to enhance this with a robust, cost-effective and functional wireless voice solution. It made financial sense to optimise Hereward’s investment and fully utilise the WLAN to its full capacity.
The feel-good factor has been significant – students’ education is no longer restricted to the classroom, helping to facilitate their mobility and independence, and staff are now supported, not hindered, by the technology they need in order to do their job.
Education is a key vertical market for wireless networking, and Hereward College is demonstrable of how a wireless LAN can be utilised for more than simple data applications. Optimising IT assets is critical to ensuring an organisation is delivering value, and cases such as Hereward will empower businesses to broaden their traditionally isolated WLAN pilots and integrate multimedia applications into a wired and wireless environment.
For further information on Hereward College, visit www.hereward.ac.uk
0844 7422010
