Infrastructure & Sustainability
Infrastructure and Sustainability
Provision of ICT Equipment
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All 50 schools which are part of this phase of the project will be provided with computer equipment. Several different modern computers will be trialled, including both desktop (touchscreen, integrated, in a fixed classroom), and netbooks (designed for schools, and able to be deployed in any classroom). Equipment will include: • Computers (shared between a maximum of 3 children) • Wireless network to cover the school • Printers and consumables • Projector / interactive whiteboard • Webcam to be able to share learning with remote teacher • Server or storage devices (notably for deep rural schools) |
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Provision of Internet Connectivity
iSchool is designed around the use of broadband internet access that is always on 24/7 and available at ‘reasonable’ speeds. So, within the current African context (and affordability constraints) this will mean speeds of 512kbps or above, with a low sharing ratio. This will allow for delivery of the online content and also the schools will be able to communicate and teachers share experience and obtain support from outside their own environment.
iSchool intends to use terrestrial WiMAX access (which is available within 30km of major towns) to obtain the speeds it needs within urban and peri-urban areas. Costs are reasonable, and low-latency access to the iSchool servers is available.
However, some deep rural schools will be provided with direct satellite links (VSATs) as these can be made to work anywhere in the world – thus also demonstrating the replicability of the iSchool model throughout Africa.
In addition some few schools will be trialled with lower-speed GPRS connections, as available over the existing country-wide cellphone network. Such connectivity would not allow interactive access to the online learning materials, but would allow material that had previously been installed (e.g. on a local server) to be updated on a regular basis. The project is aiming to provide a fully interactive experience with good speed connectivity, but other tests will allow the comparative advantages to be measured.
Other Infrastructure
A few schools will have a classroom set up as a computer lab., that will need extra power and security.Most schools will use netbook PCs in existing classrooms. These use ‘charging trolleys’ which can be safely locked away overnight.
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And in a few schools a containerised computer lab will be ‘dropped in’ having been pre-built and equipped prior to installation. This will be fully self-contained and suitable for deep rural areas where other infrastructure is weak. It will also be capable of being remotely monitored. In all schools electric power will be upgraded. In most cases this will mean putting in additional wiring and providing an inverter / UPS back-up. In a selection or rural schools that have no mains power solar power will be trialled. This will also provide key lighting and battery-charging facilities to enhance school facilities generally. |
Promote a Sustainability Programme
The iSchool project will have built-in sustainability, to deal both with future bandwidth costs, and also maintenance and depreciation.
Measures being put in place include:
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• Assisting the schools to operate as an internet café and community training centre outside office hours, both generating revenue and getting community buy-in. • Providing a website for the school to promote itself. School twinning schemes will be an integral part of the project allowing schools to twin with others in Zambia, with those in the region, and outside Africa. The sharing of learning and day-to-day experience will bring significant benefit to both parties. |
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• Technical training will be provided so that schools are able to do the majority of their own support work, being in mind that major components (such as computers) can be swapped-out by sending them for repair in Lusaka or the nearest provincial capital (an advantage of using netbook computers). Remote support over the Net will also be available. Some redundant equipment at each site will also be provided.
• Ongoing teacher support and training via the web will also provide for new teachers who join the schools.
• The project will also experiment with models that allow schools, their PTAs and boards, as well as the local community to be part of the buy-in for funding and expansion.