Emerging Technologies in Higher Education: Big School Solutions to Small School Problems

1. Emerging Technologies in Higher Education:  Big School Solutions to Small School Problems • John O’Keefe • Director, Academic Technology and Network Services • Lafayette College 1

2. What are “Small School Problems?” • Funding • ERP • Security • Teaching and Learning w/Tech • Infrastructure/Cyberinfrastructure • Agility/Adaptibility/Responsiveness • Governance, Organization, Leadership • Identity Management • Disaster Recovery • Strategic Planning • Web Systems • Information/Content management Source: 2009 EDUCAUSE Current Issues Survey 2

3. What are “Big School Solutions?” • Internet2/NLR • Shibboleth • iTunesU • MPLS • IPv6 • Cloud Computing 3

4. How Does This Fit Together? • The problems aren’t necessarily different or unique to smaller schools • Small schools can be more agile and able to implement solutions campus-wide • Resources are available to help (Large developer community, conferences, CAMPs, etc) 4

5. The Details Behind the Technologies 5

6. Internet2/NLR • High-Speed research networks • Internet2 - A not-for-profit advanced networking consortium that leverages its high-performance network and worldwide partnerships to support and enhance the educational and research missions of its members. • NLR - Ultra high-performance network infrastructure that makes possible many of the world’s most demanding research projects. • I2 Only Applications (Remote instrumentation, Videoconferencing) • NLR for Telepresence 6

7. Shibboleth • Shibboleth - A standards based, open source software package for web single sign-on across or within organizational boundaries. • Federated Identity Management (FIdM) - Arrangements made among multiple organizations that lets subscribers use their institutional identification credentials to obtain access to applications outside their institution but within the Federation (InCommon, eAuth) 7

8. iTunesU • iTunesU - A section of Apple’s iTunes Store designed for higher education where institutional content, course work, or other multimedia materials may be stored and disseminated within the framework of iTunes. • Can use Shibboleth • Can be used to compliment Course Management System 8

9. MPLS • MPLS - Multi-Protocol Label Switching • Layer 3 Virtualization creates highly secure virtual networks within one physical infrastructure • Easier to manage than Layer 2 Virtualization (VLANs) • Scales better (smaller broadcast domains) • Cost savings • VoIP 9

10. IPv6 • IPv6 - Next-generation Internet Protocol version designed as the successor to IPv4. • New IP addressing scheme • Expanded allocation blocks (more addresses available) • More secure (IPSec) • Multicast • Jumbograms 10

11. Cloud Computing • Cloud Computing - Environment where dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a service over the Internet • Obscures technology and infrastructure that supports the cloud, enabling end users to focus on applications • Not just for CS any more 11

12. Putting It All Together 12

13. Security • MPLS for network virtualization • Separation of devices and users • Network Admission Control • Regulatory Compliance (PCI, HIPPA, CALEA, etc) • Shibboleth • Access to third party apps using institutional credentials • Single Sign-On 13

14. Teaching and Learning • Internet2/NLR • Access to resources/applications • iTunesU • Bowdoin, Penn State • Offload multimedia content from CMS 14

15. Infrastructure/Cyberinfrastructure • Cloud Computing • Virtualization lowers cooling demands, power requirements • Provisioning new services easier • Saves money • IPv6 • It is coming, I promise! • v6-only services, no more v4? 15

16. Identity Management • Shibboleth • Policies and Procedures • InCommon and eAuth LoA (Level of Assurance) • Providing services to other schools (collaboration) 16

17. Disaster Recovery • Clustering and Cloud Computing • Automatic failover • Hardware independence • MPLS • Network failures converge faster (BGP) • Broadcast domains limited 17

18. Web Systems • Cloud Computing • Cloud platform very effective to deliver web applications • Shibboleth • Tailor made for web application authentication • Internet2/NLR • Applications may only be accessible via Internet2/NLR 18

19. What Can You Do Now to Prepare? 19

20. Internet2/NLR • Cost of entry lower • Membership has its privileges • Find a GigaPOP near you 20

21. Shibboleth • How does your current IdM stack up? • Look at LoA and policies required for InCommon • Examine institutional practices 21

22. iTunesU • Sign up for an account • Look at schools who have nice sites to get ideas • Do you have Shibb? 22

23. MPLS • Review your current infrastructure • BGP talent on staff • Cost to prepare infrastructure 23

24. IPv6 • Get an allocation • Begin to familiarize yourself with it • Know the problems • Plan your budgets 24

25. Cloud Computing • Explore virtualization options (VMWare, Redhat, others) • Insource or Outsource 25

26. So What Has Lafayette Done? 26

27. 2005-2006 • Internet2 Connectivity 2005 • German Collaborative 2005 • Pasteur Institute and Bird Flu 2006 • Implemented iTunesU 2006 • Integrated with Moodle, used for coursework • Commencement readings • Communications multimedia content 27

28. 2007-2009 • Implemented Shibboleth 2007 (Library resources, Spaces, online ticketing) • Implemented MPLS 2007 • IPv6 Allocation 2009 • Developed Web Cloud 2009 28

29. Why Does This Matter? 29

30. Set Apart From Other Small Schools • Faculty and Staff recruitment • Research incentives • Competing for students 30

31. Set Apart From Larger Schools • Small school, big resources • New market conditions put smaller schools in non-traditional competition from larger schools 31

32. Questions? • John O’Keefe • email: okeefej@lafayette.edu • web: http://its.lafayette.edu • twitter: okeefej_62 32