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Loup Basin Technology Center Distance Education Workshop

“ LB 1208; the distance education bill ” July 29, 2008 Loup Basin Technology Center Ord, Nebraska.

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Loup Basin Technology Center Distance Education Workshop

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  1. “LB 1208; the distance education bill” July 29, 2008 Loup Basin Technology Center Ord, Nebraska LB 1208, passed by the Legislature in April 2006, brings about some of the most significant networking and distance learning developments in Nebraska educational telecommunications in over a decade. Attend this session to find out how these funding, policy and coordination changes can enable new educational opportunities for Nebraska K-12 and higher education students and instructors. Loup Basin Technology CenterDistance Education Workshop

  2. Tom Rolfes, Education I.T. Manager Office of the Chief Information Officer and Nebraska Information Technology Commission 402.471.7969 tom.rolfes@nebraska.gov Comprehensive Websites:www.nitc.state.ne.us www.networknebraska.net

  3. Today’s agenda • Overview of LB 1208: Historical background, Funding, Policy, Coordination • Update on the LB 1208 responsibilities tasked to the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Network Nebraska • Network Upgrade Plan • Comparisons with other state networks • Internet2 Info (if time permits)

  4. Who is affected most by this legislation? • Education Entity (N.R.S. 79-1332): (3) Educational entity means a school district, a private, denominational, or parochial school, an educational service unit, a community college, a state college, the University of Nebraska, or a nonprofit private postsecondary educational institution • Internet2 SEGP membership: Libraries, museums, science centers, nonprofit educational centers, etc…

  5. LB 1208 Briefing • Historical Background • March 2004: NITC Approves “eLearning”, “Network Nebraska”, and “Statewide Synchronous Video Network” as strategic initiatives • August 2004: Lincoln Journal article indicating future NDE initiative of Distance Learning: Infrastructure, Training, Support • November 2004: NDE budget request for $30 million reviewed and prioritized by NITC • 2005 Legislative session passed LB 689, created the Distance Education Enhancement Task Force but without $30 million funding (only $10,000 for expenses)

  6. LB 1208 Briefing • Historical Background (continued) • LB 1208 was introduced in January 2006 as carrying out the recommendations of the DEETF which met July-December 2005 • LB 1208 passed by Legislature 37-2, Signed by Governor on April 13, 2006 • May 2006: NITC approved two standards affecting the project; CAP forms Activity Groups to deal with implementation issues • June 2006: CIO invites members to serve on Activity Groups; ESU Administrators meet to form Distance Education Council

  7. LB 1208 Briefing LB 1208 Briefing • More background • The distance education improvement plan (LB 1208) is built around 3 principles: • Public education entities must make their own decisions whether to participate in distance education • Encourages use of Network Nebraska for distance education course exchange • Statewide coordination of distance education will be through the Distance Education Council

  8. LB 1208 Briefing LB 1208 Briefing • Policy elements • The CIO shall provide access to Network Nebraska for each school district, ESU, community college, state college, University of Nebraska at the earliest feasible date; but no later than July 1, 2012. Other nonpublic education entities may participate. • The CIO shall bid for equipment and software and allow education entities access to purchasing contracts • “Education Entity” is defined as all K-12 and higher education institutions, both public and private nonprofit

  9. LB 1208 Briefing LB 1208 Briefing • Policy elements (continued) • By December 31, 2006 superintendents from each consortium voted on the ESU successor for each consortium • All interlocal agreements forming distance learning terminated on June 30, 2007. • Any Distance Education Council (renamed ESU Coordinating Council, 7/1/08) purchase in excess of $10,000 must be reviewed and approved by the NITC Technical Panel

  10. LB 1208 Briefing LB 1208 Briefing • Policy elements (continued) • Equipment and software must be in compliance with technical standards, as set forth by the NITC • Nebraska Dept of Ed will promulgate rules for equipment reimbursement and distance education incentives • By 2009, there shall not be any more alternating biennial high school courses(e.g. Chemistry one year, Physics the next)

  11. LB 1208 Briefing LB 1208 Briefing • Policy elements (continued) • Each ESU shall provide access to telecomputing resources (ability for all school districts in its area to exchange distance learning) or utilize interlocal agreements with other ESUs by August 1, 2007

  12. LB 1208 Briefing LB 1208 Briefing • Funding elements • Up to $20,000 equipment reimbursement per high school and ESU from lottery funds (must access Network Nebraska and send or receive video courses to retain the funds) • Distance Education Council receives ~$185K general funds per year through NDE for salaries, training, and approximately $1.4 million for establishing a statewide scheduling system

  13. LB 1208 Briefing LB 1208 Briefing • Funding elements (continued) • Through 2016, Distance Education incentives of up to $1,000 per unit are provided to schools/ESUs that send or receive synchronous video courses • Through 2016, Distance Education incentives of up to $1,000 per unit are provided to schools that transmit Internet-based distance education courses • Through 2016, Distance Education incentives of up to $1,000 per unit are provided to schools/ESUs that send synchronous video courses to sparse or very sparse school districts [Distance Education incentives are funded from lottery funds after AETP & equipment, and schools/ESUs must have access to Network Nebraska to qualify]

  14. LB 1208 Briefing LB 1208 Briefing • Funding elements (continued) • State aid technology allowance will pay 85% of the difference of school district access and transport costs, after eRate, for those districts eligible for state aid • Infrastructure Fund (Core Services) technology allowance will pay 85% of the difference of ESU access and transport costs after eRate • Receipts for courses shared will be excluded from the local budget limitation

  15. LB 1208 Briefing LB 1208 Briefing • Funding elements (continued) • Attracting Excellence to Teaching Program Act will be funded out of lottery money FIRST • 2006-07 $250K • 2007-08 $500K • 2008-09 $750K • 2009-10 $1M • Thru 2016 $1M/year • SECOND, equipment reimbursements • THIRD, Distance Education incentives

  16. LB 1208 Briefing LB 1208 Briefing • Coordination elements • The Distance Education Council (ESU Coordinating Council as of 7/1/2008) shall be composed of one administrator or his/her designee from each ESU; • The Distance Education Council (ESUCC) Duties include: • Public access to lists of distance ed courses • Collecting and providing school schedules • Facilitation of scheduling of distance ed courses • Brokering of distance ed courses to education entities • Assessment of distance ed needs and evaluation

  17. LB 1208 Briefing LB 1208 Briefing • Coordination elements (continued) • The Distance Education Council (ESUCC) duties include: • Compliance with NITC Technical Standards • Establishment of a system for course prioritization • Working with CIO to prioritize and schedule access to Network Nebraska • Administration of learning management systems • Coordination with ESUs and colleges to provide assistance with instructional design

  18. LB 1208 Briefing LB 1208 Briefing • Coordination elements (continued) • The Distance Education Council (ESUCC) must be represented on either the NITC Education Council, Technical Panel, or the Governor must appoint an ESUCC member to the Commission for a one year term

  19. LB 1208 Briefing LB 1208 Briefing

  20. CIO/Network Nebraska Update • CIO and Network Nebraska Activities • Project Director: Brenda Decker, State CIO • Asst Project Director: Walter Weir, UN CIO • Project Management Team: • Steve Henderson, Office of the State CIO • Jayne Scofield, Office of the State CIO • Tom Rolfes, CIO/NITC • Rick Becker, CIO/NITC • Ryan Christensen, Office of the State CIO

  21. CIO/Network Nebraska Update CIO/Network Nebraska Update • CIO and Network Nebraska Activities (continued) • 8 Activity Groups and Leads • Cost Structure and Billing (Steve Schafer, CIO) • Distance Education Council Collaboration (Tom Rolfes, NITC) • Network Nebraska Design/Support (Rick Golden, UNCSN) • Statewide Scheduling System (Michael Winkle, NET) • Statewide eRate Application (Jayne Scofield, CIO) • Edge Device Bidding (Heath Hollenbeck, UNCSN) • Video Codec Bidding (Bob Huber, NET) • Other DL Equipment Bidding (John Stritt, ESU 10)

  22. CIO/Network Nebraska Update CIO/Network Nebraska Update • CIO and Network Nebraska Activities (continued) • Activity Groups comprised of over 70 volunteers • Each Activity Group generated subtasks, deliverables, timeline, co-dependencies • Monthly progress reports to the Collaborative Aggregation Partnership (CAP) • Project Management Software (Clarity) generates Gantt charts and critical interdependencies

  23. CIO/Network Nebraska Update CIO/Network Nebraska Update • CIO and Network Nebraska Activities (continued) • 92 Letters of Agency were collected for eRate filing for Phase I, 121 Letters of Agency for Phase II • Statewide Clearinghouse/Scheduling System Bid was awarded to Qwest Interprise bidding Renovo software • Phase I WAN contracts awarded to Qwest and Windstream • Video Codec bids were un-utilized • Edge device contract awarded to MSI of Omaha for Cisco routers/switches (41.5% discount) • New Phase II WAN contracts awarded to Qwest, Dark Fiber Solutions and backbone contract to Qwest

  24. CIO/Network Nebraska Update CIO/Network Nebraska Update • CIO and Network Nebraska Activities (continued) • Network Nebraska cost structure and billing algorithm has been developed to recover direct and indirect costs associated with interregional transport and the administrative costs of Network Nebraska • Network Nebraska Participation Fee = $197.80/month for 2008-09 (non Erate eligible) • Network Nebraska Interregional Transport Fee = $93.35/month for 2008-09 (Post Erate cost will be $34.21/month)

  25. CIO/Network Nebraska Update CIO/Network Nebraska Update • NITC Standards Approved or in Progress • IP Communication Protocol Standard for Synchronous Distance Learning and Videoconferencing, 11/13/03 • Contracting Guidelines for Upgrade of Distance Learning Services, 11/13/03 • Video and Audio Compression Standard for Synchronous Distance Learning and Videoconferencing, 9/9/04 • Network Edge Device Standard for Entities Choosing to Connect to Network Nebraska, 5/1/06 • Scheduling Standard for Synchronous Distance Learning and Videoconferencing, 5/1/06 • Standard for Learning Management Systems, Work Group chartered by the NITC Technical Panel on 1/9/07 • Scheduling Standard 7-403 to be updated ASAP

  26. Network Upgrade Plan • Considerations for formulation of timeline • Consult with distance learning consortium directors • Retire JPEG/MPEG2 equipment as quickly as possible and convert to H.323 (Internet) communication protocol • Focus on high school sites as LB 1208 suggested • Emphasize areas with greatest chance of eqpt. failure • Upgrade entire infrastructure region (whenever possible) • Try not to exceed capacity of Education Innovation Fund for equipment reimbursement • Develop an aggressive, yet achievable upgrade schedule • Utilize existing fiber infrastructure to sites and provide opportunities to upgrade 17 fiber-less high schools • Preserve regional distance education relationships and continue to monitor backbone traffic

  27. Network Upgrade Plan • Summary Data (8-1-06) • Number of H.S. with 1.5-13.0 Mbps (NO DL) 24 • Number of H.S. with 45 Mbps JPEG 119 • Number of H.S. with 45 Mbps MPEG2 20 • Number of H.S. with 45 Mbps H.264 33 • Number of H.S. with 100 Mbps H.264 87 • Number of H.S. with 1000 Mbps H.264 8 • Number of ESUs with 1.5-13.0 Mbps (NO DL) 1 • Number of ESUs with 45 Mbps JPEG 8 • Number of ESUs with 45 Mbps MPEG2 1 • Number of ESUs with 45 Mbps H.264 3 • Number of ESUs with 100 Mbps H.264 6 • Number of ESUs with 1000 Mbps H.264 1 • Number of Higher Ed/Informal Ed Sites 26 (10 JPEG, 1 MPEG2, 15 H.264) TOTAL NUMBER OF ENTITIES 337

  28. Graphical depiction of fiber capacity by application and bandwidth LB1208

  29. Network Upgrade Plan

  30. Nebraska Distance Learning Consortia(showing ESU boundaries)

  31. Nebraska Distance Learning Consortia(showing fiber infrastructure)

  32. Proposed LB 1208 Implementation (by upgrade year)Showing 2008 Network Nebraska Backbone Phase II Upgrade Central Region: 90 high school districts, 5 ESUs, 6 college campuses

  33. Network Upgrade Plan • Skeptical administrators still ask: • “What’s the future of distance education?” • “Isn’t this all a waste of money when everything’s moving to on-line learning?” • “Isn’t this a huge overbuild of infrastructure?” • “Isn’t one T-1 of Internet enough?” • “What problem is this technology trying to solve?” • “Can distance learning ever be as good as face-to-face instruction?” • “Won’t teachers’ jobs be at risk?” • “Will you please just tell me what I should do?!”

  34. Network Upgrade Plan • Intuitive Educators want to know: • “What difference does all this make for me?” • “How will this change my teaching?” • “Will students learn better or faster?” • “Will my job be at risk?” • “Just tell me, will the Internet be faster?” • “Can my administrator make me teach using distance learning?” • “If I teach over the system, will I get paid more?” • “You aren’t gonna go and change everything on me, again, are ya’?”

  35. Other State Networks

  36. Other State Networks • Of the 38 other statewide networks, Network Nebraska has: • One of the highest percentages of fiber-connected districts (95%+); • Some of the highest bandwidth rates to rural areas (40Mbps - 100Mbps); • One of the lowest unit costs for Internet access ($38/meg/month); • One of the highest penetrations of IP videoconferencing technology; • One of only a few statewide networks that are totally funded by the participants;

  37. Other State Networks • Of the 38 other statewide networks, Network Nebraska has: • One of the (if not THE) smallest numbers of paid FTE; • One of the most cooperative network management environments with its education partners/customers; • One of the most advanced clearinghouse and videoconferencing software systems; • Constructed a unique place where public and nonpublic, large and small, rural and urban education entities can participate equitably.

  38. Tom Rolfes, Education I.T. Manager Office of the Chief Information Officer and Nebraska Information Technology Commission 402.471.7969 tom.rolfes@nebraska.gov Comprehensive Websites:www.nitc.state.ne.us www.networknebraska.net

  39. Internet2 K20 Connectivity Survey

  40. Whatis Internet2? • Internet2 is governed by an executive Board of Trustees and strategic councils consisting of leaders who represent its broad membership. • "Internet2" is sometimes used, albeit a misnomer, for the Abilene Network. • Internet2 or UCAID (University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development) is a not-for-profit advanced networking consortium comprising more than 200 U.S. universities in cooperation with 70 leading corporations, 45 government agencies, laboratories and other institutions of higher learning as well as over 50 international partner organizations. • Internet2 just celebrated its 10th Anniversary

  41. What is Internet2? Internet2 Universities208 Members December 2006 • Mission – Develop and deploy advanced network applications and technologies, accelerating the creation of tomorrow’s Internet. • Goals • Enable new generation of applications • Re-create leading edge R&E network capabilities • Transfer technology and experience to the global production internet Internet2 Partnerships – Academia, Industry, Government, and International

  42. Okay, then, what is the Abilene Network? • The Abilene Network connects regional network aggregation points—called gigaPoPs—to provide advanced network services to over 220 Internet2 university, corporate, and affiliate member institutions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The current network is a primarily OC-192c (10 Gbps) backbone employing optical transport technology and advanced high-performance routers. • The Abilene Network is a partnership of Internet2, Qwest Communications, Nortel Networks, Juniper Networks, and Indiana University.

  43. The Sponsored Education Group Participation Program (SEGP) & The K20 Initiative SEGP is the access pathway for all K-12 schools, libraries/museums, and non-University higher ed to participate in Internet2 38 state networks connected as of April 2007 Expanding access to the educational mainstream More innovators = accelerated cycle of innovation Important: Is Nebraska a “red” state?

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