What is connect.T4L?
Every student and teacher at every public school in New South Wales deserves access to online learning resources through an effective and reliable connection - regardless of where they are located. While this equity of access is essential, the reality of the available telecommunications network connections across our state is still limited in many regional and remote areas. Schools in our larger cities and urban areas have benefitted from easy access to high-capacity fibre links. Conversely, our schools in smaller rural towns are often at the end of slower connections. For a lesser number of remote sites where the only available link is via two-way satellite, access is even further restricted.
Connect.T4L is the NSW Department of Education's new strategy to boost online capacities for every school, making access to innovative and expanding cloud-based learning tools and resources, engaging and responsive. It will also deliver effective network management tools for schools and the department and higher levels of user support for resolving network issues. Connect.T4L will be delivered in three main streams:
- Secured Internet Edge to Schools
- Data Integration and unified dashboard
- School Operation Centre
Secured Internet Edge to Schools
PHASE 1: Replacing satellite connections at remote schools
This stream of Connect.T4L provides a two-pronged approach to increasing the bandwidth available to all schools. The first being to replace satellite connections in our remote schools with either an underground fibre optic link back to the nearest exchange where logistically feasible, or delivering improved services through newer land-based wireless services. This may not be technically possible at every site right now, but new solutions will continue to be investigated.
Working closely with our telecommunications partners, nine of these schools will be cutover to a cabled connection during the second half of 2018, bringing new educational opportunities to students disadvantaged by distance.
PHASE 2: Installing a new internet link in our largest schools
The second phase involves over 700 of our largest schools. Currently, all schools access the internet via the DoE Wide Area Network (WAN) and the State Data Centre. This provides us with a finite amount of bandwidth to share across the state. The demand for internet services continuously grows, with the increase of mobile devices in our schools and the need to access more cloud services like G Suite and Office 365. Unfortunately, congestion also grows.
To counter this, NSW DoE are investing in a new strategy called Internet Edge, to bypass the State Data Centre and deliver internet-based content directly to our largest schools. This takes that internet-only traffic off the DoE WAN, freeing up capacity for use by our smaller schools. The direct internet link also delivers more bandwidth to our large schools. It's a win-win for all NSW public schools!
Bypassing the State Data Centre means the department's centralised Internet Filtering service is also bypassed by schools on Internet Edge. So to ensure our students are protected when using the internet, each included school will also receive a centrally-managed Paloalto router, firewall and internet filter. A pilot in six schools during October/November 2018 will help define the final Internet Edge solution to be rolled out to the remaining 700 schools with completion expected by the end of term 1, 2019.
Data Integration & unified dashboard
Schools currently have access to several tools developed by ITD providing Principals and school ICT coordinators with ICT-related information. In order to provide better user experience with more useful data, the T4L team is currently working closely with the Connect.T4L program. Their aim is to streamline several of the most commonly used tools. Data from Principals’ Network Information (PNI) and Fleet Management Reports (FMR) to name just two, will be part of a new unified dashboard for schools.
This project is currently in the early stage of the design phase, with development planned for commencement during Term 4 this year. More details will be provided as the project progresses.
School Operation Centre
Due to large program of infrastructure works including the established Connecting Country Schools, a future potential for Connecting Metro Schools as well as the Internet Edge project, schools will become connected more than ever before. The key objective of the School Operation Centre project is to enhance ITD’s current support processes and pathways to deliver better service to public schools across NSW.
With a focus on enhancing Technology for Learning (T4L) in schools, this project will refine and bolster the support provided to our schools by our Network Services and Customer Experience and Service Delivery teams.
For further information on Connect.T4L
Please email T4LNews@det.nsw.edu.au if you have any questions about the exciting Connect.T4L program.