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Building the Right ICT Infrastructure for eLearning

Building the Right ICT Infrastructure for eLearning. E-LEARNING CONFERENCE 2-3 NOV 2010 Mthatha HRC Courtney Walker ICT Director WSU. Agenda. eLearning Requirements Enterprise Video Teleconferencing Bandwidth Issues Performance Issues Current Developments Future Developments.

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Building the Right ICT Infrastructure for eLearning

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  1. Building the Right ICT Infrastructure for eLearning E-LEARNING CONFERENCE 2-3 NOV 2010 Mthatha HRC Courtney Walker ICT Director WSU

  2. Agenda • eLearning Requirements • Enterprise Video Teleconferencing • Bandwidth Issues • Performance Issues • Current Developments • Future Developments

  3. eLearning Requirements • A New dimension • Interactive and live distance teaching using video and rich presentations for small groups • Simultaneous distance teaching sessions • streaming of live presentations to large student groups • On-demand viewing of saved presentations • Integration between eLearning and business systems to facilitate Single Sign On, sharing of data, Email, SMS integration • Accessing services securely over the Internet (outside of WSU) • Objective • eLearning must minimize operational cost whilst allowing students to get the best educational experience

  4. Enterprise Video Teleconferencing An enterprise Video Conferencing System consists of at least one central MCU and several endpoints. MCU is: Multipoint Control Unit or Multipoint Conference Unit Endpoint is the device that allows each participant to engage with the video teleconference session. It can be a boardroom system, PC or Mobile phone. Each endpoint forms a virtual link to the MCU.

  5. Enterprise MCU • Allows many users to connect to a conference • Allows many simultaneous video conferencing sessions • Support Video, Voice and Computer Presentations • Accommodates various video qualities-HD, SD etc • Uses the IP Network thus allowing access from anywhere and using any device • Supports legacy networks such as ISDN (WSU is using currently ISDN provided by Telkom) • Integrates with Video Streaming Server to: • Stream live presentations to large audience • Record presentations • Provide On-demand Presentations

  6. Reality • Quality Video Teleconferencing requires huge Bandwidth. • Cost of Bandwidth depends on size • HD = 2Mbps to up 16Mbps • SD = 512Kbps • Low quality video =128Kbps or less (currently used by WSU) • Need to be smart about the design and development of the WSU Network so as to minimize cost and maximize performance • Will the solution reduce the operational expenditure for WSU? • Should we use offsite service such as Skype or WebEx?

  7. Internet Bandwidth Rates • Mobile’s charges are normally based on usage in Megabytes (MB) • Mobile Providers charge a higher usage fee for Skype and other VOIP services. • TENET and other fixed site Internet providers typically charge a fixed monthly fee for a specific data speed.

  8. Cost of using 3G for VOIP and Video Teleconferencing For a One Hour Video Conference assuming a video quality of 512Kbps. This amounts to 3700 Megabyte of Data. The cost per user is: 3G card is not suitable for VOIP or Video Teleconferencing unless facilitated through the ICT Department???

  9. WSU Network • WSU Network consists of Sites interconnected by Private Data Links provided by Telkom, Neotel and a private Wireless MAN in East London • The WSU Network has an Internet Breakout Point that connects to TENET • The new 3G solution with Vodacom connects our 3G users directly to the WSU network. Should we use offsite or onsite MCU? Internet Internet Link Private Data Links

  10. Off site MCU • Offsite server is provided by an external company somewhere on the internet • Each endpoint must have a virtual link that goes through the internet to the server • 20 endpoints require 20 virtual links through the Internet Link Off site MCU Internet Link Internet Virtual link WSU Network

  11. On Site MCU • server is located at WSU at the main data centre • Endpoints will be on the WSU Network except for a small percentage on the Internet. Virtual link Internet Link Internet WSU Network Remote User on the Internet

  12. Cost Breakdown • Cost comparison for three years for 100 endpoints assuming: • Each endpoint requires 512Kbps. Internet Bandwidth Required for offsite server is approximately 50Mbps for 100 endpoints. • cost of every Mbps to be R 5,000.00 per month • Zero cost of offsite Server (such as Skype) • Zero Internet Bandwidth for Onsite Server • Private Network requirements remain the same for both onsite & offsite

  13. Overhead Cost Of Onsite Meetings • Other factors • Cost of expert lecturers at all sites • Fatigue due to travelling • Risk of travelling

  14. Performance Issues • Performance can be guaranteed through two technologies • Quality of Service (QOS). With Onsite MCU the quality of the video teleconference can be enforced on the Private Network. Internet operates on a best effort so QOS cannot be enforced. • WAN acceleration. Tremendously reduces bandwidth through compression and elimination of redundant data. • Example: suppose 50 persons at IBIKA needs to receive the same unicast 512kbps video feed from NMD. Without WAN acceleration the required bandwidth on the WAN link would be 25Mbps. With WAN acceleration the required bandwidth would only be 512Kbps.

  15. Current Development • Order has been approved for: • An enterprise MCU • located at College Street • allows up to 96 endpoints • Six new boardroom systems at to be located at NMD, IBIKA, Masibulele, East London and Potsdam • Integration of current Video Conferencing systems • Allow users to connect with their desktops and laptops • Up to 8 concurrent sessions at NMD (10Mbps link) • Up to 4 concurrent sessions at Potsdam (4Mbps) • Up to 4 concurrent sessions each at Whittleseaand IBIKA (5Mbps by February) • Video Streaming Server that • Allows capturing of Live events anywhere within WSU • Allows streaming of Presentations everywhere • Allows publishing of Presentations on the Internet • QOS and WAN acceleration will be configured • Telephone and Fax solutions • Cost 3,000,000.00 • Expected Date –February 2011

  16. Current Developments-2 • Server & Storage Project to be completed by January 2011 • Integration between Blackboard, GroupWise and ITS • Allow students and staff to save work remotely on servers • Access files from anywhere • Move towards thin-client computing • Desktop management, endpoint security • Enforce Desktop Policy • Ensure Anti-virus and Windows are updated regularly • Eliminate Rogue computers

  17. Future • SANREN coming to WSU’s remote sites • RFP will be issued by CSIR for extension of SANREN to WSU remote sites • Gov’t will spend 50Million to build broadband infrastructure in the rural area. • Faster and cheaper bandwidth • More video teleconferencing sessions • Better quality video teleconferencing

  18. Thank You

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