World class communications from Cable &
Wireless are providing the backbone of state-of-the-art technology
resources in local schools.
Since 2002 the company has provided the core
network for the Education Department’s Guernsey Grid for Learning
(GGfL). This comprises fast and secure, high capacity links between
Bailiwick schools and other educational centres, capable of
supporting current applications and teaching resources.
Last year the company completed an extensive
upgrade of the core network, to bring the connectivity up to the
latest standards. This included new communications equipment
installed in all the schools.
Cable & Wireless facilities director Stan
Fitzgerald said: ‘Our engineers have been involved in the Guernsey
Grid for Learning project from the very beginning, so we have
considerable knowledge of the system and the infrastructure that
was already in place. However we approached the upgrade essentially
with a clean sheet, basically asking ourselves if we were starting
this project now what equipment would we use? That is what we have
now put in place.’
The new network will be capable of supporting
Education’s planned Guernsey Integrated Learning Environment
(GILE). This will extend the provision of GGfL, providing a
teaching environment more tailored to the requirements of each
individual user and eventually including resources specifically
designed for parents.
Among the improvements following the upgrade
are better reliability and increased resilience, to provide users
with a more stable system.
‘The old equipment did not have the level of
resilience that we now have, essentially because of the way the
system had evolved. By starting afresh we have been able to replace
any legacy or obsolete kit, and improve performance several fold,’
he said.
‘Although the technology itself is fairly
complex the end result is quite simple. It will provide a better
user experience.’
The upgrade was carried out within six weeks
during the summer, to ensure there was no disruption to the
teaching requirements at the different schools.
As well as providing the backbone network Cable
& Wireless also provides security systems to protect from
hackers or other unauthorised users. The company also hosts some of
the core GGfL content and learning resources at one of its local
data centres.
Notes to editors:
1. Members of the public and States Members
were able to gain a better understanding of how technology is
shaping the future of education at a special presentation at Les
Cotils on Tuesday 22nd January. Pupils from Castel Primary School
will present examples of how information and communication
technology (ICT) is helping transform the way teaching staff and
pupils work and learn.
The evening was supported by Sure and
Cisco.
2. The new Guernsey Integrated Learning
Environment (GILE) will meet the needs of Bailiwick students until
at least 2014.