Broadband for Learning Case Study
Data Connection's MeetingServer has been chosen as a key component of the Broadband for Learning project, providing conferencing solutions for a variety of education applications. Initially being rolled out in 120 locations across North London, the Broadband for Learning project connects PC-based conferencing systems in schools, colleges and learning centres, as well as allowing students to access the system from home. MeetingServer provides web conferencing capabilities, so that users can share applications, presentations and a whiteboard.
Broadband for Learning joins
classrooms in different schools
Broadband for Learning applications
- Sharing lessons between more than one school - even sharing language teaching sessions from other countries
- Teacher-pupil meetings on-line - for example to talk about assignments
- Sharing materials - and experience - among teachers and trainers through on-line document sharing
- Trainer/trainee progress reviews
- On-line career guidance
Broadband for Learning solution
The Broadband for Learning project was co-ordinated by Apperception, who assessed a number of competing solutions, and chose a system integrated by Niad Communications, comprising a SIP-based audio and video conferencing system using a hardware MCU, alongside MeetingServer's web conferencing facilities. Niad Communications combine these tools behind an integrated interface known as VAvox VQ.
MeetingServer was chosen for this solution because it provides an intuitive and robust user experience, it is easy to integrate, and it out-performs the alternatives.
User experience
For many of Broadband for Learning's typical users, using a computer is a relatively unusual activity, so the conferencing tools have to be easy-to-use. MeetingServer's intuitive interface fits the bill.
MeetingServer, uses significantly
less bandwidth and CPU
than other conferencing solutions
September 2003
The system has to be robust. Users will abandon even the most powerful features if they are prone to failure. Niad Communications and Apperception carried out extensive testing to ensure that MeetingServer met their rigorous reliability standards.
Ease of integration
Niad engineers integrated MeetingServer in less than two weeks. MeetingServer conferences can be accessed through single-click URLs, and it was simple to include these links within the VAvox VQ interface.
The URLs include user information so that participants can be authenticated as they access a conference - crucial in a guidance situation discussing confidential information.
Performance
Many education institutions have relatively low-powered computing and networking equipment, and pupils or trainees joining a Broadband for Learning session may not have the latest PC technology at home. To make the system open to the widest user base, the conferencing technology has to be efficient in network bandwidth and CPU power required.
Apperception evaluated the VAvox VQ system, incorporating MeetingServer, alongside alternative, commercially available conferencing packages, and proved it to be much more efficient in both measures.
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