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MPC connects Alexandria Technical College wirelessly
INTRODUCTION
This case study describes the successful implementation of a wireless network at Alexandria Technical College (ATC) in Alexandria, Minnesota, a town of 8,000 about half-way between Minneapolis and Fargo, North Dakota. One of the nation's top ten vocational schools, ATC is a recognized leader in improving learning through technology. Supporting that goal, the college ensures access with a ratio of one computer for every 1.5 students.
SITUATION
With a student-to-faculty ratio of twenty to one, Alexandria Technical College is known as the college that cares," according to ATC's president Larry Shellito. "This caring is built on a foundation of industry- experienced faculty, modern equipment, a strong emphasis on leading technology and, most importantly, a focus on the goals and aspirations of our students." For ATC, this philosophy is proven by the fact that 97.9% of its students found program-related jobs in 1999.
On ATC's campus, fully networked electronic classrooms enhance students' educational opportunities. Faculty members develop multimedia skills that improve instruction and help students acquire skills that will serve them in a future of life-long learning.
Alexandria Technical College enthusiastically embraced MPC (MicronPC)'s wireless network proposal, selecting its data-intensive GIS computer lab as the test site. After displacing IBM at Alexandria Technical College about five years ago, MPC currently has an installed base of 700 laptops and 1,100 workstations. In addition to the technical support which comes standard with all MPC systems, ATC uses MPC's extended support, including Advanced Portable Exchange and SystemSatisfaction, which provides for the repair or replacement of damaged notebook computers
MPC's sophisticated technical support has been a critical differentiator for Alexandria Technical College. According to Sarah Gallagher, ATC's network administrator, "MPC's tech support has been excellent. I call and get somebody right away. MPC is able to help me and seems very knowledgeable. I know the people that work on the desktops are very happy with the technical support, too-they have one person they talk to, rather than just calling in and getting somebody who doesn't know what they're talking about.
CHALLENGE
Maintaining a wired network for approximately 1,800 computers is challenge enough. Compounding the situation at ATC are the facts that the campus is composed of several buildings on 90 acres and the students are demanding users of computer networks.
As network administrators at campuses across the country have learned in recent years, the typical volume of traffic can cripple any network that isn't performing at its optimum level. Common consumers of network bandwidth include users connecting to the Internet, accessing network resources such as printers and servers, exchanging files, swapping email and instant messages, updating calendars, and downloading music and video.
Alexandria Technical College serves approximately 2,100 full- and part-time students in 47 majors and several specialized training programs. Many of ATC's degree and custom programs integrate highly intensive computer applications. In the GIS program, students use detailed mapping, surveying and graphics software that generate huge computer files, which students store and transfer on ATC's network. In addition, ATC offers instruction in fields such as computer and HTML programming, computer technical support, mechanical engineering and design, and communication arts, creating heavy demand on its network resourc
The wiring necessary to support the extensive demands on computer network is costly and difficult to maintain. Resolving a problem on a wired network entails troubleshooting multiple potential trouble spots, including cables, connectors, input and output ports, hardware and software configurations, and wall jacks. Adding additional connectivity requires IT staff to connect and pull cable through walls and conduits, often among multiple buildings on the campus. A wired network limits users to physical spaces where they are able to plug into the network, an increasing challenge when everyone uses computers to learn and interact with other students and the faculty
In other words, wired networks increasingly interfere with the ability of IT administrators to keep networks performing at their optimum level.
SOLUTION
MPC proposed an end-to-end wireless network solution to meet the IT challenges at ATC and more easily maintain its network's optimal performance.
Students in technology-oriented programs at ATC lease MPC TransPort notebooks, which combine a flexible design and rich feature set with a small footprint. According to Paul Petersen, vice president of product marketing and development, "MPC's TransPort line offers mobile users an innovative portable computer that integrates a lightweight form factor with the power and expandability of a desktop. With a design that blends performance, flexibility, and a small footprint, TransPort notebooks deliver the highest computing power available to the mobile professional today - the power users need to achieve maximum productivity.
For the GIS lab project, MPC equipped TransPort notebook computers with wireless networking cards, and two 802.11b-compliant high-speed wireless access points and installed them on January 11, 2002.
RESULTS
Since installation, the wireless network has performed as well as the wired network with a fraction of the maintenance and configuration challenges.
The wireless access point gives GIS students complete flexibility to move around their lab, interacting with individuals and groups without being harnessed to the wired network. The wireless access point's coverage extends outside the lab and into the neighboring common area, allowing students to congregate and work in a more comfortable non-classroom setting.
Additionally, the students had a unique opportunity to observe and participate in the network implementation. Students watched the installation of several cards and one 802.11b access point, and then had the hands-on opportunity to install the remaining wireless cards and second access point, thus providing the students with real-life experience.
This is particularly valuable, said Jan Doebbert, ATC's dean of technology, because "wireless technology is emerging as a dominant technology and we need to look ahead to what's next with hand-helds and palm-tops, because wireless is going to be an inescapable part of all our lives."
In the coming months, ATC and its students will gain valuable insight into the opportunities of wireless networking, and become better acquainted with this emerging technology. Alexandria Technical College will also gauge student response to the new technology, particularly regarding the speed and reliability of a wireless network under the stress of intense computing tasks.
ATC believes its wireless network will create less IT clutter than the traditional networked classroom. The school expects to save both time and money by adding more wireless networked classrooms, because there is no need to install costly network cables. Wireless technology also eliminates several potential obstructions when troubleshooting connectivity issues.
Alexandria Technical College's existing relationship with MPC and its portable computer lease plan makes technology relatively easy for many reasons. According to Doebbert, "we consider Alexandria Technical College a true lab environment, so consistency is critical: when students and the instructor open their laptops, they all see the same thing and we know we're not going to have compatibility issues."
Second, Doebbert said, because of ATC's relationship with MPC, the school's tech support has a very quick response time. In the event of a problem, the IT department can simply rebuild a student's files and configuration on an identical MPC computer and get the student back in the classroom in just a couple of hours. Finally, the school's site licenses for educational software allow both students and faculty to use and learn industry standard software that they could not otherwise afford.
The wireless pilot project has made life easier. According to Gallagher, ATC's network administrator, "it takes a lot of people and a lot of hours to get a lab wired. With this wireless implementation, we configured the wireless access point and installed it in the ceiling. Now we have only one device to troubleshoot, or two if you troubleshoot students' network cards, instead of every cable, every jack, every connection."
Gallagher continued from the student view: "Students have one less thing to do when they get into class. They don't have to get out their network cable and connect it, disconnect it, and haul the computer and cable around to find somewhere to sit that has a jack that works all the time or try plugging in here and there - they just don't have to worry about location."
Doebbert concludes, "the price and the quality of our MPC systems makes MPC an ideal IT partner for both our students and the school, and I think the thing that keeps us coming back is MPC's outstanding service and support."
CONCLUSION
Alexandria Technical College has earned both its reputation as the school that cares and its national top-ten ranking through its commitment to students and its hands-on preparation for the real world. Its service-relationship with MPC enables ATC to stay on the cutting edge of computer technology.
MPC installed an end-to-end wireless networking solution including the hardware, software and services necessary to implement the solution on January 11, 2002. MPC and Alexandria Technical College will continue their collaboration over the next three to six months and periodically post updates to MPC's Web site that evaluate potential barriers to greater wireless adoption, including capacity bottlenecks and security of wireless data transfer. The project will also allow ATC and MPC to assess strategies for further improving educational opportunities and determine additional benefits of using wireless technologies in the classroom.
With a regular cycle of upgrading its technology, Alexandria Technical College expects this pilot project will contribute to the school's transition to wireless networks during its normal rotation of equipment over the next three years.
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