Internet2 K20 Initiative Open Meeting - Spring 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Spring Internet2 Member Meeting
8:00am-12:00pm
Salon K
Crystal Gateway Marriott
Arlington, VA
Attending:
Marcia Mardis (Florida State University), Eric Wolf (PBS), Jeff Harrington (Nysernet), Jason Russell (Merit Networs), Mark Scheible (NC State University), Garret Sern (Educause), Larry Gallery (Nysernet), Bob Collie (ENA), Charles Ganzhorn (CISCO), Stephanie Couch (K20 CETC/CENIC), Elwood Downing (Merit Network), Morton Hahl (UNINETT ABC, Norway), Russ Hobby (Internet2), Emilie Stawiiarski (Internet2), Dorte Olesen (TERENA, Denmark), Bob Gerdes (Rutgers), Susan Calvin (Berks County IU), Kathleen Krupa (Hatboro-Horsham SD), Mary Ann Zbyonowski (Oarnet), Ann Zimmerman (Oarnet), Carol Willis (TETN), Geri Maglia (TETN), Sheri Prupis (NJEdge.net), Charles McMickle (NJEdge.net), Kim Owen (North Dakota State Univ), Daniel Berger (Tuscarora IU), Kim Breuninger (Chester County IU), Gareth Owen (Juniper Networks), Richard Machida (University of Alaska), Bob Dixon (Oarnet/Ohio State University), Randy Stout (Kansas Board of Regents-Kan-ed), Merle Gruesser (ENA), Jeremiah Fink (Monroe BOCES), Nick Cross (AARnet), Andrea Blome (Internet2), Myron Lowe (University of Minnesota), Bret Apthorpe (Fairport CSD), Doug Myer (CILC)
Meeting Notes
8:00am-8:15am - Breakfast
8:15am-8:20 - Louis Fox - K20 Initiative Overview and Introduction to the day's events
8:20-8:40am - International Polar Year and International Year of Astronomy Project Updates + more [NOAA Slides, ASTC Slides ]
Speaker(s): David Herring, NOAA Climate Program Office and Walter Staveloz, ASTC
Session Abstract: David Herring and Walter Straveloz will briefly review the IPY and IYA videoconferencing events that have utilized high speed networks worldwide. An exciting preview of coming attractions will also be provided.
Notes:
- Walter Staveloz - conducted several very popular international astronomy videoconfereincing events in partnership with Magpi bringing together people from South Africa, Germany, Ireland, Greece.
- Organizing a June 8th World Ocean Day videoconferencing event.
- Developing a Clim City game based on the popular Sim City. Involves science centers all over world.
- http://climcity.cap-sciences.net/
- David Herring - NOAA and many of its partners are discussing are advocating for the creation of a National Science Climate Service.
- The idea is to take all the information from the climate service and make it available to everyone.
- We see state and city governments making decision with or without our data. We want them to have the data available - they are making plans for 30-40 years out and need the information that we have available.
- NOAA, Internet2 and ASTC have an interesting role to play in this process of convening and educating
- NOAA has developed the Climate Literacy Guide - with 7 essential principals on what it means to be climate literate.
- NOAH wants to engage in story-telling in a data rich environment. If people receive it in a story concept they will understand and remember the message.
- NOAA is involved in furthing the development of the sphere casting and dome casting spaces for interacting with the data and expert scientists - looking to do professional development in museums and other areas.
- Internet2 is in a position to help in this area.
- NOAA is calling on Internet2 to work with the EPA, USGS, NSF, ASTC and NOAA to come together around a common "story telling" approach to educating the public about climate issues.
- NOASS is developing a new climate portal - a speakers' bureau with a calendar of these kinds of events and is interested in promoting these activities on MUSE.
8:40am-9:00am - SEGP Update [TX Slides, NYSERNET Slides]
Speaker(s): Stephanie Couch, Director, Statewide Initiatives, CENIC; Carol Willis, Manager, TETN; Larry Gallery, Manager, Membership Development, NYSERNET
Session Abstract: Representatives from the CA, TX, and NY SEGPs will be on hand to share exciting developments in their states.
9:00am-9:20am - Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) - Current Programmatic and Funding Priorities Panel Discussion [Slides]
Speaker(s): Charles Thomas, Senior Program Officer, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
Session Abstract: IMLS staff will be on hand to highlight the organization's current funding priorities.
Notes: Charles was unable to attend the session. Please see the slides above.
9:20am-9:40am - Our Courts [Slides]
Speaker(s): Abigail B. Taylor, Executive Director and Jeff Curley, Marketing Manager, Our Courts, Georgetown University Law Center
Session Abstract: Abigail Taylor and Jeff Curley will discuss Sandra Day O'Connor's Our Courts project, a free, interactive, web-based program designed to teach students civics and inspire them to be active participants in our democracy.
Notes:
- Our Courts is an online interactive civic program designed for middle school students.
- The program was started by Sandra Day O'Connor who was concerned that basic civics education was falling behind in our schools.
- Only 36% of Americans polled can name the 3 branches of government.
- 21 states no longer require civics or government classes
- 15% polled can name the Chief Justice of the United States as compared to 66% who can name a judge on American Idol
- In 2007 50 civic teachers from around the country were conviened to discuss what should be done to improve civics education in grades 5 through 12.
- They agreed middle school was the place to start.
- The curriculum needed to be updated for the 21st century student. Make it discovery-based, problem-based, and relevant. Empowering the student - how it is relevant to their lives?
- The website was purpose built for use by elementary school teachers and launched in February 2009.
- The site has many game based learning opportunities and curriculmn for teachers.
- Please test drive the site and send feedback to Abigail and Jeff.
9:40am-10:00am - NJVid - State of the Art Video Access [Slides]
Speaker(s): George Laskaris, NJEdge
Session Abstract: George will provide an update on NJVid, a project that creates a statewide digital video repository and portal with tools and services, providing "lectures on demand," licensed commercial videos, and locally owned videos for use by member partners.
Notes:
- Shibboleth is used for authentication and authorization
- Needed: object store, archival store and a large mass store - a repository architecture to handle all the storage needs
- Fedora Commons info:
- Gordon and Betty Moor Foundation - organization and technical framework for the collaboration of scientists, scholars, museums, libraries and educators
- Repository services, preservation services, semantics services, and enterprise services
- Digital Object - expressed as XML using XACML engine
- Repository services and encapsulation for management and preservation
- Provides integrity, messaging and journaling services
- Preservation services with audit trails, versioning, etc.
- Need to decide: who can use the video?
- Next release is Fall 2009 --- RUcore Release 5.1 - Custom metadata, Enhanced partner portal connections.
10:00am-10:10am - Exploring Collaboration Opportunities with the Philadelphia Orchestra [Website]
Speaker(s): Ayden Adler, Director, Education and Community Partnerships, The Philadelphia Orchestra Association
Session Abstract: Ayden will discuss collaborative project opportunities with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Notes:
- Music challenges and empowers people of all walks of life
- The goal is to use the Internet2 network to engage a diverse community and provide equitable access to the Philadelphia Orchestra
- Currently our programs touch over 55,000 people per season locally
- see www.philorch.org/education
- Next month we're working with the MAGPI and Internet2 - K thru 3 about music and literacy and a series of sold out video concerts for the MAGPI K20 programs
- The Orchestra has plans to expand its online programming offerings and is excited to continue working with the K20 Initiative.
10:10 am-10:25am - BREAK
10:25am-10:45am - New Services from Internet2 Commons + H.323 Enabling One Laptop Per Child PCs [Slides , Slides ]
Speaker(s): Dr. Bob Dixon, Chief Research Engineer Ohio Supercomputer Center Network (OSCNet) and Heather Weisse, Applications Coordinator, MAGPI
Session Abstract: An update on new services offered by the Internet2 Commons. Dr. Bob will also be on hand to discuss his work with One Laptop Per Child including a demo of the laptop's Skype/H.323 gateway.
- Why do we do this? Vast amounts of information and hundreds of providers
- Can we get this through Skype? So we produced a Skype Gateway
- It's a fully symmetrical video and audio in both directions
- Can have as many users as you want
- Two PCs running Windows and Skype and one running Windows and Polycom PXP
- Future Plans: package the hardware to make it expandable
- Can have 10 simultaneous Skype users without PC users
- Internet2 Commons will run the gateway as part of the video conferencing service
10:45am-11:05am - K-20 and Advanced Networking in Australia [Slides]
Speaker(s): Nick Cross, Manager Education Outreach, AARNet
Session Abstract: Nick will describe who's connected, how they are connected, how the network is being used (particularly by the research, schools, libraries, museums, cultural centers, etc.), and how AARNEt approaches customer outreach. Nick will also share thoughts on how we could leverage the peering relationship between AARNet and Internet2 to promote international collaborations.
Notes:
- What are some of the similarities and differences between Australia and the United States?
- Have some of the same land mass
- Difference is number of schools and student population
- When you fly across the U.S. you can see light everywhere. When you fly across Australia you see lights on the edges and then pitch black
- Texas is about the same size as one of the Australian districts
- 47% of the schools have fiber penetration but only 4% of the schools are using it
- We need to get schools connected end-to-end
- The Australian Federal Initiatives:
- NBN --- will set the tone for the connectivity and Internet services for some time to come
- Fiber Connections to Schools - small amount of money but will be absorbed in the NBN
- National Secondary Schools Computer Fund - lot of jobs being created around this; reasonable amount of money for educational resource development
- We would love to see a more international collaboration/communication
- February 8 - 12 2010 hosted in Sydney Australia for APAN 29
11:05am-11:30am - Open Source Tools for Managing Research and Learning in Virtual Worlds [Slides]
Speaker(s): Henry Kelly, President, Federation of American Scientists (FAS)
Session Abstract: Henry will discuss his work developing open source tools for managing research and learning in virtual worlds, what it means for K-20 education, and the role of advanced networks.
11:30am-11:45am - A New Sheriff in Town: What does it mean for Internet2 and the K20 Initiative?
[Slides]
Speaker(s): Gary Bachula, Vice President for External Relations, Internet2
Session Abstract: Gary Bachula will offer insight into how we can best partner with the new Obama Administration to improve broadband access across the K-20 community.
Notes:
- This U.S. President "get's it" and shares the vision - our time has come and the real test is: are we going to be able to take advantage of it?
- $650 million for enhancing education through technology
- $4.7 billion at NTIA and $2.5 billion at the Dept of Agriculture
- NTIA - there are four programs:
- Expanding public computer center capacity for Community Colleges & public libraries ($200 million). Watch for applications on their web site.
- $250 million to schools, libraries, medical & healthcare providers, Community Colleges to encourage sustainable broadband adoption -- -it's applications !!! Come up with a really cool idea that spreads through broadband to K-20 schools and this may qualify for funding
- PIPES - competitive grant programs, technology neutral, wire line or wireless - who's eligible: governments, non-profits, private companies, public-private partnerships; for all parts of the country - but only one grant per state. Money can pay for network technology and infrastructure, equipment, etc.
- Distance Learning, Telemedicine & Broadband programs $2.5 billion
- Loan guarantees & grants
- 75% to rural areas lacking sufficient speed
- Projects that give end users a choice of providers
- How to spend this money? --- Figure this is a down payment on a long-term strategy
- Public Comment Meetings will be held - participate in them!
- How does it get targeted? We had a significant amount of comment by 100 speakers with 1400 comments filed with the NTIA and they're now sorting it out.
- We have a hint from NTIA - Mark Seifert wants to take steps that all have high speed access: schools, MTS, doctors, scientists, schools, universities, hospitals -- ALL need broadband connectivity
- Microsoft is projecting $7 billion for starting in the most important places - let's bring high-speed broadband to schools, hospitals, and libraries.
- Unleashing Waves of Innovation --- re-filed with NTIA and stated it should begin with our schools, universities, hospitals/clinics, libraries and from those connection points drive it to the rural parts of America and build out to all the homes.
- We expect there will be decisions made shortly and the funding for NTIA is coming out in May, early June. Putting people in place to make these decisions and control the money.
- Sign up for email updates - whenever there is breaking news we send out an email blast; we have weekly phone conferences and bi-weekly update presentations.
- Whether we take advantage of these broadband programs is up to us. Contact your local state government - plug into them and let them know you exist and how you can use these dollars to upgrade.
- Fear is the dollars will float out there and never be used - might be used by people in public commodities.
- Important for us to be participants - who's taking leadership in your state, who's applying for funds and take part in the funding.
11:45am-Noon - United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Speaker(s): Michael Goldman, Director of the Global Classroom, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Session Abstract: Michael will talk about what the Holocaust Memorial Museum outreach programs (current and aspirational).
Notes:
- Asking the right question is really key
- The Museum has been 16 years in Wash DC they but have managed to do quite a lot in 16 years
- Trying to ask new questions; what is our role as a global institution?
- Created under the Carter administration and we're a federal organizations.
- Focus was to look at the U.S. - how are teachers learning about the Holocaust and how are they teaching it?
- As our reputation grew and we have been collecting in 26 countries and we discovered that the rest of the world is looking for guidance in this area.
- What have we done technology wise: mostly teacher focused. We've found English teachers have the time to teach this topic --- coordinating it with the story of Anne Frank.
- Holocaust Museum is involved in Second Life so students can learn about the Holocaust and they moved on to develop an immersive program in Second Life.
- Translation - if you think about the topic of the Holocaust and what it raises across the world - we are creating authoritative content in a variety of languages so it can be taught.
- Challenge to meet: is to think about the rest of the world. I'm looking for resources, methodologies, and techniques - but trying to find out how to connect people around the world, how to deal with massive datasets. We have 100 million pages about the Holocaust in our museum. This represents an opportunity as a dataset besides as a collection of history. How do you start handling the different interactions with different parts of the world?
- Hope you think about our appeal for solutions on how we move forward in working together.