ICT Update

29th August 2007

A New Satellite Network for Remote Schools and Students
We are pleased to announce that a new high speed satellite network will be implemented in 2008 to provide remote schools and IDL students with faster connections and better access to resources. The network is being developed with a $ 4.5 m grant for the Commonwealth and will replace the satellite services currently used for 56 remote schools and 160 distance learning sites. This development will address one of the major deficiencies with current services. more

Remote School Visits
The IT operations group is scheduling visits to all remote schools over the next few weeks to carry out routine maintenance and identify any ongoing service issues. They will also use the opportunity to demonstrate some of the new online services and pick up any Optima laptops that have not been returned.

Content Filtering for all School Internet
A new policy has been introduced requiring Content Filtering Services to be applied for any Internet Services connected to education facilities. This will require pre schools, homeland learning centres and any other sites that have independent broadband or satellite connections to install content filtering software on all computers that use these services. A range of free products is available through the commonwealth Net Alert program. Details can be found at http://www.netalert.gov.au/.

IT Services will contact sites with independent data connections to assist in the installation and activation of content filters.

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Professional Development opportunities
Online Services is offering a number of Professional Development opportunities over the remainder of the year. Training will be available in the mid semester break for Darwin based teachers and will cover topics including IWBs, NTSchools Portal and LAMS.

Training opportunities in Alice Springs are also available covering use of IWBs and LAMS. Details and booking guides are available by clicking here. For more information please contact: elearning.det@nt.gov.au

Connecting Dell Teacher Laptop to an Interactive Whiteboard (IWB)
There have been a number of enquiries regarding screen resolution settings when connecting the new Dell teacher laptops to an IWB.

Generally the screen resolution of the Dell laptop is higher than the resolution of the data projector.

When connecting the laptop to the IWB for the first few times you will need to manually adjust the laptop’s screen resolution to match that of the data projector and then reset it after disconnecting from the IWB. After several manual adjustments, the laptop should retain these settings and adjust automatically when connecting and disconnecting to the IWB.

To adjust the screen resolution of your laptop;

(Connect to IWB before adjusting settings.)
1. Right click on the desktop
2. Click on properties
3. Click on the settings tab
4. Adjust the sliding tab to the required resolution (1024 x 768)
5. Click on Apply and Ok

When disconnecting from the IWB repeat the above steps and change the screen resolution back to the original setting. It would be a good idea to ask about the resolution settings of the data projector when the IWB is installed.

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Skyconnect Overview

Skyconnect is an NT DEET led project that will receive $4.5 million in Commonwealth funding (under the Commonwealths Clever Networks program) to improve remote communications bandwidth in the NT. The project partners include DEET, DHCS and Charles Darwin University (CDU).

Satellite services provide bandwidth beyond the reach of terrestrial networks. DEET has been a long term user of satellite services to deliver communication services to remote areas through initiatives such as LATIS and SOTA (School of the Air), and has invested significantly to deliver bandwidth to DEET clients wherever they are.

Skyconnect is a dedicated satellite solution that has been designed to provide cost effective and improved bandwidth performance to our remote areas. The project will purchase and install a satellite HUB in the NT that connects into the NTG wide area network. All existing remote satellite services (schools, health clinics and CDU VET facilities) currently provided by Optus and Telstra, will transfer to Skyconnect.

Skyconnect’s objective is to deliver NT wide broadband services which will result in improved access to education and health facilities in remote areas of the NT. The project has kicked off and will result in a series of Tenders being issued over the next 3 months.

The first tangible outcome will result in a new Interactive Distance Learning studio for Charles Darwin University in Alice Springs to enable the delivery of vocational education into 16 remote education centres. In early 2008, we will see the building of the satellite HUB and earth station in the NT with the planned go live date around April/May 2008. Remote locations will transfer progressively to the new service.

Further updates on this exciting and beneficial project will be regularly published. Please contact the Skyconnect Project Manager, Paul MacMillan on 08 8901 4998, if you require further information.

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