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Introduction
The
Internet
Communication
MultiMedia
Online Sources
Applications
Security
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Internet2: Internet2 formed in 1996, is a consortium being led by universities  working in partnership withindustry and government to develop advanced network applications and technologies. "The primary goals of Internet2 are to:
With the latter goal in mind, Internet2 launched the Internet2 K20 Initiative in early 2001 to extend advanced networks, applications, and services to the rest of the education community. The Internet2 K20 Initiative engages K-12 schools, colleges and universities, libraries, and museums (and their government and corporate partners) in the development of partnerships and collaborations across a wide range of areas that leverage Internet2 technologies and networks. Broadly stated, the Initiative has four goals: (1) To bring innovators in K-12, community colleges, universities, libraries, and museums into appropriate regional, national, and international advanced networking efforts, via the "Sponsored Education Group Participant" (SEGP) process; (2) To encourage and help sustain partnerships among these education institutions, the private sector, and government. (3) To enhance teaching and learning by facilitating projects that explore the ways in which advanced network applications, services, tools, and digital content can extend access to education and educational resources; (4) To develop mechanisms for timely communication across all educational sectors and regions in order to enable quick, pervasive technology diffusion. The following is a description of examples of these efforts and the technologies that will support them. (Reference: The Next Generation Internet and the Schools, http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/technology/fox_johnson.htm ). The government-backed Internet2, is a collection of more than 100 universities and high-tech companies, modeled after the original Internet -- except high-speed fiber-optic circuits and more sophisticated software. Internet2 was not designed to replace the Internet as we know it today, but to create new applications and develop the infrastructure that supports those applications. To find more information, check out Internet 2.Wireless Classrooms: Wireless classrooms are mobile classroom environments consisting of laptop computers, each equipped with a CD-ROM, large memories and disks, and most importantly, a wireless network link. Wireless technology uses light and radio waves instead of cooper wire or cable to make things work. The wireless network card connects laptops to a hidden wireless access point placed somewhere in the building. The access point is connected to the wired network, therefore it allows access to the campus network and Internet. The compactness and portability of laptops makes them a suitable replacement for pen and paper, while the computing power and network connectivity open up whole new instructional opportunities. Alternatively, wireless classrooms can be used as a replacement for conventional instructional computer labs. Loading laptops onto a mobile laptop cart and moving the cart to the desired location effectively allows any classroom to be used as a computer lab. (Reference: Wireless Computing.. For more information on getting children connected check out this page: Connecting Wireless. Quicker Bandwidth: It is likely that over time, as both technologies and applications continue to develop, bandwidth requirements will increase. Additionally as school networks increase in size and deliver existing services to more users, and if those users are going to be on line simultaneously, it will place increasing pressure on the bandwidth of existing connections. This growing need for bandwidth is reflected in the rapid increase in provision to schools. One can only wonder what the future will hold for technology. Technology such as videoconferencing and streaming video are creating more and more demand for quicker bandwidth. In the Spring of 2002 the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) approved an emerging technology ultrawide (UWB) which may be the answer to overcrowded wireless networks. The use is limited to public safety applications, but perhaps in the future school systems could be included.
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