Information for schools

On this page you can information for schools about the National Education Network trial extension.


Background to the NEN for schools

Since 2008, REANNZ has been operating a trial of a National Education Network for 23 schools on behalf of the Ministry of Education. The Ministry has agreed to extend the trial to June 2011 for up to 200 schools.

Schools with existing fibre connections are being invited to participate in the extended NEN trial. If your school already has access to fibre through an open access provider, or expects to have access by 30 June 2010, you may qualify to participate in the trial extension.


Benefits of the NEN

The potential of a NEN is to enable schools to access a range of content and services over ultra-fast broadband.  These will range from administrative tools to innovative teaching/learning services, off-site data backup, server virtualisation, e-asTTle, access to specialist content providers, and applications such as high definition video-conferencing. See our list of current KAREN Content and Service Partners.

Wherever possible, connections to and from trial schools will pass over KAREN, avoiding public Internet usage charges and eliminating any bandwidth restrictions. During the original trial, schools discovered they could better manage their Internet bills by accessing learning resources over KAREN. Google Apps and YouTube were particular favourites.

The NEN pilot interviews on the KARENmedia Channel on YouTube will tell you more...


Joining the NEN

There are two ways that schools can join the NEN. You can register your interest in the NEN trial extension or you can connect independently as an Associate member of KAREN.

1. Participating in the NEN trial extension

Schools involved in the NEN Trial Extension receive assistance from government with this connection.  To participate, schools must have open-access fibre by 30 June 2010. While we have already received expressions of interest from over 250 schools, we are still keen in identifying any other schools that may be interested. A good place to start is to complete the NEN Schools Survey.

For more information about school eligibility, content and services and costs visit the MoE’s Broadband in Schools website.

2. Joining KAREN as an Associate Member

If your school is outside of the scope of the current trial extension or you would like to connect right now, you can independently join the NEN by becoming an Associate Member of KAREN. This means you would have to take full responsibility for all costs of the connection to the nearest KAREN Point of Presence.  In addition, you would need to pay the membership fees for schools connecting to KAREN - this is currently set at $2.65 + GST per student per year.

See our page on KAREN Membership and read through the Network Access Policy (pdf, 257KB), then contact REANNZ directly at info@reannz.co.nz for further information about Associate Membership.

 

Keeping up to date

NEN trial extension bulletin

To keep schools informed on our progress, REANNZ is publishing a regular project update in Interface Magazine. If you don't receive Interface, or missed an earlier article you can find them here:

NEN page on the KAREN wiki

The NEN wiki (http://wiki.karen.net.nz/index.php/National_Education_Network) is a collaborative site for people involved in schools IT and networking. It also contains reports on the earlier phases of the NEN trial.

MoE Broadband in Schools website

The MoE Broadband in Schools website (http://www.minedu.govt.nz/theMinistry/EducationInitiatives/UFBinSchools.aspx) provides an overview of the Ministry of Education's Ultra-Fast Broadband in Schools initiative.

 

NEN roles and responsibilities

REANNZ's role in this project is a connectivity one. We will lead the procurement of network and related services, local connection support, filtered Internet and liaison with suppliers.

As the educational lead and sponsor of the project, the Ministry of Education is responsible for educational policy and outcomes surrounding the project and school eligibility. The Ministry of Education is also responsible for curriculum and administration applications and services provided over the NEN.


Ongoing support

For the NEN trial extension, a technical support person, called a network wrangler is to be appointed for each regional cluster to assist schools getting connected to KAREN and to provide ongoing support. The job of the wrangler is to take responsibility for identifying and resolving any performance issues on the network connection between the school and KAREN.  Schools continue to be responsible for the quality and performance of their own in-school networks and ICT.


Related information

NEN Edge Router RFP issued 21 April 2010

NEN: Invitation to schools 12 February 2010

Implementation Manager for NEN trial extension joins REANNZ 19 January 2010

Vacancies (2): NEN team 18 December 2009

NEN extension: supplier communication 7 December 2009

Education Gazette article: New programme to set up ultra-fast broadband 7 December 2009

Vacancy: Implementation Manager 4 December 2009

 

 

Updated 15 July 2010