Direct-to-Discovery

Warren Matthews and Brian Flanagan.(Georgia Tech).

Abstract• The direct to discovery program connects leading edge science and

scientists to middle and high-schoolers• Utilizing HD videoconferencing over high speed networks. • Students have explored the clean room at Georgia Tech and

examined nano-tubes under an electron microscope. • Students have also talked to genome researchers at UGA,

questioned engineers at NASA, and experienced music with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

• As the program grows, students will interact with divers at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary and remotely access telescopes.

• This presentation will detail the technical aspects of the project and how other researchers and schools can get involved.

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What’s New?• D2D is not Distance Learning.– Augment book learning.– Engage the student and interact with the scientists.

• Logical next step– Use technology to expose students to philosophy of

research, and better prepare them for college and the 21st Century workforce.

• Some offer college credit.• Other K-12 outreach.• Challenge of educating the digital natives.• Doom and Gloom of STEM crisis.

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Equipment

• Polycom HDX9004, Tandberg Edge 95, LifeSize Express– HD (720p)– 1080p offerings have been announced

• Large Screen Monitors, camera etc• Also required – high speed network

connectivity– 2-6 Mbps

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The Internet

• The Internet has had a significant impact on teaching, learning and research at the University level.– Connect resources and needs

• And has the potential to do the same thing at the K-12 level.

• Internet access is no longer something nice to have.• It is critical for teaching and learning in the 21st century

classroom• Erate funding has committed over $19b in the last 10

years to get schools connected to the Internet.

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Internet2 (1/2)

• Advanced Networking in General.– R&E Networking.– Over 100 Mbps.– Also latency, routing, bandwidth per student.

• National Backbone Network.– Also National Lambda Rail (NLR).

• Organization for User Communities.– e.g. K20 group.

• Not to be confused with Web 2.0.

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Internet2 (2/2)

• Translate to connectivity with meaningful bandwidth, and the applications that make use of it– Three legs of a stool.

• Add a fourth leg for added stability– Enthusiastic participants

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Beyond the Bandwidth Barrier

• Additional capacity is just the first step.• What becomes possible if there was almost

unlimited bandwidth?• R&E networking enables advanced

applications for new learning experiences.• Also see http://ceap.wcu.edu/houghton/i2

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What Else Is It Good For?

• The applications mentioned on the MUSE site (http://k20.internet2.edu):– Videoconferencing (D2D)– Teleimmersion/telepresence (Gray’s Reef)– Remote control of scientific instrumentation (ORNL)– Sensors, simulations, haptics

• Equipment and Professional Development

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Barrow County Schools

• Barrow is a small county between Atlanta and Athens.

• Growing suburb of Atlanta, bedroom community. Attracting Clean Industry.

• Many of the problems of rural districts without the benefit of being counted as rural.

• Make use of Technology to fill the needs, including significantly more bandwidth.

• Around 11,000 students in 14 schools.

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Peachnet

• Peachnet passes within 5 miles of 35 school district offices.

• SOX connects most of the R&E institutes in the South East to National and International destinations.

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SEGP

• Sponsored Education Group Participant.• SOX sponsors Peachnet.• Any K-12 District connecting to Peachnet will

get connectivity to Internet2/NLR via SOX.• Improve performance, enabling access to rich

content.

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Utilization

More capacity means less congestionMore capacity means less congestion

Immediately see usage 2-3x previous capacity. Immediately see usage 2-3x previous capacity.

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District upgraded from 20 Mbps to 155 Mbps (Peachnet). District upgraded from 20 Mbps to 155 Mbps (Peachnet).

A Typical K-12 System in Georgia.Severely congested pipes mean long queues in routers.

Severely congested pipes mean long queues in routers.

This graph show the delay (in milliseconds) between the clean room at Georgia Tech and a district central office .This graph show the delay (in milliseconds) between the clean room at Georgia Tech and a district central office .

In the evenings and weekends, delay is 5 milliseconds.In the evenings and weekends, delay is 5 milliseconds.

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A K-12 System Connected to Peachnet.

2.2 milliseconds2.2 milliseconds

2.4 milliseconds2.4 milliseconds

001e.4fbf.e53d001e.4fbf.e53d001e.4fbf.e53d

This graph show the delay (in milliseconds) between the clean room at Georgia Tech and a district central office .This graph show the delay (in milliseconds) between the clean room at Georgia Tech and a district central office .

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Get Involved

• This community can help• Connect your local school district– Remember 35 districts are within 5 miles of

Peachnet

• Provide Rich Content– Existing K-12 Outreach programs– Use the network– Portal/D2D.tv

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Summary

• D2D attempts to bring research labs into K-12 classrooms

• Augment teaching and learning• Expose students to the philosophy of

research, better prepare them for college and the 21st century workforce

• Can you help?

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Acknowledgements

• The teachers and staff at Barrow County District Schools: Ed, John, Kevin, Marshall, Ron, Amy, Pam, Kristy.

• And other districts: Mindy, Jim, Keith.• Researchers at Georgia Tech (content

providers): Greg, Joel, Jud, Jim.• Others: Paul, Claudia, Jim.

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Any Questions?

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