Enterprise-class solution from Aruba Networks is powering wireless LAN (WLAN) of Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB), Canada.
The new WLAN is designed to support DCDSB’s 21st Century education initiative.
The deployment will include a combination of Aruba Instant controller-less access points (APs) and controller-based APs, as well as remote APs (RAPs), enabling the School Board to meet the wireless needs.
DCDSB serves over 22,000 students and 2,000 faculty and staff among approximately 50 schools and district offices.
Currently, about 80 percent of DCDSB’s classrooms utilize some level of mobile, interactive technology including laptops, Macbooks, iPads, smartphones, iPods and iPod Touches, and e-readers.
Additionally, the Board has deployed 400 interactive video projectors (IVPs) in about 50 percent of its classrooms over the last eight months, mounting an Apple TV with each IVP and providing the teachers in each of those classrooms with an iPad.
The teachers can now broadcast interactive classroom materials and information from the iPad, to the IVP, to the Apple TV. DCDSB plans to deploy that same technology model in each of its classrooms.
“Our IT staff is lean, so it was very important that our new wireless LAN be able to meet the varying needs of the schools in our district, as well as offer simple, cost-effective deployment,” said Ronald R. Rodriguez, chief information officer for the Durham Catholic District School Board.
DCDSB’s WLAN will include the Aruba AirWave Network Management System and Aruba RAPs for staff who work off-site. The Aruba RAPs will enable Board personnel to connect to the network and access District resources from remote locations, just as if they were sitting in their office.
