Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions page. Here you will find answers to a lot of the questions people commonly ask about the GCSN.
We endeavour to update this page often, but if you have a question you don't see listed here, ask in our forums or contact us directly.
|
What is the NEN?
National Education Network trial extension: 2010 - 2011 REANNZ has begun work on extending the NEN trial to another 200 schools. The extended trial will run until at least June 2011 and will provide schools with very fast, unrestricted broadband at 100Mb/s or greater. We expect to have the first new schools connected to the NEN by mid 2010. The target schools for this phase of the trial are those that currently have open-access fibre connectivity (through regional cluster networks or local loops) or that will have access through the Government broadband roll-out. Schools can register their interest in joining the NEN by going to the following link: NEN Schools Survey |
||
|
What does Fibre to the Gate mean?
|
||
|
Who is Enable Networks?
|
||
|
We already have fibre - why may we need another connection? Some schools in the Canterbury region already have fibre connections to the gate. This may be fibre provided by a local Fibre Company (LFC) or it may be fibre provided by a Telecommunications company. Some fibre companies do not allow other services to run on their network. This is often referred to as a "closed" network. Many of the new Local Fibre Companies are putting in what is termed "open access" fibre. This "open access" fibre allows for a wide range of services, from many organisations and companies, to run over this network providing greater choice to schools. |
||
|
Who do I need to contact to get fibre connected? For the Christchurch City area Enable Networks is providing fibre connections for schools. More information about the Enable schools network can be obtained from the Enable Schools website. |
||
|
Where can I participate in a video conference workshop? GCSN will be running a number of video conferencing workshops. Some of these workshops will take place at the South Learning Centre as well as at participating schools. An increasing number of schools are investing in high definition video equipment. These workshops will provide opportunities for schools to assess a range of technologies, borrow equipment and participate in real time projects. The video conferencing workshops are listed under the Learning Centre menu. |
||
|
How can I find out which other schools are part of the GCSN?
Under the Community menu heading is a list of current schools and educational providers. The number of connected schools is growing weekly and this area will be updated on a regular basis. It is our hope that all schools in the Christchurch/Canterbury area will eventually inhabit this space. |
||
|
I want to collaborate on a project with another school, how do I do this?
Projects could include: - Making use of video conferencing equipment to connect students and teachers across different learning communities. - Creating collaborative video to be shared as a resource for other students studying a similar topic in the future. - Building networks with the National Library, Te Papa and other government funded institutions - Consulting experts and bringing their knowledge into the classroom. If you wish to create a project, you can access this by going to the Learning Centre section of the menu, choosing the Projects, and then Submit a Project. |
||
|
How should I set up Video Conferencing hardware in my school? The GCSN has prepared these two PDFs for you to review |
For schools "fibre to the gate" means that a fibre connection has been established to the school boundary. This fibre connection may have been provided via a Local Fibre Company (LFC), a local authority, power company - or other provider.
The GCSN provides a wide range of opportunities for educational projects between schools, including those which cover a range of ages from primary through to secondary. 
Setup Recommendations