Stone Autumn Update 2014

UPDATEAUTUMN 2014

[email protected]

stonegroup.co.uk

@StoneComputers

WHAT DO WE DO WITH YOUR OLD IT

HARDWARE?PAGE 14

TO LEASEOR NOT TO

LEASE?PAGE 30

ISO 27001Registered

Information SecurityManagement

ISO 9001Registered

QualityManagement

ISO 14001Registered

EnvironmentalManagement

[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]

stonegroup.co.ukstonegroup.co.ukstonegroup.co.ukstonegroup.co.ukstonegroup.co.ukstonegroup.co.uk

@StoneComputers@StoneComputers@StoneComputers@StoneComputers@StoneComputers@StoneComputers@StoneComputers@StoneComputers@StoneComputers@StoneComputers@StoneComputers@StoneComputers

HIT THEGROUND RUNNING WITH802.11ac

HELPING TEACHERS KEEP UP WITH THE

LATEST SLANGPAGE 24

CONTENTS

HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH 802.11acA new wireless standard that is faster and more scalable

WHAT DO WE DO WITH YOUR OLD IT HARDWARE?We show you the full process from collection to shredder

HELPING TEACHERS KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST SLANGUnderstanding young peoples current lingo

TO LEASE OR NOT TO LEASE?Explore the options of both leasing and capital purchase

FROM THE EDITORThe low-down on whats packed inside UPDATE

HOW TO TEACH WITH TABLETSA lesson plan idea using a tablet

CLASSMATE 3A 2-in-1 device built for the classroom

AWARD-WINNING RECYCLINGElectrical and Electronic Recycler of the Year

ARE YOU READY FOR BYOD?Bring Your Own Device becomes more common in education

EDUCATION AND THE INTERNET OF THINGSTech gets smaller, learning gets bigger

04142430

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17

06

18

10

20

26

16

22

29

COVER STORIES

FEATURES

HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH 802.11ac04

FORK OUT FOR 4K4K is a captivating, ultra high defi nition display resolution

ACHIEVE A BETTER BALANCE WITH HYBRID STORAGEThe perfect balance between capacity and performance

TIBSHELF CASE STUDY: PART TWOPutting in a new ICT infrastructure

IIYAMAWide range of education monitors

HOW TO TEACH WITH TABLETS06

FORK OUT FOR 4K20

CASE STUDY

VIDEOCLIP

SEMINAR TIMES

ONLINECONTENT

FROM THE

EDITORIts back to reality time and while youve been having a well-deserved break weve been working hard on the latest version of the Update!

Were hoping to ease you in to the new school year with a few interesting reads on what weve been up to over the summer, and the latest innovations and ideas in the world of tech.

As tablets become more prominent in to the classroom, weve teamed up with Tablet Academy to bring you some great lesson plan ideas, using tablets to enhance the learning experience. In this edition, Debbie Lewis Tablet Academy trainer and Primary Specialist takes us through a da Vinci-inspired Maths lesson thatll help students with ratios. Look out for another lesson plan in the next Update!

With the Computing curriculum launching in UK schools in September, weve been thinking about The Internet of Things and its role in IT education. We also have a fantastic article on e-safety from Jonathan Valentine, CEO of Impero, highlighting the importance of teachers keeping up with the latest slang in order to identify students with potentially serious issues.

We also bring you part 2 of our Tibshelf Community School case study. Find out more about what happened after we deployed their solution, including network management, training and engagement.

And, with budget constraints being a problem at the front of everyones minds in education, we examine the benefits of leasing IT equipment an alternative solution to getting the latest tech in front of your students without breaking the bank.

Missed the last edition? Dont worry you can still see some great content from the Summer issue on www.stoneupdate.co.uk. And to make sure our content is in a more shareable and mobile-friendly format, weve put some content from this edition on there too!

Happy reading!

[email protected]

stonegroup.co.uk

@StoneComputers

Daley Robinson, Group Marketing Director 08448 22 11 22 [email protected]

Current and past editions of the UPDATE are available to read online at any time on your favourite device. Whenever you see these icons, go online for bonus content using the QR code or the web link.

If you would like to receive future editions of the UPDATE, then please subscribe to our mailing list today through the website at www. stoneupdate.co.uk/subscribe

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AUTUMN 2014

HIT THE GROUND RUNNINGWITH 802.11ac

Does the wireless network in your institution leave you and your users frustrated and screaming at devices to hurry up? Does it leave you wanting to tear your hair out because of the unresponsiveness of the system or consistent connectivity issues?

Weve all been there (and many of you possibly still are). But, fear no more the new 802.11ac wireless standard is here to help future-proof your network and save you and your users from a world of frustration.

What is 802.11ac?802.11ac is a new wireless standard and a faster, more scalable version of previous iterations such as 802.11n. It couples the freedom of wireless with the capabilities of Gigabit Ethernet for faster download speeds and better network security.

With enhanced performance, better power effi ciency and the ability to extend battery life by over 30%, 802.11ac is proving popular with education providers looking to improve their digital teaching capabilities and learning outcomes for students.

802.11ac is quickly becoming the perfect solution for educative requirements and could be seen as an essential investment for your IT estate particularly with the introduction of Computing to the curriculum.

The FactsWhere 802.11n reached new limits for a wireless standard and brought improved reliability and performance, 802.11ac extends and maximises these features making it signifi cantly faster.

Wireless Standard 802.11n 802.11ac

Channel Width 20MHz 40MHz 20MHz 40MHz 80MHz

Device Type

Smartphone (Single Stream) 75 Mbps 150 Mbps 87 Mbps 200 Mbps 450 Mbps

Tablet Device (Dual Stream) 150 Mbps 300 Mbps 173 Mbps 400 Mbps 900 Mbps

Laptop (Three Stream) 225 Mbps 450 Mbps 289 Mbps 600 Mbps 1.3Gbps

4 stonegroup.co.uk

UPDATE

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Here are a few more features and facts about 802.11ac that you might like to know:

80 -160MHzWider RF channel bandwidths from 40MHz channel with 802.11n to 80 and 160MHz channels with 802.11ac allowing for twice the data to be transferred over the network.

3x PERFORMANCE3 x performance gains compared to the 802.11n generation.

3x FASTER3 x faster compared to 802.11n, reaching speeds of up to 1.3 Gigabits per second.

DOUBLE CAPABILITIESSupport of up to 8 eight spatial streams doubling the capabilities of 802.11n.

Your OpinionsWe spoke to Peter Richardson, Senior IT Technician at Orleans Park School in Middlesex to find out about his experience with the new 802.11ac wireless standard:

Until two months ago, we had no WiFi in school at all. Our PC estate was connected via a wired network infrastructure.

With the new curriculum fast approaching, we knew that this was the right time to get connected and deploy a wireless network with the aim of giving our users a more flexible and mobile approach to teaching and learning from wherever they were within the school grounds.

The wireless network needed to be strong enough to provide continuous access and robust enough for our ambitions, so 802.11ac was a great fit. Its remarkably quick WiFi and has the Gigabit Ethernet back-up to be able to cope well with lots of data changing hands between students and the Internet. The access points it supplies are the fastest AC standard available. It takes

literally seconds to download a video clip or music file to support a lesson. We now have an uncontended, 100Mb internet connection. Its

really quick to connect, and moving

from classroom to corridor and beyond, nobody notices the cell changes or a drop in availability. Learning is no longer classroom based here, it can be anywhere on-site, with no awkward downtime.

Were 100 per cent committed to making sure our students have what they need to shine academically and were absolutely convinced that the new 802.11ac WiFi solution will help them take their own education as far as they want it to go.

Final ThoughtsIn short, 802.11ac has the capability to meet the demand for a robust, reliable and high speed wireless network that education providers are seeking.

Unreliable, poor quality and limited connections are major areas of frustration for users in todays educational environment. 802.11ac arms you with a wireless network that combats this whilst significantly enhancing the user experience in a more digitally-led teaching and learning environment.

802.11ac promises extraordinary improvement in speed, relability and quality. Based on what weve found out the way forward is clearly AC.

5Ghz WiFi BANDUtilises the 5GHz WiFi Band providing 8 x more channels than the 2.4GHz spectrum and with less interference.

BACKWARD COMPATIBLEBackwards compatible with 802.11 a & n, which also use the 5GHz Band.

30% EXTRA BATTERYExtends battery life by up to 30%.

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AUTUMN 2014

As tablets become more common in the classroom, the need arises for teachers to consider how they can be integrated effectively into the curriculum. Weve recently collaborated with Tablet Academy an education consultancy and training organisation focusing on tablets in schools to bring a holistic training element to our tablet offering.

To give you a taste of how tablets can be used to support and enhance the learning experience, Tablet Academy trainer and Primary Specialist Debbie Lewis has put together a lesson plan idea using a tablet.

VITRUVIAN MANSubject: Maths/Computing

Helps with: Ratio and Proportion

Aimed at: Upper KS2

POINTS OF STUDY ADDRESSED:

Maths

Number and Place Value solve number and practical problems using decimals and common fractions

Measurement Y5 use all four operations to solve problems involving measure (e.g. length) using decimal notation including scaling

Geometry Y5 Position and direction identify, describe and represent the position of a shape following a reflection or translation

Ratio and Proportion Y6 solve problems involving similar shapes where the scale factor is known or can be found

Measurement Y6 solve problems involving the calculation and conversion of units of measure, using decimal notation up to three decimal places where appropriate

Computing KS2 select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information

These are some of the main areas extracted from the statutory requirements however there is ample opportunity for the inclusion of a far greater breadth of study e.g. standard and non-standard measurements, properties of circles and squares plus some fundamental statistics, graph making, averages etc.

HOW TO TEACH WITH TABLETS

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UPDATE

HERES THE TECHNOLOGY BITThe productivity apps shown on the table overleaf are a great way to record fi ndings in this investigation.

Using the productivity apps, pupils can:

+ Take pictures using the built-in camera and import them into a document.

+ Draw lines and shapes of different colours, styles and widths on the images using the built-in tools.

+ Insert tables that can help to sort multiple entries.

+ Insert editable 2D, 3D and interactive data charts allowing for easy comparison of fi ndings.

The photo editing apps enable pupils to superimpose an X image on top of a T adding a circle and a square to create a personalised version of the Vitruvian man.

Once completed, the documents can be exported in a variety of formats. Noting the fact that pupils will be required to work scientifi cally, this activity could just as easily be drawn from the Science framework Animals including Humans, Evolution and Inheritance or be cross referenced to it. Mathematics and Nature are a fascinating combination and can be a starting point for many incredible voyages of discovery.

REFERENCES AND USEFUL INFORMATIONPowerpoint Presentation on Ratio & Proportion & the Virtuvian Man- bit.ly/1pllpTa

http://galileo.org/tips/davinci/vitruviantask.html

Powerpoint presentation on Mathematics & Nature- http://bit.ly/1tex7R4

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/mathsE1.htm

http://www.lessoncorner.com/l/amfroehle/VitruvianManDataCollection

http://www.tes.co.uk/ResourceDetail.aspx?storyCode=6108637

EQUIPMENT: + Tablets: Android, iPad or Windows

+ Measuring Tapes, Rulers, Sticks.

+ Camera built-in

+ Calculator

+ Internet for further research

+ A list of Da Vincis theories

+ QR code prompt sheets

Superimpose an X image on top of a T

SEE THE LESSON PLAN AND RECOMMENDED APPS OVERLEAF

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AUTUMN 2014

APPS:

PRODUCTIVITY PHOTO EDITING QR CODE GENERATOR

ANDROID Microsoft Offi ce

Mobile for Android Freehttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.offi ce.offi cehub

Eraser AppFreehttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.handycloset.android.eraser&hl=en

QR Code Generator Freehttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ykart.tool.qrcodegen&hl=en_GB

iOS Pages

Free on new devices or 6.99https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pages/id361309726?mt=8

Eraser AppFreehttps://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/background-eraser-superimpose/id815072622?mt=8

QR Code Creator and ReaderFreehttps://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/qr-reader-for-iphone/id368494609?mt=8

WIN

DOW

S

Microsoft Offi ce Standard on Windows Tablets

Touchretouch1.29http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-gb/app/1e309a38-ff15-4d80-a6fc-29652c39fd60

QR CodesFreehttp://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-gb/app/47107101-3834-4257-9a47-9b70a913f154

HOW TOTEACH WITH TABLETS

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UPDATE

Its up to you to decide how much or how little information you want to give to your pupils. It may be that you wish to leave it completely open-ended or to differentiate for varied ability groups. Seeing as Leonardo was a master of codes, a fun way to introduce the problem could be in the form of a set of individual or numbered QR codes.

PLANHere are a few bits of information to help get you started.

In 1492, Leonardo Da Vinci drew a picture of a man standing inside a circle and a square. This is known as the Vitruvian Man. It was a study of the proportions of the human body as described by Vitruvius, a Roman architect from the first century B.C. The Vitruvian man illustrates Leonardo Da Vincis theory that Man is the measure of all things.

His thoughts were that each section of the human body is a measure (a percentage) of the whole thing.

For example:

+ 4 fingers make 1 palm

+ 4 palms make 1 foot

+ 6 palms make 1 cubit

+ 4 cubits make a mans height

+ 4 cubits make one pace

+ 24 palms make a man

Now comes the fun part! You need at least one other student for this. Take your shoes off, measure your height then examine a few of the Vitruvian principles:

1. First, how does your height compare to your wingspan your arms stretched out as wide as possible?

2. Measure the distance from your hairline to the bottom of your chin (it should equal approximately 1/10th of your height).

3. Measure your hand from the tip of your longest finger to the line on your wrist (it should equal approximately 1/10th of your height, too).

4. Measure your shoulders at their widest point (that should equal about one-fourth of your height).

5. Measure the length of your foot, from your heel to the tip of your big toe (that should equal about one-sixth of your height).

6. Using the tablet, take 2 pictures of each other. One spread-eagled like a letter X, the other with arms outstretched and feet together like a letter T.

7. Can you draw a circle to touch the tips of the feet and hands on the X shape?

8. Try to make a square to fit the T shape.

9. What did you find out? Were your measurements the same as Da Vincis? If not can you think why this might be? Compare your data with other members of the class.

10. Who might be interested in your conclusions?

for another great lesson plan from Debbie in the next Stone Update!

Look out

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AUTUMN 2014

CLASSMATE 3Tough & exibleTough & exible

10 stonegroup.co.uk

UPDATE

The Classmate 3 o ers far more than just intuitive and robust hardware.

Designed from the ground up as an educational device, and featuring the latest Intel Atom processor, this 2-in-1provides a fully integrated hardware and software solution that can make a bigdi erence in your institution.

Building critical thinking, communication and collaborative skills and problem solving

Interactive content

Collect, visualise and analyse data

Assemble and organise information

Create multimedia

Classroom management tools to keep students on task

Send/receive lesson content

Monitor student screens

Administer assessments

Provide individualised learning opportunities

Keep students and technology safe andsecure

Manage access

Theft deterrent

Malware protection

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AUTUMN 2014

ONE KEY TRANSFORMGo from mini-notebook to detachable tablet in an instant.

NEW CAPACITIVE TOUCHUp to 10-point touch and built-in active digitizer. Ultimate exibility in delivering classroom tasks.

NEW QUAD-CORE POWERThe latest Intel Atom processor delivers a great user experience while using only 3w of power. True all daycomputing.

TOUGH WHEN IT MATTERSMOSTDesigned speci cally for classroom life, the semi-rugged Stone Classmate 3 is drop tested to 70cm. This means common drops from a pupils grip or from a classroom table wont result in aloss of productivity.

DONT CRY OVER SPILT MILKResistant to vertically dropping uid giving peace of mind.

LOADED WITH THE LATESTTECHIPS-Pro HD screen, dual cameras, USB3.0 and more.

DETACHABLE 70CM DROP TESTED SPILL PROOF 10-POINT MULTI-TOUCH

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UPDATE

Free bundlededucation-specific so wareHeres an overview of some of the apps thatcome bundled with the Classmate 3:

+ E-ReaderInteractive e-reader designed specifically for education

+ Lab CameraBuilt-in camera based tools that enhance STEMcurriculum

+ SPARKvueScience application that collects and analyses data fromsensors

+ ArtRageEnables digital artwork unlocking creativity

+ Media CameraAllows for multimedia creation and editing forproject-based learning

+ Classroom ManagementTeacher/student collaboration so ware used inclassroom

+ McAfee AntiVirus PlusEnforces safe and secure computing practices by proactively protecting student devices from exposure to malware or identity the risks

For more information call 08448 22 11 22, Email [email protected] visit stonegroup.co.uk

Free bundlededucation-specific so wareHeres an overview of some of the apps

13

WHAT DO WE DO WITH YOUR OLD IT HARDWARE?You may know that here at Stone we operate our own in-house IT recycling facility - we may even have taken some of your old hardware but you might not know what actually happens to the equipment once it arrives at Stones Recycling department.

Heres a guide to our fully accredited, environmentally and socially responsible recycling process:

Route 1Refurbishment and Re-useIf the equipment is up to the performance and specifi cation requirements of the European market, its suitable for re-use and passed onto Refurbishment for further cleaning and repair. Once its back to a usable standard, we deploy it through schemes such as Get Online @ Home, helping to bridge the digital divide and get the 9 million people in the UK with no access to the Internet connected.

Route 2IT Schools AfricaAny equipment which does not meet the specifi cation requirements of the European market is sent to our chosen UK charity IT Schools Africa. Used computers are distributed to various projects in countries including Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Tanzania, where recycled IT equipment is being used to help provide an IT education for African school children vital in the modern world.

SHREDDER PROCESSThe equipment is broken down and loaded onto the conveyor belt in material form. This includes plastics, metals and anything else that doesnt have reuse value.

Materials go through the main hopper. This has four sets of teeth on rollers which break everything down into smaller chunks.

a. Customer logs on to our website and fi lls in our recycling form. We co-ordinate and book an appointment to collect the equipment.

b. Our own drivers collect the equipment in tracked vehicles. Its counted onto the van and bought back to Stone HQ.

c. At Stone HQ the equipment is weighed and unwrapped.

g. After initial assessment, the kit is separated in terms of requirement, and goes down one of three routes:

50kg

1

2 3

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UPDATE

Route 3The ShredderIf equipment is found to be at the end of its useful life, we ensure it is disposed of responsibly. To help us do this, we operate an industrial shredder that destroys redundant kit and separates it out into useful parts which can be melted down and reused.

These chunks then go through a magnet, where steels and other magnetic materials are separated out into bins.

The remaining materials go into the vibro chute, which electrically charges the materials and fi res them towards two bins. Alloys such as aluminium fl y further, so they land in the very last bin. Metals such as copper and gold dont fl y as far and land in another bin.

Find out more about Stone Recycling www.stonegroup.co.uk/recycling

Find out more about IT Schools Africa www.itschoolsafrica.org

See us in action! Watch our Recycling video www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcagiQHTCGs

AuCu

Al

e. The kit goes through on to benches and is assessed for its condition and performance.

f. Data-bearing items are hooked up to data erasure software Blancco and wiped to HMG Level 5.

?

d. The customer will receive a Certifi cate of Disposal stating the exact weight of the kit that was recycled.

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AUTUMN 2014

Award-winning Recycling

We recently picked up the prize for Electrical and Electronic Recycler of the Year at this years MRW National Recycling awards.

This is a fantastic achievement for our people and demonstrates our dedication and commitment to leading the way in the recycling and waste management industry.

The judges praised that in 2013 we recycled 50% more product than we placed into the market, and remain the only UK PC assembler that has its own in-house recycling facility. Our participation in international trade and charity donation, namely IT Schools Africa, was also seen an area of excellence.

Our Operations Director Gary Buxton said: Im delighted that the hard work and dedication demonstrated by the Recycling team over the last 12 months has been recognised with this award. We were honoured to have been nominated as fi nalists, so to have won the award is an incredible achievement for us all.

We provide an industry-leading recycling service, fully licensed by the Environment Agency and ADISA certifi ed to Distinction, to help bring you peace of mind when disposing of your IT hardware.

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UPDATE

What is BYOD?BYOD or Bring Your Own Device is pretty ubiquitous in the business world but its recently become a more common concept in education. Both staff and students bring their own devices including laptops, smartphones and tablets and connect to the schools network to access and work on educational content. This may be their own personal device or a device purchased through a scheme and paid for via parental contribution or salary sacrifi ce.

Preparing for BYODDespite sounding like a pretty simple concept, deploying a BYOD scheme has its challenges. Careful planning in the following areas is vital to ensure you launch a successful and benefi cial scheme:

1. Infrastructure an infl ux of wireless devices into the institution needs to be provisioned for, so network managers need to ensure that the schools infrastructure, server confi guration and technical support can handle these devices effectively.

2. Integrating devices into learning mobile devices have the potential to completely transform the way lessons are delivered on a day-to-day basis. In order to ensure that these devices are used in a way that will enhance the curriculum, its important to consider how both curricular and extra-curricular activities will be shaped to ensure that the devices are being used to augment the learning experience.

3. Getting parents on board particularly in cases where parents are paying for devices, the benefi ts, management

plan and overall vision need to be carefully explained, and any concerns should be addressed.

4. Training its easy to assume that nowadays everybody will be pretty competent on a tablet or laptop, but this isnt always the case. It is essential to ensure that both staff and students are operating at the same level of understanding, and are getting the most out of their devices.

If successful, BYOD can create an environment where students can take control of their own learning, and teachers can deliver the curriculum in new and engaging ways. It is, however, vital that as BYOD schemes become more common, the challenges are understood and met with careful planning.

Are you ready for BYOD?

One thing I have seen some institutions miss is that if you want to invest in supporting mobile devices, it requires a rethink of a lot of layers of your provision. The impact of a BYOD project on infrastructure, server con guration, end-user technical support requirements and classroom management/lesson delivery all need to be considered to make this kind of thing work effectively, and we all know that quite a lot of places forget the back-end stuff because they get sold something shiny by a person in a nice suit. Roberto, Edugeek User

Our customer says:The technology we have deployed has succeeded in engaging our students in new ways, and enabled us to work towards empowering independent student learning. We want our students to carry around their school IT experience in their pocket. Craig Wicking, Deputy Head at Southborough High School

says:

17

Education and the INTERNET

of THINGS

Tech gets smaller,

learning gets bigger!

THINGS

Tech gets smaller,

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UPDATE

Weve just launched our smallest desktop PC. Its just 4x4 no bigger than some smartphones. Despite its small package, the NUC performs just as well, if not better, than our bigger offerings, and is designed to slot seamlessly in to modern classroom life where space is at a premium. This got us thinking about how the miniaturisation of technology and concepts like the Internet of Things are redefining what we think of as a PC.

Weve been hearing it for years tech is getting smaller. But while their components are shrinking, the capabilities of devices are getting bigger. The Internet of Things (IoT) is an ideal for the modern world one in which devices, systems and services are connected beyond machine to machine communications, in both domestic and commercial applications.

In many ways, the Internet of Things has already established a presence in our lives. The emergence of wearables like the Fitbit, as well as home security and automation systems like Piper are giving us a taste of a world where we can control and monitor almost anything via the Internet. The reduced cost of processing power, the miniaturisation of technology and the rapid growth of mobile and cloud computing makes this kind of society possible.

But its not just about having a fridge that will text you when youve run out of a milk, or a heating system you can turn on using an app. The Internet of Things is expected to incorporate over a trillion connected objects by 2025 and be used in an infinite variety of applications including remote health monitoring, manufacturing control and earthquake warning systems. Widespread adoption of these technologies requires an education system which not only teaches the concept, but embraces it too. After all, there are some great opportunities to incorporate IoT technologies into the curriculum, and completely transform learning in a new, connected world.

IoT AND EDUCATIONIn a recent white paper, Cisco suggested that the exponential growth of technology is a disruptive influence in education, and that institutions need to rethink ways in which they deliver the curriculum. Cisco also highlighted the need for an education system which will empower a new generation of digital citizens who not only understand the technology behind IoT, but are also aware of the societal impact of widespread adoption.

As the underpinning technology and perhaps the wider concept of the Internet of Things is complex, focus has mainly been on Higher Education as the starting point for introducing and integrating the concept and its technical aspects into learning. The Open University, for example, has revamped its Computer Science curriculum and now offers an introductory course My Digital Life which is based around IoT concepts.

But without laying a solid foundation for this way of learning and working in schools, the transition to a connected society wont be possible. In September last year, the DISTANCE consortium launched The Internet of School Things into 8 UK schools as a pilot project geared towards teaching students and teachers to share data in ways that make learning fun and link closely with the curriculum, particularly in science, geography and technology. The schools were given access to connected objects and supported learning materials, such as an environment chamber that could control the growing conditions of exotic plants and internet-connected air quality monitors. The project gave the schools an opportunity to experiment with IoT technology, and begin to think about the future of technology in learning.

The new Computing curriculum includes a number of points of study that clearly align to the concept of the Internet of Things. For example, designing and creating a range of programs, systems and content to collect, analyse, evaluate, present data and information in KS2. Additionally, understanding computer networks, how they can provide multiple services and opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration in KS3. Both present the opportunity to discuss IoT and even develop and experiment with IoT devices.

The Internet of Things in education is about helping students understand and become familiar with sharing data and the social impact of doing so. Changes to the curriculum create the perfect opportunity to introduce these concepts early on in education, and redefine thinking around devices and their capabilities to connect to the world around us.

USEFUL LINKSCiscos Whitepaper Education and the Internet of Everything: www.cisco.com/web/strategy/docs/education/education_internet.pdf#

DISTANCE: Internet of School Things: www.iotschool.org/

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AUTUMN 2014

In todays 21st century classrooms AV technology signifi cantly contributes towards effective teaching and learning.

AV has come a long way since the overhead projector. Classrooms today are utilising High Defi nition (HD) interactive screens to create a stimulating and interactive environment that is more conducive to engaging pupils.

As technology has evolved, so have screen sizes and the demand for greater picture quality and increased resolution.

20 stonegroup.co.uk

UPDATE

ENTER 4K ULTRA HIGH DEFINITION (UHD).

Where HD screens project clearer pictures and provide superior sound quality, progressive scanning and a wider viewing screen, 4K UHD offers all this and more. It gives a premium visual experience that enables you and your students to engage with content in a far more detailed way than ever before.

SO WHAT EXACTLY IS 4K UHD?

4K is a captivating, ultra high definition display resolution that provides a visually rich experience with a more immersive view compared to traditional resolution displays.

The projected image has far greater clarity, delivering four times as much detail as 1080p HD. Thats eight million pixels compared to two million pixels.

The resolution of 4K UHD is 3840 pixels x 2160 lines, meaning it has twice the horizontal and vertical resolution of 1080p HD screens.

The higher pixels associated with 4K UHD give a much closer viewing experience without the grid-like structure of the images becoming visible, meaning you and your students will see crisper, ultra sharp visuals. The higher resolution images projected from a 4K UHD are far better than any previous format.

Quite simply, 4K UHD is the future of digital AV screens.

HOW WILL IT BENEFIT YOUR STUDENTS?

There are lots of ways in which 4K will have an impact on the classroom.

Imagine youre a college student taking a course in Computer Aided Design (CAD), Engineering or Manufacturing. The course involves a lot of practical lessons to produce 2D and 3D images using software programmes such as AutoCAD. 4K UHD allows students to see more of each project on the screen at any one time and work on finer details of the artwork.

The same applies to students taking Media Studies. The use of 4K UHD in video-focused lessons will help to develop rendering and editing skills at the same resolutions used in Hollywood blockbusters. In Graphic Design modules, using tools like Photoshop, there will be far more real estate available on the screen at any one time, giving a truly next generation artwork experience.

And in subjects such as Science, students will experience more clarity and higher definition to analyse things in far more depth. The extreme resolution of these screens will enable students to look deeper at the detail of what they are studying, whether that be human blood cells, atoms, plants or even planets! Youll even be able to see the hairs on a dragonflys legs its that clear (trust us weve witnessed it first-hand for ourselves)!

These are just some ideas on how the technology can be used. The exciting part of this emerging technology is that were only just beginning to scratch the surface of what will be possible in the coming months and years.

We live in an age where having the right skills to use AV equipment correctly can be vital to future employment prospects. Future-proofing your AV technology will therefore arm your students with the skills they need as they progress further into Higher Education and their careers. And 4K interactive AV screens will help deliver just that.

SO, WHAT SHOULD THE FUTURE OF AV LOOK LIKE IN YOUR CLASSROOM?

Its simple more defined, sharper and visually stunning. With 4K UHD now available, what more could you need to engage and stimulate students? You never know, you might even learn something yourselves.

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AUTUMN 2014

ACHIEVE A BETTER BALANCE WITHHYBRID STORAGE

DATA IS GROWING AT A RATE OF OVER 100% PER YEAR.The challenge for organisations is to maintain storage capacity and performance whilst managing costs, saving space and considering the environmental impact of their solution.

For the last 20 years, there has been little in the way of innovation concerning storage. The capacity of drives has been getting bigger, but the limits imposed by the mechanics of hard disk drives has prevented any real improvement in performance.

Every time a user logs on and loads a file, there is input/output activity as the data moves in or out of storage. The growth in data and increasing variety of types of data is demanding more in terms input/output performance.

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UPDATE

HDD ONLY Hybrid (HDD + SSD) SSD ONLY

Cost per gigabyte Very low Medium Very high

Cost per IOPS Very high Medium Very low

All-Flash arraysIn recent years, Solid State Drives (SSDs) have become more prominent in the storage industry, resulting in many organisations deploying storage arrays made up entirely of fl ash memory. These offer less capacity than a traditional array, but massive performance, with Inputs/Outputs per Second (IOPS) reaching around 100,000. As SSDs have less capacity than Hard Disk Drives (HDDs), fl ash memory uses data reduction technologies such as compression and deduplication to combat space issues.

However, there are a number of challenges with all-fl ash arrays. Firstly, many organisations may not really need the levels of performance on offer, and actually a solution more balanced between capacity and performance would be better suited. They are also much more expensive than both traditional and hybrid solutions, with the initial costs of acquisition often reaching 6 fi gures.

Enter hybrid storageHybrid storage is the perfect balance between capacity and performance. Only in very recent months has this technology been applied to servers and its set to revolutionise the way organisations store and access their data.

What is hybrid storage?Hybrid arrays are made up of a mixture of HDDs and fl ash memory. The fl ash memory often acts as a sort of super cache, where the most accessed fi les are stored. The servers operating system monitors which fi les are accessed most often over time and creates a workload to move fi les from the HDDs to the SSDs. This allows for faster log-in and boot times. Below is an illustration of how a hybrid solution works:

Why go hybrid?As we mentioned, traditional storage arrays are made up of hard disk drives that offer high capacity, but pretty low performance. The performance for HDDs hit a ceiling of 15k RPM, offering at most 200 IOPS. HDDs are also mechanical, meaning they are susceptible to wear and tear over time. With an SSD, there are no moving parts, meaning they last longer and are much more reliable. SSDs are also currently capable of over 6000 IOPS, a fi gure which is growing exponentially.

Hybrid arrays offer much better performance than a full HDD array, use less power and less space. Some are also fi tted with smaller power supplies, using less energy. They offer a perfect balance between capacity and performance, and as hybrid arrays are becoming more common, they are no longer unachievable in terms of cost.

Flash memory is changing the face of an industry thats been largely at a standstill for nearly 20 years. With lower cost for massive performance bene ts, without losing the capacity offered by traditional storage arrays, its clear that hybrid is the way to go.

Table source: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/data-center/the-brewing-battle-between-hybrid-and-all-fl ash-storage/

SSD HDD

Virtual Data Pool

OS workload monitoring

COLD DATAThe things you use least often

HOT DATAThe things you use most often

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AUTUMN 2014

Understanding young peoples current lingo may seem like a strange concept. Acronyms and abbreviations have almost developed into a language of their own, offering a convenient shortcut to informal communication in the online world and it can be a constant struggle for parents and teachers to stay up-to-date. Its not about being down with the kids; its about recognising, however harmless these sequences of letters may fi rst appear, that they are often used to hide things from prying eyes.

But its not as simple as that, is it? This new version of the English language is constantly evolving, with new terms invented on a daily basis and various spellings and meanings associated with different regions. Its impossible to remember every single phrase, acronym and abbreviation used by young people online today.

And with Ofsted placing a greater emphasis on how schools tackle e-safety, how can teachers, in addition to their other teaching responsibilities, fi nd time to devote to researching the current jargon? How can they become experts in language linked to issues such as grooming, sexting, eating disorders, racism, and self-harm?

For teachers and school staff alike, there just arent enough hours in the day.

The answer lies in monitoring software, designed to detect key words, phrases and acronyms related to topics concerning potential e-safety risks. With built-in libraries, teachers and faculty staff are provided with a defi nition of terms, so they can easily determine the nature of violations fl agged by monitoring software.

and why

Helping teachers keep up with the latest slang

Jonathan Valentine, CEO at Impero, discusses the e-safety risks often masked by 21st Century slang and why teachers need to be clued up on what these terms mean.

and 40% of the same group didnt consider topless images inappropriate

So whether or not you know your FOAD from you FUGLY, key word libraries help teaching staff to decipher meanings and identify the context in which they have been used. Of course, these keyword libraries need to be fl exible. Good e-safety and monitoring software solutions allow schools to include their own terms that- specifi cally indicate issues relevant to their establishment. Adding localised trends is crucial in spotting early warning signs, helping behaviour around these subjects to be actively managed.

Weve worked with a host of organisations, such as The Anti-Bullying Alliance and Beat, as well as partnership schools, and Imperos research has highlighted how under the guise of a few seemingly innocent jumbled letters can lie some particularly distressing and concerning messages. A search for something as innocent as bio oil could indicate a self-harm risk, and this combined with searches for cabbage soup diet and laxatives can fl ag serious issues related to a negative body image and eating disorders. Its not just important to consider slang, but the patterns in language too.

Sometimes young people, particularly vulnerable students, can fi nd it diffi cult to speak up and voice their concerns. Maybe theyre being bullied, perhaps they know someone who is, or they could be suffering a secret in silence. Thats why, in line with Ofsteds requirement for effective reporting methods, e-safety software should also include an anonymous channel to give those students a voice. Schools are therefore empowered to act on these risks before its too late.

There are other benefi ts to monitoring software. For years schools have chosen to block access to websites in a bid to protect students from the dangers of the digital world. In doing this, they also prevent young people from accessing a range of useful resources. Consider sex education websites; reserved students may want to fi nd an answer to a question, but are unable to view this information because their schools e-safety policy blocks the website. A managed approach to e-safety, achieved through active monitoring as opposed to blocking, enables staff to take a whole school approach to e-safety a new requirement highlighted by Ofsted this year in a revised version of the 2012 briefi ng, Inspecting e-safety in schools.

Simply blocking content also doesnt change the behaviour of students; in fact, it is often seen as a challenge by some students, who attempt to bypass blocks. Imperos recent Facebook survey revealed that

35% of teenagers said that either themselves or someone they knew had successfully circumnavigated blocks put in place by their school. In order for young people to learn how to become good digital citizens and navigate the web safely, they must fi rst be afforded the opportunity to do so.

Bullying and unacceptable behaviour isnt unique to the internet either. It can occur offl ine, still on the schools network, but through applications and VLEs. Sharing the responsibility of e-safety is key. As recommended by Ofsted, monitoring access across a schools network facilitates a whole school approach to e-safety. This allows incidents within the digital world to be dealt with as and when they occur and in the same way an incident in the real world classroom would be handled. And top-of-the-range monitoring systems can take screenshots and video recordings of violations, which is vital when evidencing misuse in context.

Being clued-up on jargon is important, and a glossary of defi nitions within e-safety software helps to educate teaching and faculty staff to the indicators of risk. Real-time monitoring is the best solution in offering all the opportunities of the digital world, while keeping your students protected.

Because, I think well all agree, its the safety of young people that comes rst.

have been deliberately targeted, threatened or humiliated through the use of mobile phones or technology

For over a quarter of these students, the abuse was classedas ongoing

For more informationCall 08448 22 11 22Email [email protected] visit stonegroup.co.uk

websites; reserved students may want to fi nd an answer to a question, but are unable to view this information because their schools e-safety policy blocks the website. A managed approach to e-safety, achieved through active monitoring as opposed to blocking, enables staff to take a whole school approach to e-safety a new requirement highlighted by Ofsted this year in a revised version of the 2012 briefi ng, Inspecting e-safety in schools.

Simply blocking content also doesnt change the behaviour of students; in fact, it is often seen as a challenge by some students, who attempt to bypass blocks. Imperos recent Facebook survey revealed that

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AUTUMN 2014

Streamline network managementThe school's server infrastructure is based on the latest Microsoft technology and includes:

+ Windows Server 2012 R2 as the backbone, 4 Hyper-V hosts, 7 physical servers, 40 virtual servers in all powered by Hyper-V private cloud

+ Unified Windows 8.1 across multiple smartphone, PC and tablet platforms Windows Server 2012 R2 remote access and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure functionality

+ DirectAccess through Microsoft's server platform gives teachers and admin staff across the school seamless three-factor authenticated remote access

Mark explains: "With the Microsoft backbone, we now have resilience in the infrastructure that we've never had before. We now have high availability as standard, with failover in case of an issue. Crucially this means our pupils, teachers and admin staff are non-the-wiser in the event of a malfunction on one of our physical servers.

"The benefits for Tibshelf are tangible and have been far reaching." Mark explains: "We knew we had it nailed when we looked at the network logs and saw we had pupils logged into the school's systems on Christmas Day!"

Consultation on the school's BYOD scheme illustrates that in excess of 95% of the school's students will use the BYOD provision.

Bearing in mind the school's desire to future proof and ensure the latest technology was underpinning academic ambition, Windows 8.1 was standardised across all PC technology. Likewise, the VDI solution ensures that a consistent Windows 8.1 experience is available even on other tablet and smartphone operating systems.

Case Study Part Two Tibshelf Community School: Working together, achieving together

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UPDATE

Training and engagementPutting in a new ICT infrastructure has required a change in behaviours for many teachers and staff, in order to mirror the innovation in the classroom.

End-user training sessions delivered by Stone started before the school's move and continue to be part of the school's commitment to CPD. For end users, sessions are focused on helping to familiarise all the faculty with Windows 8.1 and ensure that the nuances between each teacher's pedagogical approaches can be accommodated. From a technical perspective, Tibshelf's internal ICT support staff engage with Stone's infrastructure specialists to ensure that they are fully abreast of the latest technology developments. This enables their staff to get the most out of the systems for the whole school's benefit.

Formal end user training has been supplemented by peer-led learning. Mark explains:

"Functionality such as the ability to add custom tiles pointing to specific folders and creating a bespoke user interface, is something that has spread from teacher-to-teacher. Word of mouth has enabled best practice to spread quicker than that of our formal training."

Tibshelf is an early adopter of Microsoft's Student Advantage programme, and will be giving all pupils within the school and up to 5 members of their family a free copy of Office 365 ProPlus to use on both BYOD devices and those used in the home.

Integral ICT

ICT within the school has gone from being difficult to introduce into lessons at all, due to a lack of provision, to now being integral to the vast majority of curriculum delivery. Mark explains:

"As a network manager, during lessons I used to be able to wander freely around the building undertaking administration tasks. Now I get accosted on every corner as learning has truly gone beyond the four walls of the classroom at Tibshelf. Pupils are outside lessons, capturing content on digital devices and using the core infrastructure we have provided to further their personal development."

Already offering a supreme level of support to the school, Mark's network management team has benefited from new network management tools. Microsoft System Centre Service Manager 2012 R2 monitors the network and provides alerts, meaning the school's internal helpdesk offers ITIL compliant processes.

Impero Classroom Management is deployed across the school's estate, combining network management, desktop management and classroom management in one single consolidated solution.

27

Technical overview

Core Infrastructure/networking:

Cat6 cabling throughout the school

10Gb Fibre connectivity

HP Procurve Switching

Meraki Cloud Managed Wireless

Server infrastructure & storage:

7 high specification Stone Servers optimised for virtualisation

Huawei OceanStor S5500T storage

End User Devices:

Over 250 x Stone NT310 notebooks with 8 laptop charging trolleys

75 x touch screen Lenovo Ultrabooks for all teachers

2 x 30 Stone Ultra Small Form Factor Desktop PCs

16 x iMacs for media suite

80 x iPads

Audio Visual:

8 x Samsung MD40C digital signage screens with centralised Signagelive cloud management

In the auditorium, stepped seating. They have full audio visual stack, including 2 x projection to provide the ultimate in backdrop flexibility

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UPDATE

PROLITE B2483HS + 24 TN LED screen + 130mm height adjust/ 90 pivot angle

+ 1920 x 1080 native resolution/Aspect ratio 16:9

+ 2ms response time + Contrast 1000:1 typical + Brightness 300cd/m2

+ DVI, VGA, HDMI + Speakers 2 x 2W

OUR PRICE 105

OUR PRICE 64

PROLITE E2083HSD + 19.5 TN LED screen + 1600 x 900 native resolution/Aspect ratio 16:9

+ 2ms response time + Contrast 1000:1 typical + Brightness 250 cd/m2

+ DVI, VGA + Speakers 2 x 1W

OUR PRICE 101

PROLITE B1980SD + 19 TN LED screen + 130mm height adjust/ 90 pivot angle


+ 5ms response time + Contrast 1000:1 typical + Brightness 250/cd/m2


OUR PRICE 92

PROLITE B2280HS + 21.5 TN LED screen + 130mm height adjust/ 90 pivot angle


+ 2ms response time + Contrast 1000:1 typical + Brightness 250 cd/m2


OUR PRICE 74

PROLITE B2083HSDHEIGHT ADJUSTABLE

+ 19.5 TN LED Screen + 110mm height adjust/ 90 pivot angle function/ Portrait Mode Base


+ 2 ms response time + Contrast 1000:1 typical + Brightness 250 cd/m + DVI, VGA + Speakers 2 x 1W

OUR PRICE 1005

PROLITE TE4264MISTOUCH SCREEN

+ 42 Full HD Screen IPS + 1920 x 1080 native resolution/ Aspect ratio 16.9

+ 5ms response time + Contrast 1500:1 typical + Brightness 500cd/m2

+ Optional multi-touch + DVI, VGA, HDMI + USB + Speakers 2 x 12W

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AUTUMN 2014

As the curriculum shifts towards a focus on Computing, its vital that you give both your students and staff access to the latest technology to allow them to enhance their learning and teaching experience.

In a sector thats riddled with budget constraints, how can you achieve this without either severely impacting the education experience or capital budget available?

In this article well explore the options of both leasing and capital purchase to help determine the best solution for your institution.

TO LEASE

OR NOT TO

LEASE THAT IS THE

QUESTION!

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UPDATE

What is Leasing?Leasing allows educational institutions to spread the cost of an asset over its useful economic life without impacting on capital budget. It allows you to conserve cash flow and whilst positively accelerating your IT technology roadmap. This is particularly useful for educational institutions who are under increasing pressure to reduce costs, yet still need to provide the best facilities possible to their students and staff.

What is a Capital Purchase?A capital purchase is an outright cash payment for assets at a fixed cost. Its a simple and easy procurement method, providing that the education provider has the capital budget readily available. By choosing this procurement option, the full cost of the asset is paid outright allowing you to have full ownership over those assets. Transactions are easy you decide what you want, search for where best to get it and go out and buy it.

Done.

But what if you needed to buy, for example, 30 new laptops for the ICT suite? Do you have the budget to buy this outright? Chances are, if you work in the education sector, possibly not. So what do you do?

The SolutionBy opting for a leasing agreement youll have the flexibility to stay up to date with the most current technology without impacting your capital budget. This not only allows you to move forward with other plans you may have for IT in your institution (e.g. infrastructure upgrades) but will also allow you to upgrade your existing IT hardware at any time so that devices are never outdated.

Were often told to put our money into things that appreciate not depreciate. The nature of technology means that it evolves at a phenomenal rate and in 12-18 months, those devices that were purchased with your capital budget will have depreciated in value and could be worth next to nothing. The technology will be outdated, providing no real educational benefit to your institution. So why not put your money into something thats going to be more valuable to students and staff in terms of learning and teaching outcomes?

Your students and staff will be able to benefit from newer technology sooner compared to the usual four or five year cycle, ultimately enhancing the user experience and allowing your students to gain the skills they need for future employment.

The Benefits of LeasingThere are significant benefits to be gained when looking at a leasing scheme.

Here are just a few:

+ Spread the cost over the useful life of the hardware and pay for the use of it, meaning you pay less than it is actually worth

+ Flexibility to upgrade as and when new technology develops

+ Fixed payments for the contract duration

+ Compliant budget acceleration

+ IT strategy and roadmap acceleration

+ Alleviate budget constraints

+ Avoid technology obsolescence

+ Flexible working and mobile learning

+ Increases the number of employees/students online

+ Ability to manage project expectations

+ Provide the best technology for students to further develop their ICT skills and creativity for the future

+ Assists in IT asset disposal

The Final WordIn summary, there are distinct benefits to both a capital purchase and leasing scheme. However with restricted budgets consistently an issue within education, you need a solution that allows you to put the latest technology into the hands of your students and staff and enables you to develop a strategy around how these devices can then be used within the curriculum.

By opting to take out a leasing scheme youll ensure technology is always up to date through lifecycle management and accelerated budgets will allow you to get the technology you want rather than having to compromise. This means that your students get access to the most current devices and their learning potential is enhanced. Total repayment is also less than the total asset value and offers you the flexibility to expand your IT estate when needed rather than when capital budget dictates.

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AUTUMN 2014

Do you have old, outdated, end of life IT hardware to dispose of?As an ADISA, ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 accredited organisation with a dedicated on-site IT recycling facility, were here to help. Our recycling collection process is simple, quick and straightforward.

All you have to do is book a collection by following the steps below and well do the rest.

It couldnt be simpler!Book your recycling hardware collection today and be sure that your redundant IT hardware is being disposed of in an environmentally responsible and secure way.

Book Your Collection Today!

Visit our dedicated website and complete an online request form -www.stonegroup.co.uk/recycling/book-a-recycling-collection.1Upon receipt of your request well get in touch to arrange a convenient time for us to come and collect your old hardware for free!2Well take your redundant IT equipment back to our secure facility at Stone HQ.3Well then process your equipment and send you an Asset Management Report to let you know what weve done with each device processed.4

For more information call 08448 22 11 22, or visit stonegroup.co.uk/recycling

Stone Autumn Update 2014

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