Affordable Networking Technologies for K-12 Classrooms

One of the main areas of NASA Langley's Learning Technologies research effort has been the development and testing of networking technologies. These technologies allow schools to obtain access to the vast array of resources available through the Internet, keeping costs affordable and providing excellent functionality, including network-based filtering.

One example of such a technology is the HorizonNet proxy/cache server that has been used to connect entire school networks to the Internet through a single, standard telephone line. A 37-page white paper has been written which describes the model, as well as the initial pilot project that has grown into a self-sustaining public school initiative which is providing Internet access for more than 60 schools in the Virginia Tidewater region.

Development of this software has been completed, as has the technology transfer effort to move continued production development of similar software the the private sector based upon the success of the pilot program. NASA Langley has entered into a cooperative agreement with Unified Research Laboratories to facilite this technology transfer process. We have also worked with schools in the Southwestern portion of Virginia, combining the cache server concept mentioned above, with commercial wireless networking technology to provide affordable Internet connectivity in a rural setting. One other technique that is being investigated is the combination of multiple phones lines to to form the wide area network link, providing greater data rates without incurring the cost of a dedicated or digital connection. Look to this site during the coming months for initial results on both of these projects.

Additional Information

Visit http://www.larc.nasa.gov/education/education.htm

Send e-mail to info@k12unix.larc.nasa.gov