Sun and Com Tech Communications Join Forces in $1.6 million technology initiative for Australian schools

19 March 2001

Case Studies and Expert Opinions: Monash University and Star of The Sea

In recognition of the pivotal role computers and the Internet now play in education, Sun Microsystems has established four technology grants to support online learning in Australian primary and secondary schools. The four grants, with a total value of more than A$1.6 million, will be awarded to the winners of an open national contest with entries closing 30 March 2001. Any school or learning institutions with a primary function of educating children up to the age of 18 years can enter the competition.

As a part of its entry, a school must provide a short submission on how it envisages using the technology to innovate and promote education in the classroom.

Sun's grants are aimed at carrying the four winning schools beyond current technologies, with a vision to making them technology leaders in their local communities," said Jim Hassell, Managing Director, Sun Microsystems Australasia.

The winners of the four grants will each receive a powerful Sun Ultrasparc Server along with 100 Sun Ray desktop computers using Smart Card technology. The revolutionary machines will host a wide range of Sun software and will be fully installed and maintained for three years. Sun will provide training and ongoing support for the schools.

Com Tech Communications, (a member of the Dimension Data Group) Australia's leading end-to-end Internet development company and networking integrator, is co-sponsoring the grants. The company will be responsible for installing the technology in schools.

Commenting on Com Tech's involvement Darron Lonstein, Enterprise Systems Director said, "We are extremely pleased to be involved in such a visionary project and look forward to helping schools harness the power of new-age Internet technologies."

Each prize will be valued at more than A$400,000.

The Sun Rays are more powerful but easier to administer than traditional desktop computers. Using "thin client" technologies they are designed as an Internet appliance for the service driven network.

A student simply inserts his or her Smart Card into any Sun Ray machine located in any classroom and the computer automatically detects the user's preferences. Their files are instantly available across a school's Local Area Network (LAN), and should a student have specific needs (eg higher resolution for special eyesight requirements), the machine will automatically adjust its settings. Sun Ray machines do not have to be individually loaded with software and can be easily upgraded and administered across the network, thereby reducing the burden on a school's IT department.

Since its launch in July 2000, Sun Ray's have been adopted by more than six educational institutions across the country, including Monash University, University of Queensland, Star of Sea School South Australia, St Mark's College South Australian, Daramalen College Canberra, Flinders University, Cannon Hill Anglican School Brisbane. More than 1000 units are currently in nationally n education.

Figures Show Internet Usage on the Rise in Australian Schools

Already, children and teachers are embracing the Internet as a useful research tool, and the younger generation is being raised on a diet of computers and new technologies.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that almost half of Australia's five - to 14-year-old population went online in the past year, whilst 95 per cent of this age bracket has used a computer.

"The Internet has certainly changed the way our children learn about the world. As new technology becomes available, it is particularly important to keep the younger generation at the forefront of this revolution," said Professor John Rosenberg, Dean Faculty of Information Technology Monash University.

Jim Hassell, Managing Director Sun Microsystems Australasia envisages that as the Internet becomes even more ubiquitous it will become a fundamental teaching tool.

"In the future, you will see the world's networks, including the Internet, become as pervasive as telephone networks. And better still, they will be as reliable as the phone network, which makes them a valuable learning tool," Mr Hassell said.

"Whether a student at home plugs into the net via electronic diary or laptop, there will be what we call Web Tone: the Internet's equivalent of dial tone. And when Web Tone is as reliable as dial tone, you can start delivering learning resources whenever and wherever it suits."

Sun is committed to supporting education in Australia with this initiative, as well as ongoing sponsorship to research and education bodies.

"Sun has always recognised the value in helping Australian schools and education institutions to embrace new technologies, as they are often the proving ground for future advances," said Andrew Boulus, Manager Education and Research Sun Microsystems Australasia.

"In 2001 Sun is currently involved in several education initiatives across the country valued at more than AUD $3 million," he said.

Case Study: Star of the Sea school, South Australia Pioneers New Technology

Sister Enid Wood, principal at Star of the Sea school in South Australia, appreciates the difference their SunRay computers are making to the teaching process.

"Immediate access to new software and Internet applications is making it much easier to stay abreast of changes in technology," she said. "The new system is child-proof. The children only ever use a keyboard and screen, with all the other hardware behind locked doors."

(More information available on request.)

Case Study: Monash University Tests Show New Technologies Suited to Education

The first Australian organisation to install Sun Rays, Monash University reports significant reductions in laboratory installation time compared to the traditional PC networked teaching environment.

Mr Muhamed Bekir, the Technical Services Manager for the Faculty of Information Technology said: "We were extremely pleased at the ease with which the appliances were integrated with our complex UNIX, Novell, Windows NT and Windows 95 student environment.

"Installation took a third of the time usually required which is very encouraging. Our students experience a seamless transition from the traditional PC workstation to Sun Rays while we enjoy a substantial reduction in technical support costs and an increase in workstation availability and reliability," he said.

"Because the Sun Ray encourages an open systems environment, students have the opportunity to explore the new technology without having to relearn a new skill set which is very appealing," he said.

"The Sun Ray's 'hot desking' ability is also valuable in an environment where students often work from several different work stations in different rooms everyday."

Monash runs its world-leading BlueJ object-oriented Java teaching package on its Sun Rays - an application which has attracted interest from more than 700 universities around the world.

Contact Professor John Rosenberg Dean on 0418253001 or Dr Michael Kölling

Schools seeking more information about the grants or other education initiatives should visit the Sun website, at www.sun.com.au

For more Information Contact Prof John Rosenberg johnr@infotech.monash.edu.au or mobile 0418 253001 or Dr Michael Kölling (03) 99044170.