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April 1, 2002
Thin Clients Meeting Teacher Needs
By Ray Reitz
This past year the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina deployed thin client solutions in two middle schools and one high school. We are currently installing it in a second high school and in an elementary school. Furthermore, based on the success of these projects we are developing plans to provide this solution to other schools in the district during the summer of 2002.
The decision to move toward the thin client solution followed a yearlong technology strategic planning process. A district-wide technology advisory committee, composed of district, university, and business personnel, worked to develop goals and a transition plan to provide better computing resources for our schools. At the same time the district was constructing a new middle school. This gave the team an opportunity to challenge current practices by implementing a plan for the next generation of computing in schools.
During the planning process, the district's technology advisory committee made several assessments that helped point us toward thin client computing. An especially important assessment asked teachers what they believed to be critical for full integration of technology into their teaching. The following information provides you with some key results of this focus group process and shows how thin client solutions are meeting the needs of teachers and students in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
What Teachers Want and Need
Instructional technology specialists in each school led teachers and staff in focus groups to target their specific technology needs. From school to school the responses showed a high degree of congruency, and I would expect that focus groups of teachers at most schools would generate similar responses. Here are the Top Three Needs, as identified by our teachers:
Need #1 - Increased Reliability
Teachers want tools that work, including: robust computers upgraded on a regular basis, stable and reliable networks, and systems that are easy to use. This needs to be a primary focus; teachers believe that unless workstations and networks are reliable, they cannot successfully integrate them into curricular activities. Currently, most schools struggle with reliability and support of their computing resources.
Early in the technology planning process, the district assessed the computing resources in each school building. What we found, and this helps explain the decline in reliability, is that our workstations reflected the evolution of computing. Each year we purchased several new computers for schools, but kept the older computers in use. This was perfectly reasonable, considering that most schools find it difficult to retire a useable computer that could serve as a workstation. But this scenario resulted in an almost-unmanageable mix of computer models, operating systems, and configurations. Some school technicians were attempting to support over 40 different computer models and 15 versions of operating systems. Add the 20 to 30 software programs used in most schools and you have compatibility problems plus all sorts of other nightmares.
But thin client can help to break this cycle, regain manageability of the system, and increase reliability. Those Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools that have thin client servers and workstations are now experiencing unprecedented reliability. Servers stay up for months (instead of days) without the need for rebooting them. The workstations are more reliable and faster due to the increased processing power of the servers. Software applications loaded once on the application servers work consistently on all workstations. And confidence in technology is risingưa confidence that is required before teachers will regularly include computers in their daily teaching activities. This increase in reliability is due to the use of industry standard servers (Compaq Proliant DL360 and ML370) and Citrix Metaframe software. These servers are a dramatic improvement over the types of servers purchased by schools in the past. They provide the redundancy and security used in most businesses. But reliability is just as important in schools as it is in the business sector. A 1,600-student high school requires just as much or more computing power than a small business. The Compaq servers and Citrix Metaframe solution provide the level of reliability that students and teachers deserve.
In addition to increasing reliability for the user, the thin client solution also has positive effects on those who support servers and workstations. We have experienced a significant reduction in the time needed to manage and support these systems. The technology specialists in thin client schools report a significant decrease in troubleshooting calls. Instead of focusing on break-fix issues, they are now finding more time to work with teachers on technology integration projects. The security precautions built into the system also increases reliability. Students and teachers store their work on the servers and rarely use floppy disks that can be an entrance ramp for viruses. Centralized back-up systems also promote the likelihood of regular backups.
One of the positive features of the thin client solution is that it can maximize the investment on legacy systems throughout the school. We have connected everything from 486-PC's to Mac LC575's to serve as thin client workstations. This solution brings new life to computers that have passed the end of their life cycle. As these systems crash, lower cost thin client terminals can replace them. Teachers and students are amazed that the reliability and speed of older systems can be increased so dramatically once they are transformed into thin client workstations.
Need #2 - Increased Access
The second priority for our teachers was increased access. Teachers want more access points within the school, access to student and teacher files from home, and a plan to provide subsidized home internet access and access devices for families without computers. Thin client computing has provided solutions to these needs.
Lowering the computer-student ratio is a goal for most districts. In addition to funding issues, there are other challenges to overcome, such as space and power limitations. Although installing a thin client environment requires a sizeable up-front investment in server hardware and thin client software, the long-term costs should be lower. The savings resulting from centralized software distribution and more efficient support and management can purchase additional $500 thin client terminals.
Space is also a major issue within schools. Thin client workstations do take up less space in the classroom; in fact the thin clients normally go unnoticed. The monitor and keyboard are the focal points. The Compaq Evo T20 thin clients that we use are just a little larger than a paperback book. It is much easier to place 5-8 of these in a classroom than traditional computers. The servers that support the workstations are also remarkably small.
Power is also an issue that limits the number of computers in classrooms. Most schools do not have the capacity to place 5-8 additional computers in each classroom without adding additional circuits. A recent study demonstrated that traditional computers use nearly 7 times more power than thin clients. (Comparing Power Usage for PCs and Thin Clients in an Office Network Environment, thinclient.net). Thin client devices also generate less heat than traditional computers, and in warm weather this can result in a savings in air-cooling costs. The dollars saved in lower electrical and air-cooling costs can be sizeable in a school or district. The reduced power consumption of thin clients aligned with plans for our district's newest middle school, which has many specialized features designed to improve the learning environment while saving energy, materials and natural resources. The thin client solution's energy savings made it a perfect fit for this environment.
The size of the thin client, the ability to turn most workstations into high performing thin client access points, and the potential energy savings has increased our desire and ability to provide teachers with more access points in classrooms and labs.
Remember that the ability to access student and teacher files from home was another request from teachers. The Citrix Metaframe software provides seamless access to personal and shared files, in addition to the applications on the school servers. Teachers can now work on lesson plans and grades using their home computer regardless of what type of computer it is or what software they have loaded. They use their own ISP to link into the school network to access their personal desktop.
Home access was a critical factor in making the thin client decision. One of the district's technology goals is to provide each student with equal access to technology in the school setting and to advocate for necessary access to technology in the home and community. The district has several pilot projects underway to provide access to computing resources for families caught in the digital divide. But placing traditional workstations in homes proved to be difficult, as they were very complex and required more technical support than a school can provide. Instead the district is currently experimenting with a home thin client device (New Internet Computer, www.thinknic.com) that may provide families with a low cost and simple solution to tapping the district's computing resources. At less than $300, this device provides families without a computer with access to all the curricular resources and tools accessible on the school computers. The district is working with a local ISP to provide discounted connectivity. Grants and other local agencies will assist in subsidizing these units to families in need. The home access component to the thin client solution maximizes the investment in the district's powerful servers by making these resources available to students and teachers 24/7.
Need #3 - Increased Training
Chapel Hill-Carrboro teachers also identified training as a critical need. Although the district provides a technology institute each summer, that school's technology specialist conducts most of the training on-site. The complexity and unreliability of the workstations and networks in many of our schools forces staff development to the back seat while these specialists try to keep computers functioning. The thin client solution has eased this situation by providing simple and reliable systems. One reason that thin client workstations simplify management is that all software applications are consistent. This standardization helps focus the training effort on a few common tools found in office productivity or educational software. Updates to these software packages are provided to all users, all at once. There are no version and platform inconsistencies. This reduces frustrations and increases the time spent learning and using the software. Also, because teachers can access the software through their home connection, they are more apt to log on and practice outside of school. The thin client's reliability and consistency has facilitated staff development efforts in our thin client schools. Teachers are drawn to something that works, that works consistently, and that they can access anytime, anyplace.
There are many more advantages to the thin client solution. These are just a few that align with the recommendations from our teacher focus groups. During the past year we have achieved great success in our schools that have deployed thin clients. Some have deployed this solution school-wide; others are migrating classrooms and labs as needed. But it is important to note that although thin clients work well in most situations, they are not a total replacement for regular computers. Thin clients can perform the bulk of standard school computer functions such as word processing, database and spreadsheets, presentation tools, student information management, and Internet browsing. You still need to have a few traditional computers available to perform digital video editing, multimedia applications, and other specialized programs. Even in our new middle school, we have placed a traditional PC in each classroom along with five thin clients. This provides the teachers and students with the best of both worlds. They have the reliability and simplicity of the thin client connection, with the ability to import and manipulate digital media from cameras and CDs.
Reliability is the Key
During the past year we have implemented the thin client solution in a variety of situations. In each situation, it has dramatically increased the reliability of computing resources for students and teachers. We have found that this "reliability" piece is a very critical component in solving the technology integration puzzle.
Email: Ray Reitz
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