IoT fundamentally changes the education equation

The Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential to transform education by profoundly altering how schools, colleges and universities gather data, interface with users and automate processes. IoT refers to the networking of physical objects through the use of embedded sensors, actuators and other devices that can collect and transmit information about real-time campus activity. When IoT is combined with technologies such as user mobility and data analytics, it brings a new paradigm in education. IoT enables institutions to:

• Create new ways for students to learn by supporting more personalised and dynamic learning experiences such as immersive digital textbooks and game-based learning.
• Change how teachers deliver lessons and test achievement with smart audio-visual equipment, digital video recorders for lecture capture, and online testing.

• Simplify operations for school administrators by proactively monitoring critical infrastructure and creating more efficient, cost-effective processes for HVAC, lighting and landscape management.
• Provide a safer environment for students and teachers with digital surveillance cameras, smart door locks and connected school buses.

IoT scenarios in education

IoT solutions promise to make schools and universities smarter as well as more successful at what they do. The IoT has the potential to redefine how students, teachers and administrators interact and connect to technology and devices in classroom environments, helping enhance learning experiences, improve educational outcomes and reduce costs. Examples of IoT solutions for education include:

• Smart whiteboards and other interactive digital media that can gather and analyse data for teachers and students for use in the classroom—or anywhere else, at any time—optimising instruction and improving learning outcomes.
• Solutions such as smart temperature sensors and smart heating, ventilation and air condition equipment that reduce energy consumption and automate operations management.
• Smart student ID cards, attendance-tracking devices, school bus tracking systems and parking sensors that monitor the physical whereabouts of students.
• Wireless door locks, connected surveillance cameras and facial recognition systems that provide security for teachers, students and staff.
• Research programs enhanced with more advanced and automated systems in major areas of study, such as medicine, agriculture and engineering.

Challenges of IoT deployment

The IoT brings unprecedented flows of data, presenting performance, operational and management challenges to the network infrastructure along with increased security risks from all end-points. To address these issues, network administrators at educational institutions need to adapt traditional network designs to provide new levels of network intelligence, automation and security. Schools and universities need a cost-effective network infrastructure that securely handles vast flows of data, but is also simple to manage and operate. The infrastructure must:

• Provide a simple, automated process for IoT device onboarding. Large IoT systems can contain thousands of devices or sensors, and manually provisioning and managing all of these endpoints is complex and error-prone. Automated onboarding enables the network infrastructure to dynamically recognise devices and assign them to the appropriate secured network.
• Supply the correct network resources for the IoT system to run properly and efficiently. Many devices in the IoT system deliver mission-critical information that requires a specific level of QoS. For example, some educational use cases require proper bandwidth reservations on a high-performance network infrastructure to ensure service delivery and reliability.
• Provide a secure environment against cyberattack and data loss. Because the many networked devices and sensors in the IoT lead to a corresponding abundance of potential attack vectors, security is critical for mitigating risks of cybercrime. Security is necessary at multiple levels, including containment of the IoT networks themselves.

Building a secure IoT network infrastructure

Amillan offers converged wired and wireless solutions to address networking challenges, management complexity and offer a consistent user experience. They comprise a rich set of secure services that enable employees and customers to use corporate or personal, wired or wireless devices on the enterprise network, while the enhancements also help simplify IT operations, improving security and protecting business investments.

As a skilled integrator, Amillan blends together ‘best of breed’ technologies and elements to bring you a cohesive, reliable and secure, high-performance network that supports your organisation’s operations.

Having the right network in place is a key part of any digital evolution strategy. We work in partnership with our customers to enable them to transform and embrace new ways of working. Let’s talk about what you want to achieve and work together to establish what you need to do.