New Avenues
for Learning
South Island School uses wireless devices to
support learning in a digital world. Reliable Cisco®
networks help classes run smoothly.
“Through wireless access, teachers connect students with
learning experiences from beyond the classroom.”
- Victor Alamo, ICT manager, South Island School
South Island School is committed to providing the best possible education
experiences. Video and interactive applications help teachers bring subjects
to life.
• Enhance learning experiences with technology
Challenges
• Upgrade wireless infrastructure to handle heavy
loads
• Build an infrastructure that will last for years
South Island School in Hong Kong is made up of students from around the world
with 1,400 students from over 35 countries. One value that sets the school apart
is its commitment to using technology in the classroom. For instance, all students
have a laptop that they use to access e-books, watch educational videos, and
complete homework assignments. Some exams are even taken digitally.
With wireless devices used daily by every student and faculty member, a stable
network connection is almost as important as pencil and paper in classrooms.
South Island School’s existing Cisco network had reached end of life, and the
school needed to refresh the infrastructure with a network that could meet
bandwidth needs for years to come.
“We looked at other vendors, but we were extremely impressed with how
the existing Cisco equipment performed over the years,” says Victor Alamo,
ICT manager at South Island Schools. “By upgrading to the latest Cisco
access points and switches, we’d have an infrastructure that would keep up
with our needs.”
Case Study | South Island School
Size: 1,400 Students
Location: Aberdeen, Hong Kong
© 2015 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Industry: Education
1
The Cisco wireless network keeps our
students and teachers connected with
reliable and fast service.
Solutions
• Updated the wireless network around Cisco
access points with IEEE 802.11ac performance
• Centralized management with support for
converged wired and wireless networks
More information and greater control
Cisco Prime™ Infrastructure pulls together management of wired and wireless
networks in a unified solution. This gives our ICT team greater control so we
can adjust bandwidth as needed, such as assigning specific rooms higher
priority during exams.
The visibility into the networks gives us more information than ever. We can
identify classes that have greater bandwidth needs, monitor connections for
hotspots, and even track down misplaced laptops.
Keeping to the latest standards
We were looking for infrastructure that would last
us a long time. By fitting Cisco’s access points
with IEEE standard 802.11ac radio modules,
we’re supporting the latest wireless standard for
top performance.
If we need greater bandwidth in the future, Cisco’s modular design enables
us to upgrade without investing in completely new access points.
Enhancing education
With stable wireless access, teachers can bring more interactivity, video,
and data-heavy applications to the classroom. Students can share work with
teachers or classmates, even connecting to projectors wirelessly to share
work on a big screen.
© 2015 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
2
• Delivered stable wireless connections for
thousands of wireless devices
Results
• Enhanced classroom work with video,
applications, and sharing
• Improved network visibility and uptime
Reaching out through technology
Through services like FileWave and Casper, South Island School is using the
increased bandwidth and stable connections to provide remote technical
support.
“Better network performance means that we can expand our services to the
school,” says Alamo.
Products & Services
Wireless
• Cisco Aironet 3700 Series Access
Points
Network Management
• Cisco Prime Infrastructure
Routing and Switching
• Cisco Catalyst® 4500 Series
Switches with Catalyst 4500
Supervisor Engine 8-E
• Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series
Switches
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© 2015 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
03/15