From Laura.Brown at maine.gov Tue Aug 4 15:48:27 2009 From: Laura.Brown at maine.gov (Laura Brown) Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:48:27 -0400 Subject: [MLTI-MS] Collection of MLTI II Devices by State Surplus Message-ID: *This e-mail is directed to sites that are not purchasing their local deployment of MLTI II devices. It outlines the collection of these devices by State Surplus Property. Dear MLTI Sites, Throughout August and September, Carl Lafrance (carl.lafrance at maine.gov or 287-2922) of State Surplus Property will be calling Middle and High Schools who are not purchasing their local MLTI II deployments. Carl will be working with individual sites to schedule the collection of the MLTI II iBooks and MacBooks. This is a huge undertaking for State Surplus, so we are asking that you help them as much as possible in preparing the devices for pick-up. Schools need to conduct an accurate count of their devices and ensure it matches the count made by surplus on the day of pick-up. Having the devices in their bags, with their power cords and in an easily accessible/secure location, will allow surplus to move quickly through their collection schedule. Schools who can transport their devices directly to State Surplus (located at: 85 Leighton Rd, Augusta, ME 04333) are encouraged to do so, as they will help to facilitate the collection process. Arrangements should be made through Carl LaFrance. Teacher retained devices that were kept by teachers over the summer months for PD will need to be collected and ready for pick-up by September 7th. Surplus will expect to pick-up these devices after this deadline. Sites that are unable to have their teacher retained devices ready after September 7th, and before their scheduled surplus pick-up date, will be required to locally cover the costs of getting their teacher retained devices to state surplus in Augusta. We thank you all for assisting State Surplus Property in the collection of the MLTI II devices. Individuals and schools wishing to purchase iBooks or MacBooks will have the opportunity at upcoming public sales at State Surplus in Augusta. Additional dates and information can be found on the state surplus website: http://www.maine.gov/bgs/centralserv/surplus/ . Thank you, MLTI Team From juanita.dickson at maine.gov Thu Aug 6 12:20:55 2009 From: juanita.dickson at maine.gov (Dickson, Juanita) Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 12:20:55 -0400 Subject: [MLTI-MS] MLTI Wireless Network Updates Message-ID: <32E5C6B0B949584D9B6168C5F727916B054E5725@SOM-TEAQASMAIL1.som.w2k.state.me.us> MLTI Wireless Network Updates Conference Call Update The MLTI Project Team will be hosting a conference call on Thursday, August 13 at 9:30 am to answer questions and provide an update on the status of the wireless installations. We encourage all sites to participate in the call. Phone: 1-877-760-2043 Participant Code: 9394038 Wireless security options and implications The MLTI wireless network solution includes basic password encryption using the WPA2 standard. This standard provides a basic level of security to prevent unauthorized users from accessing your network and does not have a negative impact on performance of the network. The WPA2 security standard was developed after the original MLTI iBook G3 devices were built and deployed, and due to physical hardware limitations, those devices and many other computers built in that time period are unable to utliize the WPA2 standard. Therefore, those iBooks and device are unable to connect to the MLTI wireless network. In some instances, schools have requested that the MLTI wireless network configurations be altered to use an older wireless network password standard, WEP. This standard was used and is compatible with the iBook G3s and other computers of that era. The Department discourages schools from making this change. Doing so will eliminate the performance gains that are realized in the newer 802.11n wireless networking standards that the MacBooks and many other more modern computers use. If the new MLTI wireless network is reconfigured to utilize the WEP standard, not only will the speed of the network decrease by approximately 6 fold, but the coverage will also be reduced. As a result, some parts of the school will not have adequate wireless signal strength to support a wireless connection to the network, and in areas that are able to make a connection, the speed of that connection will be severely impacted. The iBook G4 and MacBooks retired from the MLTI program this summer are fully compatible with the new MLTI wireless network. If a school requires compatibility for the iBook G3s and other older computer equipment, the Department recommends that the school eliminate the password protection altogether, and instead utilize other means to provide a basic level of access control to the network if necessary. Portable Buildings The MLTI wireless network installation will provide wireless network connectivity to all approved instructional areas in the school. However, in some instances, schools are responsible for certain electrical and other installation costs. If your school has a portable or "out" building, it is possible that in order to include that building as part of the MLTI wireless network, that additional work like the installation of lightening protection, installing buried conduit or other work that falls outside the scope is simply "pulling" a network drop will be required. If this is the case, these costs have always been the responsibility of the local school. In these instances, the Department will work with the school to determine the costs and an action plan. Quick resolution of these scenarios will help MLTI complete the network installations in a reasonable time frame. It should be noted that if you have above ground wiring to these portable buildings for electricity, network, fire/security systems, etc. the necessary lightening protection may already be in place. Existing conduits that are properly protected will be used whenever possible. Site surveys will likely be necessary to ensure that all work is done to proper building codes. Thank you The MLTI Team -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/mlti-ms/attachments/20090806/151671c6/attachment.html From juanita.dickson at maine.gov Tue Aug 11 13:42:22 2009 From: juanita.dickson at maine.gov (Juanita Dickson) Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:42:22 -0400 Subject: [MLTI-MS] Correction to Conference Call Info! MLTI Wireless Network Update Message-ID: <5D4C886B-C3D9-4235-8BA1-BE74E3E383A2@maine.gov> The email sent out on August 6th contained incorrect conference call information. This has been corrected below**. Please ensure you use this information for the conference call. Thank you The MLTI Team Conference Call Update The MLTI Project Team will be hosting a conference call on Thursday, August 13 at 9:30 am to answer questions and provide an update on the status of the wireless installations. We encourage all sites to participate in the call. **Corrected Conference Call Information Phone: 1-877-760-2043 Participant Code: 939403 Wireless security options and implications The MLTI wireless network solution includes basic password encryption using the WPA2 standard. This standard provides a basic level of security to prevent unauthorized users from accessing your network and does not have a negative impact on performance of the network. The WPA2 security standard was developed after the original MLTI iBook G3 devices were built and deployed, and due to physical hardware limitations, those devices and many other computers built in that time period are unable to utliize the WPA2 standard. Therefore, those iBooks and device are unable to connect to the MLTI wireless network. In some instances, schools have requested that the MLTI wireless network configurations be altered to use an older wireless network password standard, WEP. This standard was used and is compatible with the iBook G3s and other computers of that era. The Department discourages schools from making this change. Doing so will eliminate the performance gains that are realized in the newer 802.11n wireless networking standards that the MacBooks and many other more modern computers use. If the new MLTI wireless network is reconfigured to utilize the WEP standard, not only will the speed of the network decrease by approximately 6 fold, but the coverage will also be reduced. As a result, some parts of the school will not have adequate wireless signal strength to support a wireless connection to the network, and in areas that are able to make a connection, the speed of that connection will be severely impacted. The iBook G4 and MacBooks retired from the MLTI program this summer are fully compatible with the new MLTI wireless network. If a school requires compatibility for the iBook G3s and other older computer equipment, the Department recommends that the school eliminate the password protection altogether, and instead utilize other means to provide a basic level of access control to the network if necessary. Portable Buildings The MLTI wireless network installation will provide wireless network connectivity to all approved instructional areas in the school. However, in some instances, schools are responsible for certain electrical and other installation costs. If your school has a portable or "out" building, it is possible that in order to include that building as part of the MLTI wireless network, that additional work like the installation of lightening protection, installing buried conduit or other work that falls outside the scope is simply "pulling" a network drop will be required. If this is the case, these costs have always been the responsibility of the local school. In these instances, the Department will work with the school to determine the costs and an action plan. Quick resolution of these scenarios will help MLTI complete the network installations in a reasonable time frame. It should be noted that if you have above ground wiring to these portable buildings for electricity, network, fire/security systems, etc. the necessary lightening protection may already be in place. Existing conduits that are properly protected will be used whenever possible. Site surveys will likely be necessary to ensure that all work is done to proper building codes. Thank you The MLTI Team Juanita Dickson (Deschambault) M.L.T.I. Maine Department of Education 23 State House Station Augusta Maine 04333 (P) 207-499-7142 (7:30am - 4:00pm) Visit MLTI on the web at http://www.mlti.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/mlti-ms/attachments/20090811/2991b08b/attachment.html From juanita.dickson at maine.gov Thu Aug 13 11:16:03 2009 From: juanita.dickson at maine.gov (Juanita Dickson) Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:16:03 -0400 Subject: [MLTI-MS] Wireless Network Funding! Action required by some schools.... Message-ID: Dear Schools The Department of Education has successfully identified funding and come to agreement with Apple, Inc. to provide wireless networking infrastructure to all participating Maine public high schools, regardless of the status of the student 1:1 deployment at the school. It is the hope of the Department that this infrastructure upgrade will help to facilitate the expansion of 1:1 to all high schools in the future. The Department needs immediate feedback from principals or superintendents representing high schools that initially did not expect to receive an MLTI-provided wireless network. Please visit http://www.maine.gov/mlti/deployment to find a link to important forms and a complete listing of participating schools. Schools listed under ?Teacher Only? must respond via email (mlti-wireless at group.apple.com ) indicating ?YES? or ?NO? that the school would like to have MLTI install a wireless network into the school. A ?YES? response confirms that the school is accepting the MLTI wireless network solution. A ?NO? response confirms that the school is NOT accepting the MLTI wireless solution. Schools not accepting the network must also download, sign, and return (via fax to 207-624-6601) the Network Refusal form which is posted at http://www.maine.gov/mlti/deployment. Thank you The MLTI Team -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/mlti-ms/attachments/20090813/89ff7f6a/attachment.html