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Grow Smart = Big Growth, Small Cost
Grow Smart allows school to increase their connection to 100Mbs for just an extra $75/month…
WiscNet’s “Grow Smart” initiative allows Wisconsin schools and libraries to overcome technological limits in order to provide students with the 21st century tools they need. While many schools in the nation are forced to cut back on technology initiatives due to budget cuts, WiscNet creates opportunities for Wisconsin schools to keep up with international computing standards, if not surpass them, at no extra cost. WiscNet encourages schools to grow; to use web 2.0 tools, to create, download and stream videos, to form global learning networks, to connect to hosted services like United Streaming or Skyward and much more!
Although most teachers, superintendents, and technology directors can get behind the idea that increased connectivity can only benefit schools, some schools are not currently positioned to take full advantage of the Grow Smart initiative. These schools understand that even though the Grow Smart model allows traffic on the WiscNet network to be unlimited, the traffic on the “on ramp” to the WiscNet network can be limited. In other words, the circuit that connects their school to thelarger WiscNet network can potentially choke their ability to grow.
School District in Northern Wisconsin finds a way to upgrade…
Rice Lake School District’s Technology Coordinator, Tom Lange, was in this very position. He knew that his district needed a lot more bandwidth than the 3Mbs they currently had in order to allow students and teachers to use technology in meaningful ways. “Teachers were going home where they had faster Internet access to download videos and bring them back to class,” Lange explained. As a result, Lange chose to first increase the school district’s WiscNet access to 100 Mbs. Next he worked to remove the bottleneck posed by the limited bandwidth found on the school district’s connection to the WiscNet network. Lange found a creative solution by contacting local companies and asking them to help him get this school connected to WiscNet. And they responded! Lange’s district increased their “on ramp” bandwidth from 3 Mbs to 100 Mbs. He initially thought he could only afford to move from 3 Mbs to 5 Mbs, but found for just about the same cost ($75 more) per month than the 5 MB cost he could get 100 Mbs. That’s when he realized they could really take advantage of the Grow Smart model!
With E-Rate deadlines approaching in January, now is the time to begin planning for your area’s bandwidth needs. WiscNet would like to work with you to ensure your school or district is not unnecessarily limited. If you would like more information or have questions, please contact WiscNet’s Sales Engineer, Jim Young, at 608-262-9421 or
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