Bandwidth Planner Components

The Bandwidth Planner is composed of two related components: A bandwidth calculator and repository of resources.

Bandwidth Calculator. The bandwidth calculator enables the user to input their current bandwidth and applications being utilized by their school. The 'calculator' will generate a graphic representation that allows a quick comparison between the user's current reported bandwidth and anticipated usage based on information provided by the user. The purpose of the calculator is to show the relationship between desired technology applications and the bandwidth required to achieve expected levels of service quality. The calculations performed will be transparent so that assumptions and tradeoffs can be evaluated.

The information obtained from the calculator can then be applied to the institutions educational goals to determine how a school's current bandwidth capacity meets or fall short of supporting the desired applications. This step in the planning process can provide information to enable educational leaders to engage in an informed conversation about future technology plans with their CTO or network administrator.

Resources. A repository of resources designed to provide additional information about bandwidth, planning, usage and sustainability. These resources include items such as a glossary, links to tools, tips, and case studies of ways that schools, districts, and states across the country have implemented bandwidth in support of instructional or administrative goals.

Notes on Use

The Bandwidth Planner is not intended to serve as a network planning tool, but rather as an information resource to help schools and districts make practical and strategic decisions based on a shared understanding of goals and capacity. It can be used by non-technical educators as well as by technical staff (e.g. CIO/CTO) to help explain the impact of educational decisions (e.g., to use video-based instruction) on bandwidth needs to an audience of stakeholders who do not have extensive technical backgrounds.