Voice, Video and Data Anytime, Any Place
(Using the Internet to Transmit Voice, Video and Data in Milwaukee Public Schools)
by
Linda Albertson, English Teacher-Washington High School
and
Ann Alvarez, Interactive Video Coordinator-Washington High School

Interactive video in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) began about 10 years ago and has taken a technological approach that has implemented three transmission systems - fiber optic, digital phone lines (ISDN) and Internet Protocol (IP).

The MPS entry into interactive video began with an Ameritech Super School grant in 1993 which established two Ameritech Super Schools, HI-Mount Community and Washington High School. The two schools were equipped with DS-3, or fiber optic, and single ISDN line transmission systems, plus videoconferencing room modifications. Each of the Super Schools was given a designated partner, Allen-Field Elementary School for HI-Mount and Marshall High School for Washington High, that were also equipped with fiber optic video systems. Twenty-first Street Elementary, South Division High School and Madison University High School soon had DS-3 interactive video capabilities, too, as they bought into the interactive video system.

The Virtual School Project, designed to interconnect the elementary, middle and secondary schools with higher education for sharing, enrichment and teacher training, brought three ISDN line transmission systems to HI-Mount Community, Audubon Middle and Washington High Schools.

As the role of interactive video in the world of communications, generally, and education, specifically, grew, MPS visioning saw the need to construct its own transmission infrastructure. Though able to provide connections with more than one site at a time and superior in quality to ISDN line transmissions, the fiber optic systems proved costly to install and operate and lacked flexibility in implementation. The district's planning and construction of its own network infrastructure proved a windfall as Internet Protocol or Video over IP came on the scene.

With its potentially more universal, less expensive and more portable capabilities, video over IP allowed the transmission of voice, video and data over the internet. An interconnection device called the Accord Bridge made possible the connecting and conversion of signals so as to implement interactive video via a combination of the fiber optic, ISDN and video over IP transmissions.

Video over IP first went into use at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning, Custer and Pulaski High Schools. At the same time Washington High and HI-Mount setups were expanded, making them the only two schools in MPS to be equipped with all three systems. In 2001, video over IP was extended to 25 MPS schools and the Central Services Facility.

As soon as the hardware is in place, 30-40 schools will have the capability of transmitting voice, video and data. The existing fiber optic and ISDN line systems will be phased out in MPS, but the bridge will allow fiber optic or ISDN systems outside of MPS to connect with MPS sites and allow multiple sites within MPS to connect with each other at the same time.

Being internet-based, video over IP has the potential to be totally universal, global and beyond. The operation cost is far less than the fiber optic or ISDN line systems that carry monthly line charges and charges for individual calls. With the IP implementation there will be no charges for connections within MPS and only the cost of long distance phone calls outside the district will be incurred. Other connection sites calling into MPS from fiber optic or ISDN line systems will pay the cost of the calls they initiate. Video over IP becomes very flexible as the ability to call up or transmit voice, video and data can be located in any classroom that is networked. Ultimately the MPS system goal will be to have every classroom able to send and receive voice, video and data on demand at low cost or no cost.