Microsoft in new ‘no byte left unused’ deal with schools

Schools may no longer have to match the number of PCs in their IT labs with the student population, courtesy of Microsoft’s shared resource computing.

Under the programme, schools will put their computers’ capacity to optimal use and that institutions will realise savings on their information, communications and technology equipment acquisition, maintenance and support cost.

Shared resource computing ensures that instead of schools spending additional financial resources in the acquisition of new PCs, they just tap into the excess and unutilised capacity of existing machines to serve multiple users.

Idle 10 per cent

The move is in response to the realisation that schools and learning institutions in general utilise only about 10 per cent of their deployed computer capacity and capabilities, leaving the rest idle and unutilised.

In order to drive adoption of the new concept, the software maker has unveiled Windows MultiPoint Server 2010, which enables tapping into a single computer’s excess capacity and capabilities to support many users at once.

The solution, launched in East Africa during the recent regional education conference on e-learning held in Nairobi, allows a single teacher and a number of students to each use their own computer screen, keyboard and computer mouse while sharing a single computer central processing unit (CPU).

It was launched in partnership with HP, N-Computing and Wyse as hardware providers with Microsoft providing the software.

Shared resource computing is meant to benefit Africa and other developing countries’ schools that have to grapple with challenges of limited access to expensive computers and power supplies, as the solution leads to cost savings due to reduced hardware costs and operating expenses.

Apart from the benefit of reduced cost to schools, the MultiPoint Server 2010 ensures that from the host PU, teachers are enabled to create, modify and delete student accounts, while students are able to operate from their individual workstations.

This ensures that no student is idle due to lack of computers during a teaching/learning session at the laboratory as the multiple screens and mouse features allow all the students to participate at the same time.

To enable the facility to perform the above functions, it comes fitted with Mouse Mischief (a free feature that lets teachers make their PowerPoint slides interactive) and Mouse Software Developer Kit, that enables teachers to create educational content which enhances personalised learning.

Microsoft start-up business group general manager for Middle East and Africa Ali Hoballah said that the solution benefits teachers by enabling them to easily manage students by assigning passwords, after creating user accounts.

“It has simple tools for management that enhance instructors’ teaching experience. With this solution, the same budgetary expenditure can be used to ensure ICT access to many students in many schools,” said Mr Hoballah.

Mr Hoballah added that given the need for affordable ICT solutions in learning institutions in the continent, there is a great potential for governments and education institutions to be able to reach many students.