Media.Knet.Ca

Everyone is invited to share their myknet story and experiences within the online discussion forum at http://meeting.knet.ca/moodle/mod/forum/view.php?f=263 ...

Please encourage other people you know who use MyKnet for their homepage to join these discussions as well so they too can share their myknet experiences within this online sharing space.

The K-Net team is working with three graduate students who are writing a paper about MyKnet. Adam Fiser (Toronto), Philipp Budka (Vienna) and Brandi Bell (Montreal) are interested in speaking with as many people as possible who have been using MyKnet over the years or who began using MyKnet and are now using some other service for their homepage.

If all goes well MyKnet will be featured in a special "Social Network" edition of the Journal of Computer Mediated Communications alongside Myspace and Youtube.

The three PhD graduate candidates would like to spend some time with you online (email, chat) or over the phone, to discuss your experience with MyKnet?  Their deadline for producing this paper is February 28th.

They are trying to address three major themes in their paper:

 1) The History of MyKnet.
 2) The Role of Youth.
 3) Cultural issues and opportunities.

They want to talk with and hear from as many of MyKnet's pioneer users and innovators and write the paper using as many original voices as they can. Maybe you could suggest some other people for them to contact as well?

Please visit their research site on the meeting space.
http://meeting.knet.ca/moodle/mod/forum/view.php?f=263.

It would be GREAT if you would be willing to share your MyKnet story and experience with others within this online discussion. You need to sign up for a Meeting Space account if you do not already have one.

This opportunity would really help them with their paper and let others know about your work on myknet!

Thanks for your help with this work!

The chiefs from the six Keewaytinook Okimakanak member First Nations are meeting for the next two days (January 23, 24) in Balmertown.

Topics of discussion include:

• Finance planning and reporting
• Advisory services development and implementation
• Partnership discussions (Thunder Bay Telephone)

The six First Nations SchoolNet Regional Management Organizations (RMOs) from across Canada met via video conference with the new program administration on Friday, January 12. This was the first RMO meeting with INAC officials since the December 1 announcement that the First Nations SchoolNet program would be moved from Industry Canada to INAC.

Juliet Balfour, Director of Operations - Education Branch, Indian & Northern Affairs Canada,  chaired the meeting. She provided an update on the work that has been completed to date and the work that is required to ensure the program is able to continue beyond its March 31, 2007 end date. She praised the RMOs for their past successes and indicated that the transfer from one federal department to another is a good indication that the program is viewed positively by the government.

The INAC officials are now preparing a Memorandum to Cabinet to continue the program for the next two years.

The First Nations SchoolNet program has provided FN schools across the country with the dollars required to construct and pay for broadband connectivity solutions so students in these remote and rural community can develop online skills and resources. In previous years, the FNS program also provided professional development training and workshop, online activities along with the hardware and software resources required to support the use of these broadband connections.

First Nation leaders and schools are encouraged to lobby INAC officials, especial INAC Minister Prentice, at every opportunity to ensure this funding program is continued.

Penny Carpenter, K-Net's Business Manager and Donna Williams, KO Teleheatlh Manager travelled to Toronto this week to meet with:

• Ministry of Health's e-Health and Aboriginal Liaison office;
• Smart Systems for Health office
• Ontario Telehealth Network office.

Penny attended these meetings to

• introduce the developments happening within the Kuhkenah Network with additional broadband connections being established in a number of Aboriginal health sites; and 
• identify strategies and needs to have all the Aboriginal health sites begin to receive equitable access to the Smart Systems for Health Agency network services and resources.

WELCOME to 2007!!

The team at Keewaytinook Okimakanak would like extend BEST WISHES to everyone for his new year.

May the coming months bring good health, happiness and prosperity to one and all.

It is through everyone's efforts to work together, to help each other and to care about our neighbours that we each are able to contribute to a safe and growing environment.

Our children and future generations depend upon us!

We look forward to working with everyone once again in this new year.

Lyle Johnson, K-Net's Video Conferencing Bridge Coordinator, spent this past week in Sudbury participating in a Contact North hosted Bridge Operator's Training session. The training was facilitated by Polycom, the supplier of the Accord bridge that we use.

Lyle's report includes ...

All in all a very good week of learing and collaboration...   There was one particpant in Sudbury, and 2 in Thunder Bay.  I learned quickly how much that I really did not know about our bridge and maximizing its resources.

Hopefully, I will be able to effectively pass on my learnings to K-Net staff, so that we may better serve the needs of the First Nations that we are so proud to serve.

See the outline below about topics covered during the week.

Through Hands-on Exercises You Will Learn How To...

• Install and operate MGC MCUs and Manager, including Voice/VideoPlus
• Install and operate WebCommander and Access Database, SQL server and Accord SQL database
• Modify the Internet Information Services (IIS) and Server remote database login requirements
• Manage the servers and fault files
• Install and integrate the Gatekeeper database; configure gatekeeper conferences
• Install WebCommander and Admin tables
• Define conference and participant templates to run all variations of conferences
• Build Meeting rooms, entry queues and IVRs
• Customize and convert audio and video clips
• Create a centralized database and configure details of the administrator tables

Course Description

The Polycom Technical Maintenance course is a hands-on program covering system installation, configuration, operation, and maintenance of the MGC and the connected Manager Workstation. The curriculum is delivered in a combination of lecture and laboratory exercises.

Note: Course does not include Voice/VideoPlus or Gateway.

Audience

• Technical support engineers; help desk technicians, field service technicians
• System Administrators & Operators Prerequisites
• Knowledge of Networks and Windows
• H.320 standards and H.323 standards

COURSE CONTENT

I. Introduction and Overview Multipoint
•Elements of a Video conference
•Elements of H.320 & H.323 Standards
•Functions and features of the MGC Releases

II. Introduction to Polycom MGC Manager
•Model Descriptions & Specifications
•Network Interfaces and Processors Revs.
•Overview of Workstation

III. Installation and Configuration
•Identify Processing Module Units and properties •Identify Network Interface Modules and properties •Install MGC Manager Software •File Maintenance and File Directory Structure

IV. Intro. To Work Station-MGC Manager
•PC Manager software, loading, requirements •Defining Operators and System configuration file •Starting the Application and connection •Windows Navigation of the MGC Manager

V. Set-up Management Interfaces
•Configure MGC for LAN or Dial/Direct Com •Set-up LAN for MGC Manager •Set-up COM Port for Serial MGC Manager

VI. Configurations of MCS, Network Interfaces, Troubleshooting Lab Exercises over 4 days
– Lab 1 – Setup LAN Management Port
– Lab 2 – Configure ISDN Primary Rate and T1/E1
– Lab 3 – IP / H.323 / SIP Configurations
– Lab 4 – Configure MCU Clocking
– Lab 5 - Configure V35/RS449 MPI Interface
– Lab 6 - Cascade MCU’s and Internal Cascade

VII. Create Network and Sites for Labs
•Create, Edit and Configure Network Resource •Create and Define Site Records Templates •Setup Dial-In vs. Dial-Out for all Labs

VIII.Define and Conduct Conference for Labs
•Create and Manage Conference Templates •Audio/Video/Content/Data – T.120 Conferences •Control / Verify Sites w/ MGC Manager •Scheduling and Conference Reservations •Reoccurrence Reservations •Auto Add, Meet Me Sites; Meeting Rooms, Meet Me Services

IX. Maintenance
•Read CDR log, resource report, monitor status window •Collect Trace files on a Video conference •Faults Log and Major Vs. Minor Alarms •Understanding Alarms and Faults

X. External & Internal Cascading
•What is Cascading?
•Launch Cascading
•Simple and H243 Cascading
•Manage Cascading Content

XI. Backup and Restore Operations

XII. Greet and Guide Operations
•Overview of MGC-100 Subsystem Process
•System Parameters
•MCU Utilities and MCU Date/Time

XIII.IP Configuration
•H.323 Configuration
•MCU IP addressing

XIV.LEDs and Card and Power supply status
•Main Control Unit •Card Indicators •Power Supply Indicators

XV. MCU Troubleshooting
•Reset MCU Vs. Reset Modules
•Disabling and Enabling Units
•IP Terminal Traces
•Fault Log details; Logger Diagnostic files  •Alarms •Troubleshooting Site connectivity •Loop Backs and Diagnosing Errors •SNMP MGC - MIBs

The KO team at the AFN meeting in Ottawa led by Geordi Kakepetum shared success stories and challenged the new managers of First Nations SchoolNet to ensure that the program grows and prospers.

The Keewaytinook Okimakanak team took some time to meet with the new INAC managers of First Nations SchoolNet. KO’s Geordi Kakepetum and Brian Walmark shared the successes, hopes and challenges faced by K-Net, the Regional Management Organization (RMO) for Ontario. Geordi told those around the table about how First Nations SchoolNet, in particular the access to broadband and the applications, have changed the learning opportunities available for students in remote and isolated First Nations Schools.

First Nations SchoolNet is being transferred from Industry Canada to the Department of Indian Affairs as part of an overall restructuring initiative to make INAC responsible for all economic development on-reserve.

During the friendly and informal meeting, Geordi outlined to Juliet Balfour, the Director of Socio-Economic Policy and Regional Operations (Education Branch) and Barbara Caverhill, her Senior Policy Manager, several key challenges that require attention from the Department. He said to maintain the access and applications used by teachers and students in First Nations schools across Canada First Nations, it was essential that funding be restored to levels before recent cutbacks. "We can’t afford to provide the schools with the resources they need for upgrades in software and hardware," he told the INAC officials.

Geordi emphasized that it was critical that decision-makers at the community level must know that First Nations SchoolNet will continue after the end of the fiscal year. He feared that without an official announcement from Canada many First Nations Schools would have to advise the telecom providers that they could no longer afford broadband fees in the new fiscal year. "Many people are not aware that First Nations SchoolNet has been transferred to INAC or even know that the program will continue."

Juliet Balfour, INAC’s new First Nations SchoolNet Manager said it would be difficult to make an announcement until funding receives final approval. She said her department is seeking the authority to run First Nations SchoolNet for two years. During which time, INAC will go to Treasury Board to get the necessary authorities to transform it into a permanent program. She assured Geordi that she would determine what kind of announcement her department could make in the interim.

Geordi emphasized the importance of the Regional Management Orgnizations (RMOs) and how they were responsible for the rapid migration of broadband to almost every First Nation School in Canada that wanted it. "This is a big country. Each region is different. The RMOs know the challenges faced in their regions and they know the players. That’s why we can get things done." He added that there is a lot of sharing that takes place between the RMOs such as the video bootcamp created by the RMO in Atlantic Canada which was available on-line for First Nations participants across Canada.

Joe Poirier of IHAB had just returned from a tour of Ontario’s far north and reported what he had seen with the Keewaytinook Interent High School and G8, the grade supplementary on-line program in literacy, mathematics and science, two applications created by K-Net as part of First Nations SchoolNet. "Because of KiHS, young people in the north can get a high quality education without having to leave their families and go to high schools in the south." He said he could see how engaged KiHS students are in the classroom. Brian Walmark added that KiHS is currently being evaluated by a professor from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). "His preliminary findings sound very favourable," he said. Geordi pledged to provide the INAC officials a copy of the evaluation as soon as it was available.

Geordi invited the two INAC officials to come to Balmertown where they could see for themselves KiHS in action and some of the other applications created as a result of First Nations SchoolNet. Juliet Balfour and Barbara Caverhill said they would check their schedules to determine if they had any dates in January available for a visit.

Juliet said that she needs to have the successes of First Nations SchoolNet, the activity of the RMOs and K-Net in particular documented so that she can use them to lever the kinds of the funds the program needs to continue. The K-Net team recommended that INAC sponsor a face-to-face meeting in the new year of all of the RMOs where each could present its success stories. It would also provide the new INAC managers with the opportunity to meet all of the key players at the RMOs. In the interim, Juliet pledged to either participate or have members of her staff participate in the monthly on-line meetings of the RMOs.

Following the breakfast briefing, Brian Walmark provided Juliet Balfour and Barbara Caverhill with an on-line tour of the K-Net website. He showed them some of the digital video produced by community youth and some of the other applications made possible with funding from First Nations SchoolNet. "This program puts tools in the hands of people," he told them.

Juliet Balfour expressed great interest in what other areas beyond education could be served by broadband in First Nations communities such as health and economic development. The KO team told her about Jesse Fiddler who worked at K-Net for many years before taking his skills back with his family to Sandy Lake First Nation where he has created a thriving IT business serving clients on and off-reserve.

To see photos of the meeting between the KO team and First Nations School as well as other pictures taken at the AFN meeting in Ottawa, Click here ...

The Chiefs of Keewaytinook Okimakanak are meeting in Winnipeg for their annual December chiefs' meeting. As the board of directors of Keewaytinook Okimakanak, the chiefs direct the ongoing development and operation of their tribal council on behalf of their First Nations. Click here to check out the pictures from the meeting.

KO staff are in attendance to provide reports and support the chiefs in their work.

On Wednesday, the chiefs will be meeting with other members of the Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network (NICSN - http://smart.knet.ca/satellite) to discuss the development of this initiative.

All are welcome to joing the next Online Economic Development Workshop with Darcy + Susan's Gas

November 30, 2006  9:30-11:00AM (CST)

Darcy and Susan Kejick are the owners and operators of Darcy and Susan’s Gas in North Spirit Lake First Nation. They have received awards from NADF for Youth Entrepreneur and Partnership (2005). Recently they received a business plan award regarding the expansion of their business to include a grocery store. The Kejicks will share the story of how the business was started, some tips for community entrepreneurs and the vision they have for the future of the business. Come and ask Darcy and Susan about starting or expanding your small business.

Please book your video conference site.

Contact: Terry Moreau Phone: 877.737.5638 X 1266

Email: tmoreau@knet.ca

Visit the website for more information, live webstream, archived sessions, links and resources.

Want to add some creative sound effects to your next drama production in your classroom? Do you want to make music using different materials that you can find around your community?

On Saturday Nov 25, members of the K-Net team hosted a video conference introduction to another online teaching resource called the Sonic Playground - http://sonicplayground.ca. The professional development session is intended to be the first in a series of education program strategies that can be supported in classrooms across the province.

The session was hosted by Lyle Johnson (K-Net, Sioux Lookout) and Terry Moreau (Youth IT worker at KORI in Thunder Bay). A group of education professionals from the Martin McKay School in Sachigo Lake participated in this initial information session. Two of the members of Sonic Playground, Barbara  Bryce, and Leslie Wyber introduced their program.

They presented strategies for identifying methods of using everyday items to create musical instruments that can be used to make sound effects for story telling and musical productions.

The team at Sonic Playground are interested in putting together a full program for delivery to First Nation Schools across the province via video conferencing technology with participation from several remote locations.

This initial one hour information session was webcast and archived making it available for online viewing at http://streaming.knet.ca/events/Sonic_Playground_300k.wmv (Windows Media).

For more information about this valuable classroom resource, visit the Sonic Playground web site at http://sonicplayground.ca