This project is a joint venture of the Educational Services and Information Systems divisions of the Lester B. Pearson School Board.

 

 

Equipment costs, as well as technical management and support are provided by the Information Systems Division, with all components available to our educational community through the LBPSB Portal. Educational Services is providing the funding for the acquisition of the steaming media services outlined.

 

 

VOD (Video On Demand) has been available, in low resolution, through the portal, over the board’s internet connection for the last few years. This valued service is the Québec version of Discovery Education Streaming, and is made possible as a joint venture between LEARN (Leading English Education And Resources Network) and La Société GRICS.

 

 

Phase one of the project was to acquire the digital content of Discovery Streaming for local hosting on the boards internal network. In purchasing the content we can reduce the demand on the board’s limited internet connection, and at the same time provide instant access to the hi-resolution media necessary for use with the newer technologies. 

 

 

Phase two involved the signing of a five year contract for local hosting of Learn360. Because this contract is solely with our board, this new media site will serve as our main educational streaming platform enabling us to add our own local content as well as digital product purchased from such suppliers as CBC, Films for the Humanities and Science, and PBS.

 

 

Phase three will see Educational Services fund Elementary Sector subscription to the new bilingual GRICS streaming service available for the 2010/2011 school year. The Secondary Sector will have access to the English content on the site at no cost. This service is to be streamed through the internal government RISQ network, and as such, will provide high quality reliable video streaming, without making use of the board’s internet connection.

 

 

The final phase will see Educational Services fund the addition of NFB.ca, the National Film Board’s bilingual streaming website. This service, available free for private use, requires an annual subscription to be legally used in educational institutions. Although this service will make use of the board’s internet connection, the reduced demand on this connection created by the local hosting of other services should offset any load issues.