Internet Services for Schools
About
Schools are required to obtain their Internet services from a VicSmart connected service provider. The Department has worked with VicSmart Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to establish a range of affordable Internet services for schools.
VicSmart ISPs have been advised of the recommended minimum requirements that they should meet for services provided to schools. It is expected that some providers will offer services that exceed these recommended minimum requirements. Schools are reminded of their obligations under the Department's Working with the Web Guidelines.
When schools are evaluating which service offering best suits their requirements they should ensure that they include the annual download costs, as these can be a considerable proportion of the cost of the Internet service. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page has been developed to assist in decision making.
It is also recommended that schools enlist strategies to manage internet traffic within schools, especially in relation to schools obtaining increased bandwidth through the VicSmart network. Information about this can be obtained here Management of Internet Resources
VicSmart Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
The following ISPs have provided the Department with details of their service that they believe meets the Department's recommended minimum requirements. This information should be available on their web site.
| Provider | Contact | Contact Number | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrightSparks | BrightSparks Information Hub | 1300 650 630 | Brightsparks Website |
| Connexus | Connexus Schools Network | 1300 133 888 | Connexus Website |
| editure | editure Melbourne Office | 1300 657 009 03 8379 2000 |
editure Website |
| Netspace | Netspace VicOne Team | 1300 360 025 | Netspace Website |
The Department is not formally approving any ISP. The list of providers above have advised the Department, through the information that they have provided, that they meet the recommended minimum requirements. This information has been reviewed to confirm that it is consistent with the minimum requirements. Some observations about each offer are on the Choosing Providers page (see Choosing Providers below).
Service providers
Schools are required to obtain their Internet services from a VicSmart connected service provider. As there is no preferred supplier arrangement the Department is not recommending any specific ISP offering to schools.
Consideration should be given to the level of functionality essential to current use of the Internet in the school and alternatives that are offered by the VicSmart providers.
It is recommended that schools consider all aspects of their Internet usage when considering the available options. School considerations should include, but not be limited to:
- subscription and establishment costs
- download costs (schools should use reports on their current annual usage for different sources of content as a guide)
- costs for other services (e.g. mail accounts and extra disk space)
- the functionality of the Administrative tools and the available reports
- the functions offered in the service and the importance of these to the school's curriculum programs (e.g. myinternet desktop, cost control).
- SafetyNet Guidelines
It is important to realise that cost is only one of the factors that should affect the final decision.
Recommended Minimum Requirements
The Department has advised VicSmart ISPs of the Minimum Requirements that they should meet for services provided to schools. These minimum requirements were provided so that the services provided would allow schools to meet the SafetyNet Guidelines. It is expected that some providers will offer services that exceed these minimum requirements.
Following is the Minimum Requirements that were provided to VicSmart ISPs.
Introduction
The Internet Service required is a direct Internet feed with some additions to provide a safe and controlled environment for students. This document outlines the minimum requirements for a DEECD Internet Service for schools and clarifications where necessary.
Individual User Authentication
It is essential that schools can identify each web site that has been visited by any user.
- Requirements
Individual User Authentication is required for internet access.
A log of each site visited by each user is to be maintained.
A single logon is required for each user.
- Clarifications
The primary focus of the service is to provide internet access to students in schools.
Access Filtering
Filtering services are required to filter or restrict access by all users to inappropriate sites to enable a safe internet environment to be provided for students.
- Requirements
Access Filtering that would prevent access to inappropriate sites using something similar to the N2H2 filter engine is required.
The ability to tailor the filter with a Global (service wide) block and allow list. - Clarifications
The Global block and allow lists should support URLs and IP addresses.
Filter lists should be updated at least fortnightly, and preferably weekly.
Web Hosting for School Site
Schools using the Service need to be able to create and maintain their own World Wide Web sites and home pages.
- Requirements
Host for public access, where requested, School Web pages on the provider's servers for each school using the service. - Clarifications
DEECD is not seeking the development of tools to assist schools in creating their School Web presence. If the tools come as part of the service, then they should not be removed.
If the school has no Web site then the school's default URL should resolve to a common page for all schools that said there was no Web presence (eg a School Web Site is currently under Development page or auto-forwarded to the Department's Schools Online Site at www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/schoolsonline ). An individual and separate default site for each school is not required
Teacher and Student home page hosting is not required as part of this Service if it needs to be developed.
A web space allocation of 10MB, upgradeable for a reasonable cost, is envisaged.
Simple email service
Schools need to be able to, at their discretion, provide students with an email account.
- Requirements
A simple web based email service is required.
1 email account per class/form is to be provided.
Appropriate, easy to use, tools for each user to access, use and maintain their email account, including but not limited to: reading; replying; forwarding; deleting; empting deleted mail, where this is necessary; local archiving and updating any profile information relating to the account. - Clarifications
Not all internet access account holders will require an individual email account, but they are to be provided with one if requested. Schools will have control over who is allocated an email account and will provide email accounts, in addition to the standard allocation, on a user pays basis.
Support for offline mail storage, POP3 or IMAP, is not required in this service but may be provided as a value add to the service.
A mailbox size of 2MB is envisaged
Account administration
(for mail and internet access) Schools need to be able to maintain Internet Access and email accounts
- Requirements
The ability to Add, Delete and Edit account details for email and internet access accounts, if different.
The ability to assign each account to at least one group. - Clarifications
A web based account management interface is preferred.
Account management will be done by an administrator at each school.
Restricted Access
Schools need to be able to restrict the access of their users to a reviewed list of Educational resources, know as the Education Resource list, to enhance the provision of a safe and controlled environment for students.
- Requirements
The ability to restrict access to a defined Education Resource List only. - Clarifications
An updated Education Resource List will be provided regularly for this purpose.
Billing and Reporting
Bills and reports should be structured to clearly identify all charges incurred by a school. The billing relationship will be a relationship between the provider and the customer site
- Requirements
Invoicing must be directly to schools.
Invoices should be simple to understand with clearly stated line items, if they have 50 mailbox accounts then clearly state this.
DEECD would like management reports of usage and invoices sent to schools for the reporting period. - Clarifications
If electronic billing and online payments are currently available then it this could be included.
There is no requirement to build a new billing and payments system. There is no real preference for monthly vs quarterly billing, whatever is standard. - Availability
The service should be available whenever the school and its users require it. - Requirements
The Service is to be available 24x7 - Support
The service is to be supported during School Operating Hours. - Requirements
During School Operating Hours the service is to be fully supported to ensure that it is available for 99% of School Operating Hours. School Operation hours are likely to be defined as 8:00 am to 7:00pm - Clarifications
Funding has been provided to give the community access to the IT services after hours. This does not mean Vic DEECD require 24/7 customer care service but it does mean that the School operation hours is longer than for student attendance hours.
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Domain and DNS Services
Requirements
- Hosting domain names for each customer.
- Arranging for the set up the domain name for each new customer.
- Updating of host records for each customer.
- A Domain Name Server service is required.
General Clarifications
- DEECD is aiming to keep school hardware to less then 5 years old and so support is only required for recent versions of browsers, say N-2.
- Cost Control services are not required in the initial service if they need to be developed. Costing for the implementation of a Cost Control component would need to be considered before progressing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put in a local Mail server?
Schools are able to implement a local mail server (eg Microsoft exchange) to provide student email accounts. The way this is implemented with each provider is different. Your provider will be able to advise how this can be achieved and how student email can be accessed from the public Internet.
Why would I want to host a local Mail server?
Changing ISPs from time to time, or even regularly, is something that is not likely to go away in a competitive ISP market. For schools that consider individual student email accounts to be important a local mail server for student email accounts would reduce headaches associated with changing of ISPs. If the ISP charges for each mailbox, or for extra disk space to store student mail this could reduce costs. This would also keep all intra-school email traffic off the VicOne connection, thereby reducing bandwidth usage.
Are teacher and school EduMail accounts accessed free of ISP download charges?
Provided that the correct proxy exclusions settings are configured, web access to EduMail is directly through the VicSmart network and not through the ISP. As the EduMail traffic does not pass through the ISP there will be no charge for it.
Is SOFWeb access provided free of ISP download charges?
Provided that the correct proxy exclusions settings are configured, SOFWeb, and all other sites in the DEECD exclusions list, is accessed directly through the VicOne network and not through the ISP. As the traffic does not pass through the ISP there will be no charge for it.
Can I use the SINA Administration Tools with all Providers?
The SINA administration tools are only available with the Editure service. Each provider will have their own administration tools. The level of functionality with each provider's administration tools will be different.
Is the Editure (formerly known as myinternet) page available with all Providers?
The Editure desktop page is only available with the Editure service. Other providers may or may not provide similar functionality.
Can I get internet services from any Internet Service Provider (ISP)?
Schools are required to use an ISP that is connected to the VicOne network.
The 'VicOne ISPs' pages lists ISPs connected to VicOne who have responded to the Department's minimum requirements.
What are the Department's minimum requirements for Internet services provided to schools?
The Department has developed recommended minimum requirements that it is asking VicOne ISPs to satisfy for the provision of Internet Services to schools. These requirements were developed so that the Internet services provided would be appropriate for students in schools.
The recommended minimum requirements page lists the requirements.
How can I get information on download usage?
Schools can use a number of sources for obtaining information on download usage including:
Usage reports from the service provider
Monthly invoices, which should include download information for each source of content
What funding support is available to assist with ISP costs?
DEECD has a range of programs that assist schools with ICT including annual grants totaling $7 Million . DEECD funds a standard VicSmart connection for all schools that helps with internet costs. ISP costs have always been a school responsibility and this will continue.
What is EduList?
This is the abbreviation for The Education Resource List. EduList represents all sites catalogued in the Victorian Education Channel. Providers have been asked, in the minimum requirements, to give schools the ability to restrict student access to only those sites in this list. Some providers are providing access to these sites as part of the subscription fee, and are not charging separately for downloads from these sites.