Northwestern University Information Technology is working to make ethernet cables obsolete – among other things.

A pilot test in April will check Norris University Center’s capability for wireless networking, or accessing the Internet without plugging into a port. A professor and NUIT are applying for a grant to build a more modern classroom estimated to cost $200,000. And webcasts could become more common.

These Spring Quarter projects form the core of NU’s participation in “Internet 2,” a nationwide effort to improve university computer applications. University President Henry Bienen serves on the board of advisers of the project, which involves 200 universities.

NUIT’s first move toward pulling ahead in the university technology race involves wireless networking at Norris, making ethernet cables unnecessary there.

Bob Taylor, director of Academic Technologies, said this project requires installing unnoticeable antenna transmitters at Norris. If the April test is successful, wireless networking could be available later this quarter.

The project began as a joint effort between NUIT and Norris, but NUIT’s goal now is to make wireless networking a convenience at other places where students use laptops.

“The Norris bookstore will probably carry the appropriate cards that must be plugged into personal laptops in order to link to the wireless network,” said Tom Board, director of Technology Support Services. He said the wireless test, which mainly will affect Willie’s Food Court and the lounge, will provide NUIT with a better understanding of NU’s technological capabilities and limitations.

The provost’s Classroom Committee also is evaluating conditions and identifying ways to improve facilities. The committee includes representatives from each school, the Searle Center for Teaching Excellence, the Office of the Registrar and Academic Technologies.

Kenneth Bain, director of the Searle Center for Teaching Excellence, is advancing a proposal with Taylor for funding the development of what they call a “flexible classroom,” which has outpaced the “smart classrooms” that enable teachers to project Web sites onto a screen.

Taylor estimated that building one 28-laptop classroom would cost $200,000. But no commitment to its funding has been made yet.

Paul Loach, a biochemistry and biology professor, is another driving force in the effort to create the flexible classroom, which would be located in NU’s Technological Institute.

“The learning advantage of wireless laptops in a biology course is great,” Loach said. “This classroom structure will make learning science deeper and much more exciting.

“Instead of waving your hand to describe a crystal structure, you can present its dimensions vividly in the wireless laptop,” he said, adding that “there is also more money available than ever before.”

According to Taylor, half of the faculty supports a move away from NU’s rigid classroom structures of fixed chairs and a lectern, and proposes more activity-oriented classrooms that promote group projects.

But the other half supports the traditional structure of most NU classrooms, Taylor said. He and his colleagues are trying to persuade these faculty members to support the more modern classroom.

Although NU students have one of the best video-capable networks in the country, a third goal of NUIT is to increase Web broadcasts of campus activities. Taylor said NU already has “good quality video Webcast capabilities.”

“We have received positive reactions in previous campus Webcasts, such as the McCain-Feingold town hall meeting, Henry Bienen’s State of the University speech and presidential adviser David Gergen’s speech,” he said.

“For the McCain-Feingold town hall meeting, they had to bring a cable to the Fisk auditorium from another Fisk classroom that had the port. We don’t want to do that every time we want to Webcast,” Taylor said.

The project to increase digital video over NUNet will expand next year. It involves identifying various rooms and auditoriums that have the high-capacity network ports required to Webcast, and preparing those that don’t.

“President Bienen recently used videoconferencing to communicate from NU with other university presidents from Japan, Australia and Hong Kong taking part in a panel discussion in Bangkok,” Taylor said.

Technologically, NU lags behind other universities in broadcasting sports events. In September the University of Nebraska-San Jose State football game became the first Division I college football game streamed on the Web.

“Broadcasting NU sports events would require even more equipment and staff,” Taylor said.

Academic Technologies works as the video crew now, but it is looking to put together a team of talented people and quality equipment to provide future webcasts.

“I look forward to the day when we can broadcast all campus events on NUNet,” Taylor said.