Conectividade para utilização de laptops educacionais

Abstract

This thesis describes some aspects of the RUCA project which is part of the UCA ( Um Computador por Aluno A Computer per Student) Project, and deals with its technical ICT aspects (in contrast to the pedagogical aspects of deploying laptops at schools, covered by UCA). The work also describes aspects of other initiatives, like the CEIBAL project in Uruguay, the Magalhães project in Portugal and independent projects in USA. The study revealed the similar needs in all the deployments, and also showed the lack of research on the specific network infrastructure to be deployed, which is extremely important for allowing those projects reach their full potential. The emphasis of this work is on the study of the challenges and the possible solutions for installing an wireless network infrastructure, using Wi-Fi technology, for two kinds of scenarios: indoor, for the usage in classroom by the students and teacher; and outdoor, allowing Internet access for students inside their own houses, if they live near the school. Due to Brazil s physical size and population, which demand a large number of schools, and the way responsibilities are divided among its different levels of government, this work suggest the adoption of a decentralized administration model when hiring the firms to design and install the wireless network, by State and Municipal governments. The present work offers studies that can be used by the Federal Government to set guidelines and rules that should be followed by the public bidding process, and also the BestPlace tool, which was developed to make the task of installing the access points in the Brazilian public schools easier and cheaper.