A University/Community Partnership to Build a K-8 School Network Infrastructure

Abstract

This chapter chronologically follows a multi-phased service-learning project. The project involved graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in Information Technology (IT) courses. A network infrastructure, including the physical wiring, was planned, designed, and built for a K-8 elementary school primarily to provide Internet access. A later group also assessed the future of the network. The self-selected students were members of their chosen team for the relevant semester and may be viewed as part of the larger team for the multi-phased project. The pros, cons, and caveats of this particular service-learning project are assessed and suggestions for similar projects are included.