Sustainable ICT and Sustainable e-learning

1
Sustainable ICT and Sustainable e-learning

• Symposium on the Benefits of eLearning
  TechnologiesUniversity of Manchester, in
  conjunction with the Higher Education Academy
  Subject Centres in Engineering, Physical
  Sciences, and Mathematics, Statistics and
  Operational Research
• Wednesday 13 April 2011
• Neil Gordon

2
Introduction

• We will start by reviewing
• What is Sustainable Development
• What is Sustainable ICT
• How do we create Sustainable eLearning

3
What is Sustainable Development

• What is isnt it isnt just about the
  environment (but that is a large part of it)
• Sustainable Development covers a wide range of
  topics

• The obvious ones the environment and the green
  issues, as well as some which are
• It also embodies the idea that society should be
  long lasting

4
Some principles for Sustainable Development (SD)

• Meeting the needs of today without compromising
  the ability of future generations to meet their
  own needs (United Nations)
• The U.K. government identifies these priority
  areas
• Living within Environmental Limits
• Ensuring a Strong, Healthy and Just Society
• Achieving a sustainable Economy
• Using Sound Science Responsibly
• Promoting Good Governance

5
Computing and Sustainable Development
SustainablIT

• Computing has links and applications in many of
  these areas
• Particularly utilising Computer science to assist
  with the other areas
• Environmental limits Consumption of resources
  and energy use
• Providing for a just society through supporting
  communities and governance
• Supporting the economy

6
Green IT

• So how does this really affect computing....

7
Making computers

• They use a lot of precious and rare metals in
  their construction
• Creating silicon chips and other parts use a lot
  of energy

8
Using Computers

• The energy required to use a computer is quite
  surprising
• Some devices are low power your mobile phone,
  laptops, handheld games consoles

9
Computer Power

• But desktop machines, andall the servers and
  machines that power networks and the Internet use
  a lot more
• The data centres that hold all our data require
  special environments

10
Which use the most electricity

• The UK Aircraft industry or ICT?
• Around 2 of UK pollution comes from ICT, and
  approxanother 2 from the airline industry

11
Cost of storage

• Increased Program and data sizes mean more
  physical storage is required, and more
  information transmission
• All increases running costs
• Data Centres now being positioned to minimise
  running costs (e.g. in cold areas, in caves etc.)
• Adding a do not print this message creates a
  carbon footprint!

• Data Centres
• Combine Software, hardware and facilities
  (mechanical and electrical)
• Usually require special environment temperature
  and humidity controls
• Very expensive (estimated that 50 of Googles
  cost are energy)

12
Disposing of computers

• Our waste their problem

Images courtesy of GreenPeace
13
Hardware Life Cycle

• Businesses frequently use a 3-year life cycle for
  computers
• Typical estimates for computers put 80 of cost
  at manufacture. But that is decreasing as energy
  costs more.
• Consider running costs as part of purchase
  decision

14
More efficient hardware

• Lower electricity consumption
• Fewer components
• Potential for repair and upgrade
• Or just dont require that hardware

15
Virtualisation of computers

• Many computers are now much more powerful than
  the use they are being made of
• We can utilise this by running lots of virtual
  computers on a single machine
• Companies such as SUN have used this to replace
  lots of servers saving them money, and the
  world pollution
• Perhaps IBM were right we may only need a few
  computers in the future to meet all our needs...
  Welcome to the cloud

16
Improve the efficiency of IT systems

• use of virtualisation of servers
• sharing of resources
• moving from desktop solutions to cloud computing

17
Simple actions can save a lot

• Estimations by the Carbon Trust show that failure
  to switch computers off over Christmas vacation
• Cost UK Business around 6.2million per day
• Caused the production and release of 550,000
  tonnes of CO2

18
Solve other problems

• the so called 298 question
• rather than focus on reducing the 2 (typical)
  carbon footprint of IT
• use that infrastructure to have greater impact in
  reducing the other 98 carbon produced

19
Computers as a solution

• e-learning offers ways to produce more viable
  learning resources
• to develop resources that can reduce the need for
  travel
• to support blended learning to reduce the
  negative environmental impact of education
• improve its financial position
• give a greater contribution to society (3 key
  aspects of sustainability).
• However, the dependency of e-learning on IT
  itself creates a environmental impact.

20
Sustainable eLearning Resources

• Longevity of the resource i.e. how is it
  described (e.g. XML, SCORM etc)
• what technologies does it need to use it (e.g.
  standard web, specific proprietary viewers etc)
• Accessibility of the resource  i.e. does it
  support the needs of a variety of learners (e.g.
  Xerte content)

21
Sustainable eLearning Resources

• Availability how is it made available, and who
  can access it. E.g. published via Jorum,
  licensed via Creative commons
• Applicability how useful is it in practice.
  There are many Open Educational Resources, but
  finding good ones can be a different matter

22
Fair and just societies

• Digital divide
• Fair treatment
• Data protection and access to information
• E-governance
• Globalisation the Internet one world view
• The future...

23
The future

• Developing conventions/formats for sharing
  resources can enhance sustainable eLearning
• Developing common tools sets, along with a
  community of practice could be one way to deal
  with some of the above issues
• Through these we can produce a truly sustainable
  education