EdTech Insight – Why Internet Performance Monitoring is the new frontier in a distributed world

by | Mar 25, 2024 | CIO, News & Insights

Executive Summary and Main Points

The evolution of application delivery into complex networks utilizing services like DNS, BGP, and modern internet technologies such as WAN, SD-WAN, SASE, EDGE, and 5G has transformed user experience into a globally affected phenomenon. Traditional Application Performance Monitoring (APM) tools have become insufficient, giving rise to Internet Performance Monitoring (IPM). IPM provides comprehensive insights across all layers of internet interaction affecting business performance. This new generation of solutions differs from APM by focusing on end-user experience across various environments, which is essential for ensuring application availability and performance in today’s dispersed digital landscape.

Potential Impact in the Education Sector

IPM technologies can revolutionize Further Education, Higher Education, and the Micro-credential space through strategic partnerships and digitalization efforts. By adopting IPM, educational institutions can ensure reliable delivery of e-learning resources on a global scale, improving accessibility, user experience, and ultimately, educational outcomes. This could facilitate international collaborative programs and distance learning opportunities, creating more resilient and performance-oriented educational services. The data gathered could also inform strategy and decision-making, paving the way for more efficient and targeted educational offerings.

Potential Applicability in the Education Sector

AI-powered IPM tools could serve as a backbone for seamless delivery of digital educational content, providing insights into student interactions with online platforms. Such tools could optimize the delivery of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and e-learning materials to diverse global audiences. They might also be used to enhance the digital campus experience, monitor the performance of administrative cloud services, and support intricate online examination systems, making far-reaching digital transformation in global education systems more feasible and effective.

Criticism and Potential Shortfalls

Adoption of IPM could raise concerns over data privacy and the ethical use of performance metrics. Moreover, while IPM offers significant advantages, real-world applications could vary due to differing regional infrastructures, with areas having limited internet capacities potentially not benefiting equally. Comparative international studies are essential to tailor these solutions to varying infrastructure and education systems, ensuring that they do not exacerbate existing digital divides but instead foster inclusive, culturally aware educational environments.

Actionable Recommendations

International education leaders should consider implementing IPM solutions to enhance digital learning experiences. First steps could include pilot programs that utilize IPM to identify and resolve internet performance issues affecting online learning delivery. Educational institutions should also establish strategic partnerships with IPM providers to develop tailored solutions that cater to the unique needs of their students and staff. Ongoing professional development should be offered to faculty and IT staff to manage and interpret IPM data effectively, using these insights to drive continuous improvement in the educational experience.

Source article: https://www.cio.com/article/2074524/why-internet-performance-monitoring-is-the-new-frontier-in-a-distributed-world.html