CSU Study abroad course: Wireless in Germany (Maymester 2008)

1) What is the nature and purpose of the program?

The purpose of the “Wireless in Germany” program is to provide University System of Georgia students the opportunity to experience first-hand the myriad applications of wireless technology by active immersion in the culture and society in Germany. CSU will partner with other USG institution so students at these universities can take this class. Europe is at the forefront of wireless and mobile computing. Düsseldorf has recently implemented a WiMax initiative and along with Cologne have a number of wireless developers and users.  The headquarter of Vodafone Netherlands is in Maastricht and the headquarters of Deutsche Telecom (T-Mobile) is in Bonn, Germany. During this experience, students will visit various sites to observe how wireless technology is being employed in diverse applications such as medical, industrial, aviation and hospitality businesses. For instance, a visit to a hospital is intended to spark debate over privacy of records and the well-known security issues in wireless networks. A visit to an airport that has implemented wireless accessibility is expected to provide students the opportunity to survey wireless technologies that impact everyday lives and applications.

2) What will we be doing in Germany?

This experience will be based in Düsseldorf, Germany with day trips to Cologne, Bonn, and Maastricht, Netherlands over 10 days, May 17-27, 2008.

Day	Activity	Location
May 12 – May 15, 2008	§ Instruction and coverage of fundamental concepts § Field trips § Pre-trip orientation § Final trip preparation	Columbus State University
Saturday, May 17, 2008	§ Flight to Düsseldorf, Germany	Specific travel information TBD
Sunday, May 18, 2008	§ Orientation lecture § Arrival at Düsseldorf Airport § Transfer by private bus from the airport to the hotel in Düsseldorf § 9 nights in twin bedded rooms with private bathrooms incl. breakfast at the 3-star Hotel Wehrhahn in Düsseldorf (wireless technology is available) § Public transportation pass for the entire stay in Düsseldorf § Guided bus and walking tour of Düsseldorf to learn more about the city and to observe hotspots in the afternoon § Welcome dinner at a restaurant in Düsseldorf, where wireless technology is used (e.g. waiters orders are transmitted wirelessly to the kitchen; offers wireless hot spots to their guests)	Düsseldorf
Monday, May 19, 2008	§ Breakfast at the hotel § Transfers by public transportation during the day § Visit to Nokia GmbH, a cell phone manufacturer, presentation on the company and the possibilities and applications of wireless technology products made by Nokia in the morning; § (presentation by technology personnel and Q&A session with company personnel – developers preferred) OR Visit to Siemens AG, a manufacturer of cell phones, computers etc. and presentation on Siemens’ wireless technology solutions § (Q&A session with company personnel – developers preferred) § Visit to the Airport in Düsseldorf, which has implemented WLAN in almost all areas of the airport and meeting with a technology professional of the airport and afterwards time for journaling § Afterwards, Q&A session between students and users at the airport – arranged by CSU	Düsseldorf
Tuesday, May 20, 2008	§ Breakfast at the hotel § Transfer by private bus during the day § Visit to the headquarter of Vodafone Netherlands in Maastricht, meet with professionals to learn about Vodafone’s projects that are related to wireless technology § Visit to the Catharina hospital in Eindhoven, Netherlands where you will get to know the “Baby Mobile” project, that was supported and implemented among others by the Vodafone Netherlands Foundation. § The rest of the afternoon is free in Eindhoven to investigate the city and have dinner at own leisure… § Late-evening return to Düsseldorf	Maastricht - Eindhoven
Wednesday, May 21, 2008	§ Breakfast at the hotel § Transfer by private bus during the day § Visit to the headquarter of Deutsche Telekom AG in Bonn, meet with professionals to discuss the development and change in the  telecommunications industry in Germany and the role of T-Mobile (professionals from the T-Mobile department preferred) § The afternoon is free to explore Bonn, the former capital of Germany, at own leisure… § Meeting session with CSU professor in the late afternoon at the hotel (approx. 1.5 hours)	Düsseldorf - Bonn
Thursday, May 22, 2008	§ Feast of Corpus Christi – Holiday in Germany § Breakfast at the hotel § Transfer by public transportation during the day § Meeting session with CSU professor in the late-morning (after breakfast times) at the hotel (approx. 1.5 hours) and afterwards time for journaling	Düsseldorf
Friday, May 23, 2008	§ Breakfast at the hotel § Transfer by private bus during the day § Visit to the hospital Sana-Klinikum Remscheid and presentation on the eHealth system and wireless technologies used in the day-to-day business of the hospital in the morning § Afterwards, lunch at the hospital’s cafeteria at own expense § Visit to NetCologne, a company that has implemented WLAN Hotspots in Cologne in cooperation with the city of Cologne in the afternoon § The rest of the day is free time in Cologne for dinner at own expense § Late-evening return to Düsseldorf	Remscheid - Cologne
Saturday, May 24, 2008	§ Breakfast at the hotel § Transfer by public transportation during the day § Meeting session with CSU professor in the late-morning (after breakfast times) at the hotel (approx. 1.5 hours) and afterwards time for journaling	Düsseldorf
Sunday, May 25, 2008	§ Breakfast at the hotel § Free day…	Düsseldorf
Monday, May 26, 2008	§ Breakfast at the hotel § Transfer by public transportation during the day § Visit some hotspots in Düsseldorf and learn more about the WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) project of the city of Düsseldorf and its possibilities for visitors and habitants. Meeting with involved personnel to understand the impact on local business, natives and visitors § Meeting session with CSU professor in the afternoon at the hotel (approx. 1.5 hours) and afterwards time for journaling § Farewell Dinner at a restaurant in Düsseldorf	Düsseldorf
Tuesday, May 27, 2008	§ Breakfast at the hotel § Transfer by private bus to the airport in Düsseldorf § Departure from Düsseldorf Airport to the USA	Specific travel information TBD
May 28 – May 30, 2008	§ Post-trip wrap-up § Instructor/student debriefing § Instruction and coverage of advanced concepts § Student presentations on experience	Columbus State University
June 2	· Final Examinations for May Session

3) Describe the academic component including type and number of credit hours to be awarded, number of contact hours, methods of evaluation, course title(s) and number(s), and examples of course-related activities / excursions outside the classroom

The academic component will include 20 hours of direct classroom instruction conducted at Columbus State University before and after the study abroad trip. The overseas experience is the main component of the course evaluation and includes at least 14 hours of additional classroom instruction and at least 32 hours of field trips. After returning from the trip, students will be required to present their experiences. Student journals will also be part of the evaluation.

The field trip component of the course will include several site visits in the U.S. and at least six trips to companies and business entities that have implemented wireless technologies. Students will actively observe and learn applications of wireless technologies in different contexts. They will be expected to maintain daily logs of their experiences and reflections of what they learned. Daily debriefings will be conducted so that students can distill their experiences immediately. In addition, optional excursions are planned that will assist in student understanding of German culture.

4) What is the number of students and faculty members

The projected number of faculty members is 1 and the project number of students in 15.

5) What is the cost?

The following budget is based on current researched (and estimated) rates for all items. Every effort is being made to reduce costs further. Meals are not mandatory and students are free to find cheaper options. Daily breakfast in included in the package price. Lunch and dinner are not included except the welcome and departure dinners.

Item/service	Cost/ person	# persons	Total ($)
Airfare from ATL – Dusseldorf, Germany (DUS)	$1000	15	$ 15,000
SIU field trips and arranged excursions	$1895	15	$ 28,425
Total cost =   $43,425.00 US
Total cost / #students = Cost per student = $2,895 US

6) What are the room and board arrangements?

Nine nights of lodging for all participants will be at a hotel in Düsseldorf arranged through SIU. Rooms will be double occupancy with shared bath. Daily breakfast at the hotel is included in the package price. Lunch and dinner meals are at the student’s discretion and are not provided, with the exception of the welcome and departure dinners.

7) What are the travel arrangements in Germany

On Saturday, May 17, 2008, we will fly from Atlanta, USA to Düsseldorf, Germany. Upon arrival in Düsseldorf, SIU personnel will arrange for transportation from the airport to the hotel. A pass for public transportation in Düsseldorf will be given to each student as part of the package. On Tuesday, May 20, 2008, we will travel from Düsseldorf to Maastricht – Eindhoven, Netherlands by coach. On Wednesday, May 21, 2008, we will travel from Düsseldorf to Bonn by coach. On Friday, May 23, 2008, we will travel by bus to Remscheid – Cologne for a day long trip to visit a hospital that uses wireless technologies in health and patient care. On Tuesday, May 27, 2008, we will fly back to the USA. Specific information about flights will be available later.

8) What about the security arrangements

Security will be evaluated during the site evaluation visit. In the pre-trip orientation, students will be provided with in-depth security briefings. Upon arrival in Dusseldorf, students will be given an orientation lecture that will include police and emergency medical contacts as well as procedures for calling home to the USA.

9) Who can take this class?

Computer Science students, Business students, Health Science students as well as any students interested in wireless technology and how it is used in the U.S. and Germany.

Questions about this proposal should be addressed to Wayne Summers at (706) 568-2410 or via email to summers_wayne@ColumbusState.edu