Portable and Mobile Classroom (PortMoC), Year Two: Deployment, Education and Operation.
James Gerraughty, CERMUSA/Saint Francis University
The Portable and Mobile Classroom (PortMoC) began as an idea to bring Internet connectivity to places where there was no connectivity for education and healthcare and keep the connection cost-sustainable. Saint Francis University’s Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Under-Served Areas (CERMUSA) has developed a tow-behind-style trailer combining a small form factor with a satellite dish, self-contained power and IP distribution, and 802.11b standard laptop computers. They will use this for training and education in Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) training for police, firefighters and other first responders. The research will determine: 1) The efficacy of WMD training to first responders, 2) The efficacy of this method of deployment, and 3) “best practices” to technology deployment. CERMUSA will use this research to determine educational, medical and technological best practices for rural and medically undeserved areas.
