The Wireless Mixed Blessing

The Mixed Blessing of The Mixed Blessing of

Wireless in the ClassroomWireless in the Classroom

Hoke Wilcox, ETTC Columbus State UniversityHoke Wilcox, ETTC Columbus State University

[email protected][email protected]

Top 10 Wireless Cities in the USTop 10 Wireless Cities in the US

6.6. Atlanta, Ga.Atlanta, Ga.

7.7. Denver, Colo.Denver, Colo.

8.8. RaleighRaleigh--DurhamDurham--

Chapel Hill, N.C.Chapel Hill, N.C.

9.9. MinneapolisMinneapolis--St. St.

Paul, Minn.Paul, Minn.

10.10. Orange County, Orange County,

Calif.Calif.

1.1. Seattle, Wash.Seattle, Wash.

2.2. San Francisco, Calif.San Francisco, Calif.

3.3. AustinAustin--San Marcos, San Marcos,

Tex. Tex.

4.4. Portland, Oregon Portland, Oregon

5.5. Toledo, OhioToledo, Ohio

Intel's 3rd Annual "Most Unwired Cities" survey ranks the

top 100 U.S. cities and regions for the greatest wireless

Internet accessibility.

Wireless TechnologyWireless Technology

�� Provides access to your schoolProvides access to your school’’s network and s network and

the Internet without Ethernet cablesthe Internet without Ethernet cables

�� Wireless signal sent from a wireless access point Wireless signal sent from a wireless access point

(some are portable, some stationary) (some are portable, some stationary)

�� Laptops in the mobile lab have a wireless card Laptops in the mobile lab have a wireless card

built in to receive the signal (your schoolbuilt in to receive the signal (your school’’s s

desktop computers do not)desktop computers do not)

Top 5 Misconceptions about Top 5 Misconceptions about

WirelessWireless

�� 5. It5. It’’s totally wirelesss totally wireless

�� 4. We will never need wired connections again4. We will never need wired connections again

�� 3. It3. It’’s too slow to be effective in the classrooms too slow to be effective in the classroom

�� 2. It2. It’’s will connect my computer for miless will connect my computer for miles

�� 1. I can get the full 11 Mbps or 54 Mbps of 1. I can get the full 11 Mbps or 54 Mbps of

connectionconnection

The Alphabet Soup of WirelessThe Alphabet Soup of Wireless!!

****

****

****

****

RangeRange

YesYes……100 100 --200+ 200+

MbpsMbps802.11n*802.11n*

With aWith a54 Mbps54 Mbps802.11g802.11g

With gWith g11 Mbps11 Mbps802.11b802.11b

NoNo54 Mbps54 Mbps802.11a802.11a

CompatibiliCompatibili

tytySpeedSpeedStandardStandard

*Standard not ratified, expected sometime late in 2006 or early 2007

** Depends on structure and other environmental conditions

Wireless NetworksWireless Networks

Wireless NetworksWireless Networks

AdvantagesAdvantages�� New TechnologyNew Technology

�� Classroom management issuesClassroom management issues

�� MobilityMobility

�� ConvenienceConvenience

�� File sharingFile sharing

�� Access to Internet resourcesAccess to Internet resources

�� Solving real problems with real purpose Solving real problems with real purpose ““justjust--inin--

timetime””

AdvantagesAdvantages

�� Supports interactive student activitiesSupports interactive student activities

�� Addresses multiple learning stylesAddresses multiple learning styles

�� Allows students to stay in their Allows students to stay in their ““natural natural

learning environmentlearning environment”” while using while using

computer resourcescomputer resources

�� Time saver with limited labsTime saver with limited labs

�� Input DevicesInput Devices


�� Class could be divided between many locationsClass could be divided between many locations

�� Classroom not limited to the four walls of the Classroom not limited to the four walls of the school school

�� You donYou don’’t have to share and the conditions of t have to share and the conditions of the computers are knownthe computers are known

�� More opportunity for interactionMore opportunity for interaction

�� Teachers would be able to focus on the Teachers would be able to focus on the standards and meet the individual needs of the standards and meet the individual needs of the students students


�� provide network access in large open areas such provide network access in large open areas such

as libraries, halls or theatres as libraries, halls or theatres

�� support sports training or athletics competitionssupport sports training or athletics competitions

�� provide network access in heritage buildingsprovide network access in heritage buildings

�� allow rapid deployment of extra networking for allow rapid deployment of extra networking for

special events (e.g. open days, parent evenings, special events (e.g. open days, parent evenings,

drama performances)drama performances)

What Does the Research Say?What Does the Research Say?

Impacts of the One-to-One Computing

Initiative on Students, Teachers, and

Families from Interviews.

� Greater access to resources and information for more students and families.

� Increased student motivation, engagement, interest, and self-directed learning.

Impacts of the One-to-One…

� More flexibility for teachers during instruction.

� Increased professional productivity and greater collaboration among teachers.

� Improved home-school communication.

� An increased need for planning time to make good use of the laptops.

� Added challenges for teachers to manage classrooms and discipline.

Impacts of the One-to-One…

� Easier access by teachers and students to up-to-date instructional content.

� More student interaction with teachers.

� Better-organized students.

A Study of One-to-One Computer Use in Mathematics and Science Instruction

at the Secondary Level in Henrico County Public Schools

http://www.ubiqcomputing.org/FinalReport.pdf

Disadvantages Disadvantages

�� Throughput IssuesThroughput Issues

�� New TechnologyNew Technology

�� Cold Spots vs. Hot SpotsCold Spots vs. Hot Spots

�� Tech Support Issues (loading and Tech Support Issues (loading and

unloading carts, relatively fragile) unloading carts, relatively fragile)

�� Input Devices (wires)Input Devices (wires)

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

�� Classroom management issuesClassroom management issues

�� Need Ethernet drop and electrical outlet Need Ethernet drop and electrical outlet unless APunless AP’’s are mounteds are mounted

�� Battery lifeBattery life

�� High set up/clean up timeHigh set up/clean up time

Barriers from Henrico County Public SchoolsBarriers from Henrico County Public Schools

Teachers, students, and administrators also identified several barriers or problems that complicated the implementation of 1 to 1

� Laptop durability

� Laptop battery life

� Students’ forgetting laptops

� Management and discipline issues

� Time

Battery Usage in LaptopsBattery Usage in Laptops

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Gateway m520x

Dell Latitude X1

HP Pavillion Dv4000

15i" PowerBook G4

Dell Inspiron 6000

12" PowerBook G4

iBook

HP Pavillion ze2001

Equipment and HardwareEquipment and Hardware

�� Steel cartSteel cart

Locks ShelvingPower Strip


�� Wireless Access PointWireless Access Point

Ethernet cord

Electrical cord


Know your laptop!Know your laptop!

�� Power Button Power Button

Peripherals Peripherals

BE AWARE THAT SOME LAPTOPS DO BE AWARE THAT SOME LAPTOPS DO

NOT COME WITH:NOT COME WITH:

••FLOPPY DRIVESFLOPPY DRIVES

••INTERNAL CD DRIVESINTERNAL CD DRIVES

Input Devices Input Devices

A normal laptop keyboard will be A normal laptop keyboard will be

smaller than the standard ones smaller than the standard ones

you use on a desktop. Some you use on a desktop. Some

might not have the F keys and might not have the F keys and

some might require combination some might require combination

key strokes to perform some key strokes to perform some

tasks. tasks.

You can attach a regular You can attach a regular

keyboard and mouse to most keyboard and mouse to most

computers. The only question is computers. The only question is

what type of connections does what type of connections does

your laptop have. your laptop have.

TEN YEARS AFTER THE BIRTH OF THE

INTERNET,

HOW DO AMERICANS USE THE

INTERENT IN THEIR DAILY

LIVES?

http://www.stanford.edu/group/siqss/

SIQSS_Time_Study_04.pdf


INTERNET…

““The Internet is, perhaps more than anything The Internet is, perhaps more than anything

else, a means of communication else, a means of communication –– aboutabout

57% of the time on Internet is spent on email, 57% of the time on Internet is spent on email,

instant messaging, or at chat rooms. Ofinstant messaging, or at chat rooms. Of

this 57%, workthis 57%, work--related communications related communications

constitute about a third, communication withconstitute about a third, communication with

friends constitutes almost a third, and friends constitutes almost a third, and

communication with family constitutes about a communication with family constitutes about a

sixth.sixth.””


INTERNET…

“Younger people, between 18 and 29 years of age, seem to favor interactive forms ofonline communication: They use email less than older people, but they use instantmessaging and chat rooms more. Social networking is used most by the youngest and theoldest (age ranges 18-29 and over 60).”

Ideas for ImplementationIdeas for Implementation

�� Build up to 1 to 1Build up to 1 to 1

�� Two Power supplies and or batteries per machineTwo Power supplies and or batteries per machine

�� Plan B (extra laptop or computer just in case) Plan B (extra laptop or computer just in case)

�� Utilization of School Network ApplicationsUtilization of School Network Applications

�� Word Processing, database, spreadsheet, multimedia, and Word Processing, database, spreadsheet, multimedia, and

thinking software used for project based learningthinking software used for project based learning

�� Development of electronic portfoliosDevelopment of electronic portfolios

�� TeacherTeacher--created activities that supplement text books and created activities that supplement text books and

curriculumcurriculum


�� Access to the Internet for:Access to the Internet for:

�� ResearchResearch

�� Interactive Skill PracticeInteractive Skill Practice

�� SimulationsSimulations

�� Virtual TripsVirtual Trips

�� Scavenger HuntsScavenger Hunts

�� Communication with students around the worldCommunication with students around the world

�� Web Cams/Streaming VideoWeb Cams/Streaming Video

�� Tutorials Tutorials


�� Ability to move to authentic learning Ability to move to authentic learning

environments environments

�� Collaboration with peers inside and outside the Collaboration with peers inside and outside the

classroom classroom

�� Using Using BlogsBlogs as as ““digital paperdigital paper””

�� http://frogtech.blogspot.com/http://frogtech.blogspot.com/

�� Using Using PodcastsPodcasts

�� ? ? ? ?