Wireless Computing

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Wireless Computing

• Practical One-to-One Access
• On a Budget
• National School Boards Conference
• Denver, 2004

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Two Factors that Determine Student Success with
Technology

• Access
• Type of use

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Questions for Leaders

• How to best resource our school/district
• How to implement technology in such a way that
  its use is aligned with curriculum and effective
  practice
• How to help teachers teach effectively
• Help teachers teach more effectively through
  appropriate use of technology

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Our Questions for the Day

• Resource allocation
• Mobile wireless versus traditional labs and
  center-based classrooms
• Usage / Implementation Model
• How does implementation model affect access and
  use
• Many other questions
• Handhelds, take-home, instructional strategies,
  other models

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Agenda

• One-to-one access
• Budget and access challenges
• How wireless can help meet challenges
• Considerations for wireless
• Where wireless can help
• Hardware and standards for wireless LANs
• Specific hardware and budgets

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One-to-One

• True one-to-one is for every student, all the
  time
• Very expensive
• Complete curriculum re-design
• A long and arduous process (just ask!)
• Practical one-to-one in the real world
• One-to-one access on a regular, ongoing basis

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Why 1-1?(or other high-access models)

• Supports project/inquiry-based classrooms
• Collaboration, communication, research, analysis,
  production
• Supports dynamics of everyday classroom
• Teachable moments
• Tech matches the ebb and flow of classroom
  discussion/lesson
• Engaging
• Increases achievement ??

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Why Not 1-1 ?(or other high-access models)

• Technology emphasized over teaching and learning
• Distracting from the learning process
• Commonly there is insufficient training for
  teachers and students to be successful
• Cost benefit
• Insufficient research on effect
• Some indication that high levels of access
  decrease scores on standardized tests at least
  initially

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Implementation Models

• Research has not certainly shown the type of
  model that maximizes student achievement
• Center-based / model classrooms
• Traditional labs
• One-to-one access
• Are there ways to realize the benefits of a true
  one-to-one model at lower cost?

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Challenges(the case for practical one-to-one
with mobile wireless)

• Shrinking budgets
• Provide adequate computer access when needed (ex
  NCLB)
• Limited availability of space
• More accountability for use of equipment
• Results greater alignment of technology with
  curriculum

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Can Wireless Help the Budget?

• Wireless labs may be less expensive to install
  but may be more expensive to maintain (watch the
  TCO!)
• Fewer classroom computers needed
• Traditional labs may not be needed including
  the common lab facilitator
• Wireless labs do not occupy a classroom
  possibly saving on portable/modular building cost

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Cost ComparisonTraditional Center/Lab vs. Mobile
Wireless 30 classrooms

• Traditional Center/Lab
• Center-based classrooms with one fixed lab
• 5 classroom computers, NetTV/projector
• 177 computers
• 231,550.00

• Mobile Wireless
• 2 classroom computers
• 3 wireless mobile labs with 27 computers each
• No fixed lab
• 141 computers
• 170,973.00

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Access Comparison(Assumes wireless labs
scheduled by 100 of teachers)

• Traditional
• 1-1 access 1 hr/1.2 days in groups of 5
• 1 hr/week whole-class in lab

• Mobile Wireless
• 2 classroom computers available for teachable
  moments/individual work
• 1-1 access 1 hr. every 2.25 days in whole class
• 2-1 access 1 hr. every 1.25 days in small group
  for whole class lesson

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Increased Access of Wireless

• Potential to increase access to networked
  computers for all students (NCLB)
• Up budget to 5 wireless labs
• Access goes to 1-1 for 1 hour every 1.5 days and
  1 hr. every .75 days with 2-1 access
• Cost is 231,550.00 for traditional vs.
  236,675.00 for mobile wireless
• 177 computers for traditional / 195 wireless
  mobile
• No duplication of projection devices/printers
• Add handheld labs and access goes much higher

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Usage/Alignment Comparison

• Traditional
• Small group and whole class activities difficult
  to synchronize and manage for the long term
  occasional projects ok
• Lab work does not fit into day-to-day class work
• Centers sit idle when technology not used
  inefficient use of resources

• Mobile Wireless
• Unused classroom computers do not sit idle
  maximizes use of resources
• Just in Time technology -access where and when
  needed
• Integral to dynamics of classroom lesson
  technology can ebb and flow
• Usage more closely aligned with the day-to-day
  curriculum / content

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Dont Forget the Staff Development!

• Instructional technology SD same for most models
• Center and lab-based environments require SD on
  teaching in and managing those environments
• Mobile lab requires special considerations that
  impact SD

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Before Using the Lab, the Teacher Should Think
About

• What specific goal will the mobile lab help my
  students accomplish?
• How many computers will I need for the number of
  students that I have in my class?
• How do I plug in the mobile lab so that
  everything works?
• Do I need to check out a single computer to
  check/preview the software and web sites?
• How will students save their work?
• How much time will it take to distribute and
  gather the computers and lab?
• How will I physically locate the student
  computers?
• Do I need to use the projector? If so, do I have
  a screen?
• How long will the students need to have access to
  the computers? Will the activity require
  multiple days?
• Will I need to charge the batteries before using
  the lab?

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Where to Use Wireless andWhere Not to Use
Wireless

• Wireless is a viable solution for difficult to
  wire installations
• Wireless allows mobility of technology resources
• Library, mobile labs, science labs, faculty
  meetings/training, conference rooms, temporary
  sites, etc.
• At this time, wireless is not a substitute for
  wiring
• Speed - shared 11mb/54 mb vs. switched 100mb
• Reliability
• Security
• Use wireless when mobility is the priority or
  cost is an issue
• Do not use wireless just because

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Hardware

• Basic wireless LAN
• Access Point
• Wireless NIC
• Wire
• Wireless can be painted over an entire campus
• Point-to-point wireless between buildings
• Wireless can be integrated into existing wired
  LAN
• Labs in wired classrooms

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Wireless LabIntegrated Environment

• Components
• Notebook computers with wireless cards
• Access point
• Network-able printer
• Storage cart
• Projector optional but highly recommended
• CAT5 patch cable and available drop
• Application software

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Check-Out Labs

• Great way to ease into wireless
• Very Portable
• 6-8 computers
• Projector (Optional but HIGHLY recommended)
• Digital camera
• Printer (optional)
• Things to consider
• Provide short training
• Establish priorities
• Establish firm procedures and follow them

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Standards

• 802.11b (Wi-Fi) will still serve the majority of
  needs
• dont buy this now go to 11.g
• 11 mb shared bandwidth
• Inexpensive
• Wide availability of components
• 502.11g for higher bandwidth needs
• Slightly more expensive
• Backward compatible at 11mb
• New standard rapidly replacing 802.11b

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Wireless Standards
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Things to Keep in Mind

• Security
• Use 128 bit encryption
• Change access point defaults
• Security policy
• Site survey
• Software installation
• School Network issues
• Test
• Training both teacher and student
• Scheduling battery life

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How Much Does a Lab Cost?

• Networking a single notebook can be as little as
  75
• Additional computers at 50 each for wireless
  card
• Most labs are in the 30,000 range add
  1-2,000 for a projector
• Office and Inspiration are about 2,000.
• Misc. supplies can run another 100 or so
• You may need a projector screen at 100
• Total for a 27 station lab will be about 35,000
• Check-out labs (6) - about 10,000 w/projector
• Dont forget training costs!

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HP Lab (low end)
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Dell Lab(mid-range)
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Resources

• http//www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx
  /vectors/en/2001_wireless_security?cuscsRC96222
  8lensk12
• http//www.cdwg.com/wirelessguide
• http//www.cdwg.com
• http//www.apple.com/education/cart/
• http//www.wired.com/news/school/0,1383,45809,00.h
  tml
• http//www.gateway.com/work/ed/wirelesslab.shtml
• http//www.dell4k12.com/offers/resource_624.pdf
• http//www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech/tech194
  .shtml

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• www.rapides.k12.la.us/nsba2004

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Performance Goal 3 Technology is integrated
throughout the curriculumPerformance Indicator
3.1 The number of schools in which all students
are able to work from a networked computer.
Student Access to Technology During the 2003-2004
school year, did ALL students in your school have
access to a networked computer and were ALL
students in your school regularly given the
opportunity to do meaningful work from these
networked computers, beyond use for drill and
practice?Note For a school to answer YES to
this question would mean that the school
environment is such that all students have
regular use of a networked computer for learning
and research and that the use is across multiple
disciplines and classrooms and is consistent with
the Louisiana K-12 Educational Technology
Standards. (Computer use for drill and practice
activities in a lab or classroom environment
alone would not meet this condition.)