Wireless technology has created “an environment where freedom of movement and access to information becomes mutually synonymous” (Miles, 2005, p.12). Although wireless offers benefits to education such as mobility and flexibility there are several issues to consider.
Implementation requires vision and good planning. The total number of users and what they’ll be doing on the internet has to be considered so that bandwidth is adequate enough to avoid slowdowns, access and download problems. Access points have to be located where there are no barriers such as thick walls and where signal overlap and interference is avoided. Security issues, such as encryption, have to be considered. Without adressing these issues workflows can be impeded by technical malfunctions.
Workflows can also be impeded by the human element. Teachers are unlikely to effectively incorporate wirless technology into their teaching and learning practices without proper training and ongoing professional development and support. For example, research into the impact of mobile laptop technologies on Millenials’ approach to their studies found that “students expect the lecturers to integrate the use of laptops into the learning experience and develop learning activities that exploit the availability of mobility and accessibility to resources” (McMahon & Pospisil, 2005, p.431).
Once issues such as these are resolved wireless technology supports the benefits of flexible teaching and learning within an educational community. Access to online resources is no longer subject to strict time and space limitations. Students and teachers are no longer confined to their desktops. Communication within and beyond the community is facilitated and opportunities for collaboration greatly increased.
References
McMahon, M. and Pospisil, R. (2005). Laptops for a digital lifestyle : millennial students and wireless mobile technologies. Paper presented at the Balance, fidelity, mobility : maintaining the momentum? Proceedings of the 22nd ASCILITE conference, Brisbane, 4-7 December 2005' edited by H Goss, volume 2, pages 421-431. Brisbane : Dept of Teaching and Learning Support Services, Queensland University of Technology.
Miles, K. (2005).Time to get networked! with wireless networking. Classroom. 25 (4) 10-12.
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