The Promise and Pitfalls of Using a Wireless Classroom

1. The Promise and Pitfalls of Using a Wireless Classroom Jean Caswell and Laverne Simoneaux Southeastern Louisiana University LITA Forum, Houston, TX Oct. 11-13, 2002

2. Background • Southeastern Louisiana University • 15,000 students • 1,700 faculty and staff • LS102 classes – 33 classes/semester • Bibliographic instruction – 120 sessions/semester

3. Problems to Overcome

4. Problem #1 Lack of Classroom Space • 1 wired classroom • LS 102 classes Monday- Thursday, 8am to 4pm • 1 multi-purpose classroom • Media • ESL Classes • Bibliographic Instruction

5. Problem #2 Lack of Funding • Possible Solutions • Technology fee grants • Year-end money • Library and Scientific funds

6. Problem #3 Technical Support Campus Information Technology Department • 4 networking staff • 8 Help Desk staff Library Systems Department • 1 Systems Librarian

7. Technological Considerations

8. Technological Considerations Feasibility Study • Bibliography • Other departments on campus • Tangipahoa Parish public schools

9. Technological Considerations Wireless LAN Standards • IEEE 802.11 – 1998 - 2 Mbps • IEEE 802.11b – 2000 - 11 Mbps • IEEE 802.11a – 2002 – 54 Mbps

10. Technological Considerations Selection of Wireless Vendors • Approved wireless vendors • Cisco • Lucent • 3Com

11. Technological Considerations Turnkey Systems • Wireless hub, notebooks, cart • Dell • Gateway • Compaq • IBM • Apple

12. Technological Considerations Network Configuration and Security • Working with your campus computing group • Wireless networks and campus network security

13. Software Installation and PC Security Software security packages Internet filtering WinSelect CleanSlate Fortress Windows 2000 Tattletaping Technological Considerations

14. Room Layout and Architectural Considerations

15. Previous Floor Plan

16. Wireless Floor Plan

17. Ongoing Troubleshooting

18. Ongoing Troubleshooting • LibWireless--Wireless and Libraries List • Discusses libraries and all types of wireless technologies • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LibWireless/ • Owner: Bill Drew at SUNY Morrisville

19. Educational Considerations • Room scheduling • Students’ unfamiliarity with laptops • Transition from passive to active learning • Pre- and post-testing

20. Room Scheduling • PC Setup and Shutdown • Allow time for setup and troubleshooting • Develop procedures for setup and shutdown • Student help • Number of consecutive sessions vs. battery life

21. Students and Laptops Problems • Laptops in 50 minute or less--YIKES! • Students unfamiliar to laptop use • Mousepad difficulties Solutions • Student helpers • External mice

22. Passive to Active Learning • “Follow the leader” doesn’t work • Change emphasis from passive (demonstration) to active learning (guided assignments with cursory instruction)

23. Assessment of Student Learning • Pre- and Post-testing with MS FrontPage • Student learning • Bibliographic instruction • SACS accreditation • http://www3.selu.edu/libref/bisurvey.asp

24. Reactions to Wireless Classroom "The wireless computers are fabulous!" Dr. Karen McCormick Assistant Professor of Education "The laptops are wonderful! The students were so much more involved than they had been in the past when they were only watching." Winborne Gautreaux Instructor in English

25. Where we go from here