The Promise and Pitfalls of Using a Wireless Classroom

Jean Caswell and Laverne SimoneauxSoutheastern Louisiana UniversityLITA Forum, Houston, TX Oct. 11-13, 2002

Background

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

Problems to Overcome

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

Problem #2

Lack of Funding

• Possible Solutions• Technology fee grants• Year-end money• Library and Scientific funds

Problem #3

Technical SupportCampus Information Technology Department

• 4 networking staff• 8 Help Desk staff

Library Systems Department• 1 Systems Librarian

Technological Considerations

Technological Considerations

Feasibility Study

• Bibliography• Other departments on campus• Tangipahoa Parish public schools

Technological Considerations

Wireless LAN Standards

• IEEE 802.11 – 1998 - 2 Mbps• IEEE 802.11b – 2000 - 11 Mbps• IEEE 802.11a – 2002 – 54 Mbps

Technological Considerations

Selection of Wireless Vendors

• Approved wireless vendors• Cisco• Lucent• 3Com

Technological Considerations

Turnkey Systems• Wireless hub,

notebooks, cart• Dell• Gateway• Compaq• IBM• Apple

Technological Considerations

Network Configuration and Security

• Working with your campus computing group

• Wireless networks and campus network security

Technological Considerations

Software Installation and PC Security• Software security packages

• Internet filtering• WinSelect• CleanSlate• Fortress• Windows 2000• Tattletaping

Room Layout and Architectural Considerations

Previous Floor Plan

Wireless Floor Plan

Ongoing Troubleshooting

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

Educational Considerations

• Room scheduling• Students’ unfamiliarity

with laptops• Transition from passive

to active learning• Pre- and post-testing

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

Students and Laptops

Problems– Laptops in 50 minute or less--YIKES!– Students unfamiliar to laptop use– Mousepad difficulties

Solutions– Student helpers– External mice

Passive to Active Learning

• “Follow the leader” doesn’t work

• Change emphasis from passive (demonstration) to active learning (guided assignments with cursory instruction)

Assessment of Student Learning

• Pre- and Post-testing with MS FrontPage• Student learning• Bibliographic instruction• SACS accreditation

• http://www3.selu.edu/libref/bisurvey.asp

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 GautreauxInstructor in English

Where we go from here