paper -
79 Implementing and Supporting a Wireless Classroom
Linda
Iroff, Oberlin College
Barbara Sawhill, Oberlin College
The Electronic Seminar Room was first proposed in
early 1999. By that spring, the decision was made to develop a prototype
seminar-style classroom where the students would have access to laptop
computers. Although it was desirous to have this room use wireless technology,
we didn’t know if that would be feasible for a Fall 1999 implementation.
By early summer, a room location was identified. Plans
were made to have wired connections for 20 laptop computers via a 24-port hub
in the center of the room, and to build a charging cabinet and storage closet.
It was still uncertain at that time what kind of laptops we would use,
Macintosh or Windows, and if/when wireless would be available.
When Steve Jobs introduced the iBook and AirPort, we
knew immediately that was what we wanted for the ESR. But we also knew we would
have to start classes without them. The iBooks arrived in early October, and we
installed a standard suite of software on them. By month's end, the equipment
could be used, albeit only with an octopus tangle of wires. In January 2000 we
installed the Airport cards and a Lucent WavePoint base station. Faculty were
trained and spring semester classes began using the wireless technology.
The room has proved extremely successful with both
faculty and students to the extent that requests have been made for additional
wireless laptop classrooms.
This paper will discuss the challenges in setting up
and maintaining the wireless network infrastructure, and the iBook hardware and
software, and in training and supporting the faculty to make best use of the
classroom, including the use of Apple Network Assistant.
See http://www.oberlin.edu/news-info/00apr/gary_kornblith.html for more information on the classroom.