Education, Unplugged: Schools Make Cable-Free Connections

Fortmeyer, R. (2007). Education, Unplugged: Schools Make Cable-Free Connections.
       Edutopia.   
       Retrieved from:http://www.edutopia.org/school-wireless-devices-networks

Summary: 

While the idea of a technology ready school sounds great, the logistics behind creating one can be quite complicated.  Specifically, integrating both wireless and wired networks into a school can be particularly daunting. Most older schools were not designed to incorporate the kind of wiring, server closets, and electrical outlets needed to have both wired and wireless networks running simultaneously at the same time.  School tech support workers are having to turn old custodial closets into server rooms, and many old schools do not have the kind of walls that allow wireless connections through them. Furthermore, it is hard to put physical wires though concrete supporting walls.  Additionally, lots of students are being offered laptops in schools now.  This adds the headache of creating VPN networks so students are able to access school computers away from school. Finally, the article points to smart phones as being the next big thing in technology education.  Students will be able to access email and the internet from their own phones, parents will be more connected to their student's online homework, and administrators will be access student data straight from their pocket.  The future is now!

Reaction:

I believe that many of the issues in this article will disappear over time, as more and more schools will be rebuilt to specifically accommodate an increase in technology.  My old high school, Shorecrest, used to have many of the problems listed in the article. Now, however, the school (built in the 1960s) is being torn down and replaced with a state-of-the-art school.  However, not every district has the resources that mine does.  Technology adoption will still be a major issue for some inner-city school districts.  Also, I have some reservations about using smart phones in school.  Since they are privately owned by the students, how can teachers be sure their students are not just texting their friends throughout class?  It is not like they can install security software on a private device.  Only the future will see where the smart phone revolution is headed.