January 2002 — Editorial
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Instructional Networks - Some Emerging Tools
NetSchool's one-to-one system is based on wireless technology in which every student uses a wireless laptop to access the school LAN and the Internet. Mindsurf Networks installs a wireless network to provide handheld computers to teachers, students and administrators. In addition, the San Diego Lorenzo School district in California is implementing a $20 million e-learning program, making wireless networks available to every fourth- through 12th-grade student and teacher in the district's 15 schools.
Students and faculty have made the following comments regarding the use of wireless connectivity:
- Cost benefits are an issue, since students usually have to pay for wireless.
- Teachers teach differently, but students are questioning whether the changes are good enough.
- Use of wireless has not increased enrollment.
- Only a small percent can use wireless, since access points are not readily available.
But the advantages of wireless connectivity cannot be overlooked. Sharing of Internet access by students and staff through one controlled location is resulting in cost-effectiveness and better utilization. Wireless LANs are becoming more attractive as speed increases and prices drop, with most educators looking to wireless to supplement rather than replace a broader wired network. The growth of wireless computing has also initiated the Global Wireless Education Consortium (GWEC), a collaboration of wireless industry companies and academic institutions. GWEC is focused on expanding wireless technology in two- and four-year academic institutions.
Thin Clients
In the thin client computing environment, applications are moved to the server. A thin client computer has a minimal hardware set as most of the computational load is executed in the host computer, which provides space for applications and files. Many present generation clients are built with the display piece externally mounted behind or beneath a flat panel or CRT. The power required is readily available through the use of a small modular power supply. When a software or hardware upgrade is required, only the server needs to be upgraded. The instructor has the option of having students' computers display the host computer screen or work independently in the thin client environment. There are no removable disks, so students can not run disks that may have a virus. The network also meets the user's informational needs. The thin client connects over a network to a server where all processing and storage are accomplished. Thin clients are functional only when connected to a host server.
Other Goals
A storage area network (SAN) is a high-speed subnetwork of shared storage drivers, which are machines that contain nothing but a disk or disks for storing data. The pooling of physical storage from multiple network storage into what appears to be a single storage device, managed from a central console, is referred to as virtualization. Using virtualization, administrators can easily allocate as much or as little storage as desired to any application or user on the network.
Presentation technologies such as projectors, smart boards and digital cameras are increasingly used. Teachers often connect the projectors to multiple video computers - the display of content on the computer monitor and the projector simultaneously is considered an asset in teaching. Use of smart boards or interactive white boards is spreading, and the sale of digital cameras has increased tremendously.
