October 2003 — Features
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The Reality of Anytime, Anywhere Learning
Santa Ana USD Integrates Technology Into Its Classrooms and Staff Training With Wireless Computing
As the fifth largest school district in california, Santa Ana Unified School District faces the challenge of providing technology access to its more than 63,000 students and over 6,000 certificated and classified staff members. The district found the solution in wireless computing, which is now being used as a highly successful strategy for implementing technology integration into its classrooms, as well as providing professional development and training opportunities to its staff members.
Providing Flexibility and Freedom
When the high schools in Santa Ana received AB2882 funding to reduce the student-to-multimedia computer ratio to 4.75-to-1, two high schools decided that wireless mobile labs would be the best solution for providing increased computer access to students. The schools were able to purchase enough Apple iBooks to create three wireless mobile labs. Each lab was made up of 20 iBooks, an AirPort Extreme Base Station from Apple, a network printer and a computer cart. During the last two years that these mobile labs have been in use, it has been very obvious that wireless technology fills a need that a traditional computer lab or limited numbers of desktop computers in classrooms cannot satisfy.
In a traditional classroom, where teachers only have one or two computers, an instructor can set up a rotational schedule for computer use, which given enough time, could provide every student with an opportunity to use a computer in the classroom. However, by having the 20 laptop computers included in the wireless mobile lab as a class resource, technology integration can take place as a whole-class activity.
Even though there are traditional computer labs at each campus for instructional use, as well as computers available for student use in school libraries, the mobile labs provide students and classes the flexibility and freedom to use computers in noncomputer lab settings. Students benefit from using the mobile lab computers, because it gives them the opportunity to combine the resources they have in their classroom with the technology resources they need to complete assignments.
Wireless Perspectives
Wireless computing also provides opportunities that extend beyond classroom use. Wireless laptops are an unparalleled resource for students engaged in learning activities in science labs, fieldwork and all activity-based learning.
The Millennial Generation (i.e., anyone born after 1982, including all of our current K-12 students) has grown up in a world where technology has always been present as a dynamic element in their lives. This tech-savvy generation views technology as a constant and expected resource. Therefore, wireless computing meets the expectations of our current generation of students for ready access to technology-based resources. It also supports education in its efforts to make the concept of anytime, anywhere learning a reality.
