Wireless Network - Arguments for installing in Education

[garethedmondson]

Afternoon everyone,

I'm currently putting together a case for installing a wireless network here at the school. Not a big one but something to start us off. We have to go with the LEA approved supplier (Aruba).

I wonder if anyone has already gone before their SMT to provide a valid educational arguement for installing a wireless network. Would you be willing to share any notes/presentations you made?

I'm currently researching the argument (there is no argument - it is something we need to do) - but I need to convince the SMT to spend during this time of no funds :-)

Thanks
Gareth

[pete]

How are you approaching it?

Is it an "everyone wonders why we're stuck in the 18th Century and we look like twits on Open Evenings"?
Is it "this will allow us (in conjunction with laptop trolleys and common sense) to use ICT in classrooms that it's impractical to convert to computer rooms"? i.e expanding capacity?
Is it "we can give Fred a network connection in his office / whereever he needs without having to drill through umpteen walls / replaster?"
Is it "kids would like to use Internet + Shared printer + VLE access on their laptops in school during free periods?"

There's lots of reasons why it can be a good idea, but why do YOU think it needs to be done?

Or to put it another way...

What will a wireless network enable you as a teacher to do? How will it improve your ability to teach?

Our argument was something along the lines of....

"We're trying to teach more lessons using IT facilities than we have available slots in IT suites. We are seriously oversubscribed and staff are very annoyed.
We don't have space to convert existing classrooms to IT suites (insufficient space to run a conventional lesson / too cramped when IT kit has been added).
A cheap new block of 4 classrooms will cost ~£300,000. Building just a couple won't be much less.

A couple of laptop trolleys + decent managed wireless will be significantly cheaper. What do you want to do?"

"Er, we'll have the wireless please"

Edit: oh, and use POE switches, not inline power injectors if you can - more expensive but much more flexible and less prone to failure.

[jamesreedersmith]

As far as suppliers - they cannot dictate a supplier - they can have a prepared supplier but if you can prove best value then you go go where ever you like - thats what the government precurement guidelines stipulate!

[Dos_Box]

It makes 'Learning Anywhere' less of a buzzword and more of a reality.

[MK-2]

It makes 'Learning Anywhere' less of a buzzword and more of a reality.

Learning anywhere......within range of a wireless point

[Jawloms]

We have to go with the LEA approved supplier (Aruba).

How come?

[jamesreedersmith]

How come?

They cant dictate this - you have a free choice to get best value!

[Achandler]

My biggest concern is the "prefered supplier", this si the sole biggest reason that I think a lot of schools left LA when they could.

I would get lots of quotes to get the prefered supplier as cheap as possible to start with. Then maybe use a case study of a local school who has Wifi everywere and highlight its benefits.

[pete]

Yeah, ignore preferred supplier. Find the best supplier. Not saying Aruba are bad (they're not) and (if LA has ridiculously good purchasing power) they might be best deal.

[garethedmondson]

How come?

Maybe I phrased this wrong. Aruba are the LEA wireless network provider. They have setup the policies and provide the support for this wireless network. I can go elsewhere but we would not get the LEA support that comes with it. They also have excellent pricing for all the schools in the LEA.

Apologies if I made it sound different,

Gareth

[Jose]

don't forget that the best way of having large amounts of classroom laptops work without issues is to have dual band APs, so the laptops can use the 5GHZ frequency. Where we have 5GHZ we never have issues, also Ruckus will probably beat anything on price and performance, if you have metal framework in your ceilings then I would try Ruckus before anyone else.

[Galway]

I wouldnt bother.

You don't mention how many wireless clients you have, or will have in the future, and expect the outlay to be better spent elsewhere within the school.

[mthomas08]

Although I am a total Anti Wireless because staff need to "understand" more when it comes to wireless to a cable.

It does allow less network points to be installed in classes, dont require to be plugged in every time they move from one class to another. Also allows them to be any where in the class room and be more portable.

In our cases it can also provide internet/email access to mobiles and portable devices. Although some laptops we have switch on the wireless after they have logged on which will cause issues and also slow things down when accessing network files.

[Earthling]

Wireless Network - Arguements for installing in Education

Can't think of any....sorry.

[witch]

Although I am a total Anti Wireless because staff need to "understand" more when it comes to wireless to a cable.

I don't understand that - I find that because most staff have wireless at home they are pretty good at understanding it.
The biggest argument in favour of wireless for me is that the network is available anywhere - although I have to say that if we didnt have suitable portable devices to use with it, it would be much more difficult to justify the need for it.
Learning anywhere is definitely the key for me - the children use the netbooks as research tools and even take them outside. We do not have lots of network points in the rooms and it would cost a lot of money to put them in - and we got a really good deal on the wireless!