Educause Western Regional Conference April 26th 28th, 2005

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Educause Western Regional ConferenceApril 26th -
28th, 2005

• Integrating Wireless Technology into a Publicly
  Funded University IT Curriculum
• Or
• How We Became IT Mavericks

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Presenters

• Kimberlee Bartel, Ph.D., Associate Professor
• Information Technology and Administrative
  Management Department, Central Washington
  University
• David R. Rawlinson, J.D., Assistant Professor
• Information Technology and Administrative
  Management Department, Central Washington
  University

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Technology in the Classroom

• Information Technology changes how instructors
  and students work with data
• Teachers report higher quality work product from
  students and increased self-confidence (Le Ber et
  al., 2004)
• Students have access to a variety of
  organizational tools (Leibiger, 2002)
• Student awareness of how technology is applied in
  practice is enhanced
• (Le Ber et al., 2004)

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Technology in the Classroom, cont.

• Students report advantages to having computing
  technology in the classroom
• Helped with school assignments
• Helped learn computer skills
• Provided access to the Internet
• Helped students become more organized (Lowther,
  et al., 2001)

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Technology in the Classroom, cont.

• Expanded library instruction
• Raised awareness of practical values of new
  technology
• Ability to access more resources of higher
  quality (Le Ber et al., 2004)

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Easy Access to Resources

• Dependable, fast computer networks make it easy
  for information to be accessed and shared with
  others
• Computers in general and wireless computers in
  particular can address issues such as lack of
  classroom space
• (Le Ber, 2004)
• The Internet becomes an effective resource and
  the first place instructors and students look for
  information
• (Falk, 2003)

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Wired Computer Networks

• Wired networks made it easy to share data with
  others
• Fast
• Secure
• Dependable
• Limitations inherent in using wires to transmit
  data impedes information access and flexibility
• (Liu et al., 2003)

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Wireless Computer Networks

• Wireless networks have advantages and
  disadvantages
• More flexible than wired networks
• Easier to share data with others, regardless of
  physical location (Cox, 2003)(Gay, Goldman
  Kaufman studies, as cited in Liu, et al., 2003)
• Less costly to install compared to wired computer
  networks (DiGiano, 2003)(Cox, 2003)
• Security and Performance are of greater concern
• More complex to guarantee the Confidentiality,
  Integrity and Availability of data

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Number of Wireless Networks Increase

• Wireless networks in a school setting are no
  longer a novel idea (Ginzburg, 2001)
• Advances in security, wireless standards and
  management are driving the increasing use of
  wireless technologies to link computing devices
  (Molta, 2005)

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Wireless Capable Personal Digital Assistants
(PDAs)

• Wireless capable PDAs have the ability to access
  the Internet
• Can be used effectively in an instructional
  environment (Leibiger, 2002)
• Provide a positive and effective complement to
  learning (Roschelle, 2003)
• Quizzes can be administered via wireless PDA
  (Falk, 2003)
• Students can turn in homework via PDA and IrDA
  technology
• (Liu, et al., 2003)

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Wireless PDA Anonymity

• Wireless PDAs allow students to share ideas
  anonymously, thus promoting free discussion of
  ideas among students
• (Davis, 2003)
• Wireless network access supports active
  participation in the learning process
• (Cox, 2003)
• Wireless PDAs provide seamless access to
  information anytime, anywhere (Gay, Goldman
  Kaufman, as cited in Liu, et al., 2003)

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PDAs versus Textbooks

• E-Books are just as effective as regular
  textbooks for studying and their usage is growing
  (Falk, 2003)
• E-Books provide extra search and annotation
  capabilities, are small and a large number of
  e-Books can reside on a PDA (Leibiger, 2002)

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Expanded Library Knowledge and Usage

• Research activities can be more effective if done
  using computer technology rather than textbooks
  (Behrman, 1995)
• Students dont have to physically visit the
  library to conduct research using wired and
  wireless computer technology

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Managing Information using PDAs

• Librarians can take inventory using wireless
  technologies and use PDAs to provide hands-on
  instruction to students (Ginzburg, 2001)

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Assisting Students with Disabilities

• The PDA can assist students with learning
  disabilities (Leibiger, 2002)
• The PDA is a great tool for providing a
  multimedia and communication platform (Behrmann,
  1995)

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Program Implementation
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Topics

• Department Support
• PDA Purchase Specifications
• Institutional Technical Support
• Research Student Response
• Emerging Affects for the IT Classroom
• Challenges
• Recommendations

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Department Support

• Proposal presented to IT department faculty
• Unanimous support
• All instructional and support staff provided PDA
  models identical to student requirement
• Training and support provided to encourage use
• Role models for students
• Universal application of PDAs v. one-class
  limitation

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Purchase Specifications

• Performance objectives determined
• Technical specifications created based on
  objectives
• Specifications matched with specific Manufacturer
  and Model
• Dell Axim X30 (312 Mhz) with integrated Bluetooth
  and Wi-Fi.
• SDRAM 64 mb

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Specifications

• Software
• Microsoft Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC
• Contacts, Calendar, Task Manager, Internet
  Explorer, Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Windows
  Media Player
• Microsoft ActiveSync
• Odyssey Client

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Institutional Technical Support

• ITS Department not prepared to provide support
  for wireless PDA technology
• ITAM Department Faculty provided support
• Developed document and tested access protocol
• Provided troubleshooting support

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Research Components

• Respondents were participating students
• Research
• Demographic Data
• Respondent Opinions
• PDA Applications
• Prior Access to Technology
• Anticipated Continued PDA Applications

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Respondent Age Demographic Data
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Respondent Sex Demographic Data
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Respondent Grade Level Classification
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Respondent Opinion Items
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PDA Applications While Enrolled
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Prior Access to Technology
N 37 Wireless technology in addition to
telephone technology.
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PDA Applications Used During the Course
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Plan to Keep PDA?
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Expected Future PDA Applications
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Emerging Affects for IT Classroom

• Use PDAs in all classes
• Faculty must be role models
• Provides Real World Experience
• Students gain confidence

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Classroom Applications

• File Sharing
• Individual student requesting material (IrDA)
• Exams/quizzes/assignments (Bluetooth)
• Quick distribution, collection
• Pop quiz
• Communications
• E-mail (Wi-Fi)
• Appointments, Tasks, Contact Information (IrDA)
• Research Activities
• WWW searches (Wi-Fi)

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Challenges

• Cost prohibitive for some students
• Share PDA
• Sell to student in next class
• Students without personal desktop computers
• No ActiveSync
• Department desktop provided

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Challenges

• Class time for PDA instruction use
• Time to order and receive
• Custom orders
• Financial aid
• Course materials prior to PDA receipt
• Introduction to Information Technology

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Recommendations

• Support from Institution IT Services
• Technical and troubleshooting
• Ongoing Faculty Training and Applications
• Encourage classroom use
• Provide meaningful classroom use ideas
• Funding to Offset Student Costs
• Grants
• Subsidies
• Manufacturer discounts

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Recommendations

• Enhanced learning opportunities
• More Introduction to IT class time devoted to PDA
  education
• Improved wireless PDA technology
• More user friendly
• More consistent and dependable
• Continued research
• Assess (and re-assess) program viability

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Questions?

• Thanks!

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(No Transcript)