While wireless classrooms may experience growing pains at the present time, I do not see how they won't progress as time marches on, as is the case with all computing. As is the case with decisions regarding other technical challenges, there will be a place for wired and a place for wireless. The case for wireless has been steadily growing for some time now, from a niche to a privilege to mission critical at times. I know some will always have an aversion to particular technologies, whether we're discussing wireless, or the cloud, or virtual servers, the list goes on. But to dismiss the idea of transitioning from wired to wireless due to past problems would be nearsighted, as those past and/or present obstacles will eventually be surmounted.
Speaking on a much more specific level, we currently have a much higher than average number of computing classrooms per FTE at this institution than is the case nationwide. Mostly due to socio-economic factors, we have always provided an abundance of institutionally owned technology that is available for students to use while on campus. Of course, as is the case with all of you, the cost to support that infrastructure has grown over time, both in capital expenses as well as operational expenses. While we've done our best to minimize the OpEx aspect of it using whatever technology is available to manage everything at a macro level, there will always be issues that need resolving at the micro level. We have many new and remodeled classrooms now on wireless, and have run into many of the same issues that some of you have experienced. However, none of them have been deal breakers, and the experience gained thus far has given us the confidence to build upon this first foray into wireless classrooms in the future. Also, as previously mentioned, there will of course always be situations where wired is the correct choice. I do not endorse the idea to go wireless simply for wireless' sake. But the upside of choosing to do so when possible and it is the correct choice is clear, at least to our institution. The end users, both staff and students, have been very happy with the transition, and have mostly been very understanding when issues have arisen, as they are the ones looking to move us to wireless even more than we are. Lastly, one quick analogy that has always come to mind for those who suggest that wired "just works" while wireless is more complicated. That's mostly true. However, couldn't the same be said with just about any modern good versus an older version? Cars, televisions, cell phones, etc. Most of us appreciate the new features found in all of them that make the complication and possibility of experiencing an issue worthwhile, however, and would be unwilling to give them up for their older, simpler versions. That's my two cents on the matter, anyway. Patrick Mauretti Sr. Network Admin Massasoit Community College 1 Massasoit Blvd Brockton, MA 02302 508-588-9100 x1660 “On the internet, nobody knows you’re a dog.” -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU] On Behalf Of John York Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2015 10:39 AM To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] WiFi Service Level Agreement We tried putting classroom computers on wireless, but ran into problems with waking computers. Our patch management procedures rely heavily on waking computers during a maintenance period at night, and we couldn't find a way to do that. For some, we went to wakeup times into BIOS. We had enough problems that we dropped the project. Has anything changed lately to make management of wireless computers easier? I have to say, though, that Wake On LAN is always reliable either. John -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU] On Behalf Of Thomas Carter Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2015 10:19 AM To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] WiFi Service Level Agreement I do not have the same confidence in wireless as I do wired. There is no control over the airwaves like there is over physical cabling, and some interference cannot be dealt with (like visitor's mobile hotspots). Thomas Carter Network and Operations Manager Austin College 903-813-2564 -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU] On Behalf Of Hunter Fuller Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 5:40 PM To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] WiFi Service Level Agreement On Tue, Aug 25, 2015 at 11:10 AM, Chuck Enfield <chu...@psu.edu> wrote: > If so, why would we focus on saying, "wireless might not work." > It's not helpful to us or our users. A much more constructive > approach would be to tell faculty to plan for when wireless doesn't > work - to have a back-up plan for that iPad app, to download the > PowerPoint presentation before class begins instead of during class, > to plug into a wired connection if that's an option, etc.. The way I read this, it seems to imply a lack of confidence in the service. Since our wireless and wired infrastructures are separate to some degree, it's possible that a wireless connection would not work - but it's just as likely that a wired drop would not work, too. Therefore, I'd estimate that I am equally confident in both services. Maybe if it was phrased differently, like "make sure to test wired and wireless ahead of time, in case one fails" - but I see wireless and wired as equals. Just my two cents. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
