I have to say that I disagree that this would be in any way evil, assuming we could do it effectively. Sure, if it was done in a manner that is partially effective, then yeah, it would be awful. However, if there really was a way to limit by class, who can get on the Internet and only during the class period without any undesirable side effects that have been mentioned, and if it was cost effective and manageable, and controlled by the instructor etc etc, then I think it would be a great idea. I think that from what I have heard thus far, nobody has surmounted all the challenges and has done this effectively. The danger is that it would be implemented, but implemented poorly because an IT shop wasn't able to effectively communicate the problems and deficiencies of the implementation.
I have taught a lot of classes and I can tell you that it takes an extremely gifted instructor to compete with something as compelling as the Internet. I have found that even graduate students, and professionals using their laptops in meetings have a hard time disciplining themselves not to be distracted. I simply tell students they can't have laptops on during the lecture. Not only are these compelling distractions hurting them, but it also distracts other students who really do want to pay attention. And it hurts the tone of the class when you call on people who are not paying attention. Sure, that problem has been around forever, but again, the Internet just magnifies an already difficult problem many times. There are a lot of rules that are up to the discretion of the instructor to set to enhance learning. Some are easier to enforce than others, but I think that if, (and again, it is very much an "if") there was a way to allow students to use their laptops without having Internet access it could be very useful. It seems that it is very common in Law Schools for students to use laptops for taking notes so it is not as simple as being able to tell them to just turn them off. That is why you see them asking for this the most. In defense of the professors, I don't blame them at all for asking IT to use IT to solve a problem that in their eyes is caused by technology. It is our job to communicate to them the challenges and tradeoffs. Peter M. -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Philippe Hanset Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 8:54 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Restricting of wireless access in classrooms Nick, We have explored the possibility of not allowing some students on the wireless network based on various criteria. Though a lot of Controller Based Architectures (Cisco, Aruba, ...) might let you do such a thing as far as the capability is concerned, the main problem resides into the control mechanism. At one point you will have to rely on a database of enrollment to block a particular student from joining at a particular location (if you don't do it for a location, you will prevent students from joining all together) The two limitations were: -who will decide and enable the rules? (sub-admin privileges to Faculty?) (Have Faculty call the helpdesk prior to class) -How accurate is the enrollment database (add/remove) (classroom assignments do change a lot) And finally (but you asked us not to mention the philosophical approach...) it's not because we can that we should! We ended up abandoning the idea (though we had a lot of fun brainstorming about it) because it would have been a management nightmare, and it is totally evil. Philippe Hanset Univ. of TN p.s. We brainstormed that idea 3-4 years ago and we are glad we didn't do it. We see so many Iphones (using 3G) in classrooms that it would have been a waste of time. There is also a "wallpaper" that can be turned ON/ OFF, effectively shutting the classroom from most microwaves. If one is looking at a special classroom without "connectivity", this could be a solution. On Dec 2, 2009, at 7:56 PM, Urrea, Nick wrote: > Thank you everybody for contributing to the conversation. It has been > very helpful. > > > ---- > Nicholas Urrea > Information Technology > UC Hastings College of the Law > [email protected] > x4718 > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Lee H Badman > Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 3:52 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Restricting of wireless access in > classrooms > > I'm agreeing with John- this is madness. > > What about the DAS systems boosting cell coverage? Do faculty get an > on/off switch for that? Or for newspapers and magazines that also > distract? And what about ad hoc networks, and MiFi cells? And iPods, > and > doodling? There are several ways to get to the internet, and many more > to not pay attention (one of my sons makes the most elaborate little > paper figures when he's bored in class- the more elaborate his > creations > are, the more his mind was elsewhere in class.) And let's not forget > that more and more emergency notification systems rely on IP and you > being reached in a hyper-connected world. > > As far as surgically killing off wireless in a specific room while > leaving it untouched on the other side of garden variety sheetrock > wall > goes, I'm from Arkansas- you'd have to show me. And then I'd be > looking > for the smoke machine and magic mirrors! > > But it does make for interesting cultural discussion. Be forewarned- > non-PC profiling ahead: I have to wonder how many of the complainants > are older, or lacking in classroom management skills to begin with... > > -Lee Badman > Skeptical in Syracuse > > > ________________________________________ > From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv > [[email protected]] On Behalf Of John Rodkey > [[email protected]] > Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 6:03 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Restricting of wireless access in > classrooms > > Build a Faraday cage around each classroom. [ > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage ] Embed wire mesh in all > walls, remove all windows, replace wooden doors with steel. Your > financial people will look askance on this, and future technologist > who > are now required by the faculty to ensure high wireless signal > levels in > every square centimeter of campus (especially classrooms) will curse > the > day you were born, but you will have provided a solution within the > limits you've requested. > > Seriously: you can't really talk with faculty about the ubiquity of > wireless signals and the need to have a workable strategy and > classroom > discipline technique that allows for proper use of those signals? > This > is really the conversation that needs to be happening. As the saying > goes, you need to win the hearts and the minds. Faculty need to win > their students' hearts and minds on this front. Otherwise, you will > have set the stage for a perpetual guerrilla warfare. > > John Rodkey > Associate Director of IT > Westmont College > > On Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 11:02 AM, Urrea, Nick > <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > I'm compiling research to give to our Faculty Technology Committee. > My question is has anybody successfully implemented a solution that > restricts access to wireless internet in classrooms? > Also if you have tried and were not successful in restricting wireless > access in classrooms let me know. Why didn't the solution work. > No opinions please about how students can just go buy a mobile > broadband > card from a cellular carrier, or installing microwaves in the > classrooms, or that teaching techniques should improve. > > > ---- > Nicholas Urrea > Information Technology > UC Hastings College of the Law > [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> > x4718 > > ********** 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/ > . ********** 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/.
