EDUCAUSE | Documents Contributed by ECAR and WLAN

Wireless Networking in Higher Education

drupal — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 13:59:08 -0500

This is the 2002 ECAR survey instrument used for ECAR Research Study concerning wireless networking.

Wireless LAN Systems: What a Difference a Year Makes

drupal — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 11:04:23 -0600

Current wireless local area network (WLAN) system offerings go a long way toward addressing the planning, verification, deployment, and management requirements of network managers. However, many of the features cannot scale to handle thousands of users in a single switch, resulting in duplication of more complex functions that the WLAN systems purport to eliminate. A balanced approach that includes the ability to route traffic as needed, distribute control of the radio frequency environment, and centralize policy management will emerge as the winner. Burton Group (www.burtongroup.com) provides technically in-depth research and advisory services for colleges and universities, government agencies, and commercial enterprises. Burton Group's practical and unbiased research and advice helps technologists make smart IT infrastructure decisions in increasingly complex environments. Burton Group covers directories, identity management, application platforms, architecture, and network and telecom infrastructure topics. Like ECAR, Burton Group is an unbiased advocate for the user and more than 80% of Burton Group's clients are user organizations rather than suppliers. EDUCAUSE member institutions can become users of Burton Group research services through EDUCAUSE pricing. Burton Group is an ECAR partner and can be contacted by email at slesueur@burtongroup.com or by telephone (801-373-5767).

M-Learning: Emergent Pedagogical and Campus Issues in the Mobile Learning Environment

drupal — Tue, 27 Jul 2004 10:08:16 -0500

Through a series of case studies, this research bulletin describes the current state of wireless, mobile learning (m-learning) in higher education. It explores the impact of mobile technologies on new learning spaces and on teaching and learning behaviors, both inside and outside the classroom.

Wireless Networking in Higher Education Key Findings

drupal — Wed, 30 Jun 2004 18:53:54 -0500

This summary provides an analysis of wireless networking and is based on an analysis of responses from nearly 400 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada conducted in December 2001. This summary provides institutional decision makers with the rate of adoption of wireless networking and wireless standards in higher education, key practices associated with wireless, satisfaction with wireless networking, and plans for the future.

Wireless Networking at Carnegie Mellon University

drupal — Fri, 16 Aug 2002 13:56:34 -0500

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a well-known pioneer in many uses of IT in higher education. In 1994, CMU was conducting about $20 million of research into mobile and wearable computing and crafted a vision of a wireless campus network. In 1995, well before the existence of 802.11x standards, wireless functioned either as a replacement for point-to-point links between buildings or to provide mobility for a piece of equipment. By 2000, CMU deployed wireless using 802.11 access points (AP) in 30 buildings (3 million square feet), with leakage providing limited outdoor coverage. This ECAR case study reviews CMU's AP placement, channel allocation, support and funding strategies. The study also reviews handheld/PDA wireless applications at CMU and gauges the impact of wireless networking at this university.

Wireless Networking at Dartmouth College

drupal — Fri, 16 Aug 2002 14:26:27 -0500

This brief study documents the deployment of wireless networking at Dartmouth College. Dartmouth College built on the success of a number of small, departmentally-driven wireless initiatives and in October 2000 began a more ambitious campus-wide wireless initiative. This ECAR study details the Dartmouth implementation of wireless, including the selection of wireless standards, the deployment and funding strategy, the applications selected, and the patterns of wireless usage at this Ivy League institution.

Wireless Networking at Drexel University

drupal — Fri, 16 Aug 2002 14:19:57 -0500

This brief study documents the deployment of wireless networking at Drexel University. Drexel University has a long history of institution wide IT initiatives based on a mission that includes provision for technologically enhanced academic programs. President Constantine Papdakis identified wireless a top priority " … to make the computer an every day, every hour moment in the learning process." This ECAR study details the Drexel implementation of this decision, including the selection of wireless standards, the deployment strategy and issues, the selection of wireless standards, and reviews the perceived benefits and lessons learned at this university. This study also discusses how campus-wide deployment of wireless networking at Drexel University is affecting core institutional activities and in particular the impact of wireless on Drexel's merger with the Medical College of Pennsylvania and the Hahnemann Medical University.

Wireless Networking at Salt Lake Community College

drupal — Fri, 16 Aug 2002 14:22:36 -0500

This brief study documents the deployment of wireless networking at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). SLCC President Lynn Cundiff assumed office in 2000 to find none of the College's dormitories had been wired. This ECAR case describes SLCC's decision to use wireless networking to address community needs and how a campus wide wireless network was designed, funded, and completed by March 2002. This study also addresses the patterns of wireless usage at this community college and addresses how the IT leadership of this institution thinks about the future of wireless at SLCC.

Wireless Networking at The University of Tennessee

drupal — Fri, 16 Aug 2002 12:48:47 -0500

This brief study documents the deployment of wireless networking at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. The former president of this land grant university decided in October 2000 that UT Knoxville would provide campus-wide wireless networking by August 2001. This ECAR study details the UT – Knoxville implementation of this decision, including the selection of wireless standards, the deployment strategy, the vendor selection process and outcomes, the selection of wireless standards, and reviews the perceived benefits and lessons learned at this university. This study also discusses how UT Knoxville funds wireless networking and how campus-wide deployment is affecting core institutional activities.

Wireless Networking in Higher Education

drupal — Tue, 06 Aug 2002 17:24:54 -0500

This study provides an analysis of wireless networking and is based on an analysis of responses from nearly 400 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada conducted in December 2001. This report provides institutional decision makers with the rate of adoption of wireless networking and wireless standards in higher education, key practices associated with wireless, satisfaction with wireless networking, and plans for the future. This study provides empirical data regarding spending patterns, attitudes, performance benchmarks, and peer expectations. This is the second ECAR Research Study, Vol. 2, 2002 and includes is supplemented by six case studies.