Wireless Technologies in Education

Abstract

The development and change in computer technologies today is so incredibly fast, and the lifecycle of technologies has been so shortened, that new technologies sprout up to replace old ones like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. However, the utilization of common features of the computer and the Internet, such as using spreadsheets and searching for resources over the Internet, are still considered to be essential for supporting learning in all levels of education. The Internet began facilitating Web-based learning in the early 1990s, and wireless technology has been offering stunning opportunities for educators since the late 1990s. A growing volume of research suggests that wireless and mobile technologies have the potential to enable collaborative learning (DiGiano, Yarnall, Patton, Roschelle, Tatar, & Manley, 2002), sharing of resources faster and more effectively (Kranz, 2002), and connection to resources at any time and from any place, as well as to have a positive impact on motivation (Wangemann, Lewis & Squires, 2003). Boerner (2002) has identified the benefits of implementing wireless networking on campus; these include mobility, ease of installation, less space constraints, less cost, and the flexibility to expand and upgrade systems. Improving communication technologies and affordable mobile devices accelerates the adoption of wireless technologies in the classroom, and more and more schools have been connecting to the Internet with wireless technologies.