Wireless Technology in Educational System
Kyriakos Mamoukaris, Anastasios A. Economides · 2003
Abstract. Wireless networks will play an important role in education. The infrastructure of wireless networks mostly focuses on wireless ad-hoc networks. They will provide freedom from place restrictions, flexibility, dynamic interaction, scalable multicast services and adaptive architecture. One of their most appealing services is group communication. New educational models and wireless architectures have been proposed to enhance collaborative training. Wireless ad-hoc networks are multihop wireless networks and can provide a dynamic educational environment. However, the lack of fixed infrastructure in ad-hoc wireless networks generates new research problems. This paper examines the different ways wireless technology work and the required prerequisites to integrate it into the educational area. It also describes educational opportunities and challenges of teaching in a real time wireless classroom environment. Since ad-hoc networks do not need fixed infrastructure, the developed protocols must be self-configuring. Additionally, this paper refers to the constraints and barriers, which prevent wireless networks from being accepted. It provides educational models and techniques in order to easier the transition from traditional computerized training systems to wireless training systems. Different approaches for multicast services propose the utilization of several routing protocols or hybrid adaptive mechanisms for joining/leaving groups. Lastly, the paper compares models and architectures in educational wireless networks, taking into consideration the shortages of the educational systems, and predicts future trends and perspectives of integrated educational environments.