Taming Invisible Realms: New Tools for Managing Learning Space Wireless Environments
Owen G. McGrath · 2023
Wireless communication technologies underlie a wide range of teaching and learning activities in higher education today. The scope and reach of wireless systems now extend to most activities that occur inside lecture halls, classrooms, computer labs, and informal study areas. Instructors and students rely upon continuous wireless connections in a traditional lecture, seminar, or even newer active learning formats while they coordinate their activities around digital presentations. Unfortunately, the very success of the wireless revolution regularly contributes to chronic problems as so many people and activities rely upon this convenient mode to connect. In particular, the very invisibility inherent in wireless technology tends to obscure the state, capacity, and coverage options for managing the many and varied connections across different providers, the multiple protocols in use, and the number of users operating in the same space. When it works, we take it for granted. When it fails, we experience a crisis. There's little in between in terms of visualizing, analyzing, and forecasting the performance of this vital but invisible realm. Front-line educational technology support staff are left with little information to analyze what's going on, let alone contribute towards sustainable solutions for making it more reliable. This paper surveys low-cost devices along with PC and smartphone software applications in the hands of academic technology support staff can help them identify and track down connectivity problems in the ever-more complicated wireless environments on campus.