Wireless network boosts college options

Hereward College, the national integrated college for disabled students, is hoping its newly installed wireless local area network (WLAN) will provide huge benefits to both students and staff.

The converged IP network, installed by Scalable Networks, allows students and staff at the college to access web-based services wherever they are.

The network will initially be used to support the college's bespoke data applications such as the virtual learning environment and the Hereward Access for Learners Online.

Using these applications, students can access online resource libraries, e-assignments and work together on coursework projects.

Ian Meaton, network manager at the college told silicon.com: "These e-learning programmes and resources play a pivotal role in ensuring all our students, whatever their disability, gain access to the highest quality education."

The campus-wide coverage of the network means students with laptops or other wireless devices can enjoy improved mobility, which "enhances their independence and lets them socially connect with their peers", said Meaton.

The A to Z of Wireless

Click on the links below to find out why wireless tech is soon going to be everywhere.

A is for Antivirus
B is for Bluetooth
C is for The Cloud
D is for dotMobi
E is for Email
F is for FMC
G is for GPS
H is for HSDPA
I is for i-mode
J is for Japan Air
K is for Korea
L is for LBS
M is for M2M
N is for NFC
O is for Operating systems
P is for Pubs
Q is for QoS
R is for Roaming
S is for Satellite
T is for TV
U is for UMTS
V is for Virgin
W is for WiMax
X is for XDA
Y is for Yucca
Z is for Zigbee

Meaton is also confident the benefits for staff will be significant. The introduction of Spectra software developed by Hereward, means staff can do away with many paper-based processes. They can also monitor student attendance, plan lessons and make progress reports.

He said: "In providing laptops, lecturers are able to move freely around the classroom and campus, identify and deal with problems quickly, and reduce the pre- and post-lesson workload."

Another major benefit is that the network can be used to raise medical alerts in the event of an emergency.

The college has plans to make further use of the network once it has given it time to bed in. Meaton added: "In the near future we're planning to deploy IP handsets to replace our Dect [Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications] system and enable voice over WLAN. This will deliver greater voice mobility and alerting capabilities."