Wireless Initiative Trinity College, Dublin
Cutting the Strings in a Wireless Environment:
An exploration of learning tools created by students for students.
A report on the 2nd Stage of the INTEL Wireless Initiative at Trinity College Dublin
Wireless Laptops - The New Irish Hedge-School
Computer Science students at Trinity College, Dublin
during a wireless "lecture" via laptops

This paper examines the "Pinocchio effect" experience of students with wireless network connection and explores the potential inherent in exploiting the new environments provided by wireless networked laptops. We believe that the "distractive" effect of ubiquitous network access for students presents its own problems, and within them, the seeds of their solutions.

The expectations of educators and education providers of the students' use of wireless network are, therefore, examined and compared with actual student behaviour, against the backdrop of the 'no strings' wireless culture.

Keywords:

  • wireless
  • communal constructivism
  • tools for teaching and learning

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Background
The Department of Computer Science at Trinity College, Dublin are continuing to expand wireless network access across the campus and extend wireless access to students on a range of computer science courses. Students on courses such as the Master's Levels " Networks and Distributed Systems", and "IT in Education" and on primary degree level Computer Science courses use wireless-networked laptops within and outside classes as their primary tool in the learning experience.
Pinocchio Effect
No Strings
Knowledge Spaces
Instant Messaging System
References
Pinocchio
Effect
No
Strings
Knowledge
Spaces
Instant
Messaging
Conclusions
References

 

© Holmes, Cahill, Flanagan, Stewart, O'Callaghan - June 2002