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 |
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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.
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Keywords:
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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. |
© Holmes, Cahill, Flanagan, Stewart, O'Callaghan - June 2002