Infrastructure Considerations

The BYOD concept is the future and the present of learning; it’s a mobile learning (M-learning) smorgasbord.  The capabilities are constantly evolving and to address the increase in users, devices, applications and locations, schools need to focus on improving wireless services.  Although it’s out of sight and mostly out of the minds of the users, BYOD infrastructure is used in abundance to ensure access.  Most learning management systems (LMS) used for M-learning depend on technical infrastructure to support them.  A solid wireless network infrastructure is key to a school’s success with BYOD.  Yesterday’s wireless network coverage will not work for the M-learning school environment of today.  Traditional wireless networks do not have the capacity to handle the coverage needed for massive mobile device access.  Administrators have pondered the best approach and ratio for technology upgrade and utilization.  A precise formula for bandwidth per student and virtual activity does not exist.  However, according Wainwright (2014), schools preparing to implement BYOD should consider wireless networks that can sector users based upon title role and type of mobile device used (Capacity vs Coverage section).  Additionally, they should consider streamlined enrollment and low cost connectivity.

In the age of fiscal restraint, many schools have campaigned and crusaded for funding to modernize their e-learning programs.  Yet, by the time all the money has been raised, new equipment is purchased and installed; the technology is no longer an advancement but archaic.  This challenge has prompted some schools to purchase older and cheaper mechanisms.  Nevertheless, in the world of technology, older is not wiser and less is not more! “Older generation wireless technology will degrade the wireless experience for users and necessitate the installation of more wireless access points” (Simmons, 2014, p. 14).  Thus, a number of education institutions have elected to add more access points to their wireless network to increase access across their campuses.  Additions like these can be centrally managed and have the potential to lower or eliminate additional costs.  According to the Center for Digital Education (2013), hundreds of schools have been able to save thousands of dollars per year in carrier fees by replacing fixed-line broadband connections with long-range Wi-Fi connections.  One of the most popular wireless solutions for academic institutions is the innovation of miniaturized adaptive antenna array technology.  This technology adapts to and learns from the environment to find the best combination of antenna elements to transmit a signal.  Essentially, it listens and learns from the response of data traffic from user devices.  Additionally, the antenna is able to self-focus the Wi-Fi signals to each client, which creates stronger and more controllable transmissions.

A great majority of schools and businesses chose Cisco Systems as their Wireless Local Area Network (LAN) Controller (WLC).  “Cisco wireless bridges to provide cost-effective wireless connectivity to portable buildings on several campuses.  Their platform has resulted in significant savings per building connection and the bridges allow the district to quickly adjust to fluctuating student populations while avoiding cable run and tunneling costs” (Cisco Systems Inc., 2010, para 5).  Regardless of the type of wireless system used, investing in a solid e-learning infrastructure will allow the school to introduce more mobile device capabilities in the future to continue to support various academic situations within ever-changing technologies.  Once the modernized network is in place, schools must find a way to manage mobile learning device using some form of mobile device management (MDM) plan.  

A good MDM directs devices and users to the right network partitions and resources.  It also helps schools enroll, manage, secure, monitor and support students, faculty and devices on the network.  Simply put, it protects students on the network.  MDM also comes in handy with preventing security compromises, restricts content as needed, detects and eliminates viruses, and complies with internal and external policies such as the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and federal privacy laws.  “These requirements ensure that the network operates optimally by preventing unlimited access to YouTube and other resources that consume large amounts of bandwidth” (The Center For Digital Education, 2013, p.5).  There is software available to implement your MDM and it’s aimed at protecting your education investment and aiding educators with advancing network integration into learning and teaching.

Increasing access for students and teachers also increases anxiety for administrators.  Maintaining a secure network is one of the biggest barriers to incorporating the BYOD concept.  Schools should plan to restrict access to certain websites and applications on their network; doing so will help detect unauthorized access and minimize security risks.  Segmented access has reportedly worked for several schools.  Ullman (2011) stated that children can connect their personal mobile devices at home to a commercial network, such as Verizon, and they also their device at school through a monitored Wi-Fi network that filter internet access through the school’s filtering system, which protects students from going to inappropriate websites. Wireless connectivity at school is now the standard not the exception.  BYOD lesson plans are on the market and in the classrooms and transforming learning environments.  E-learning has officially morphed into M-learning and more change is on the horizon.

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