Enhancing the in-classroom teaching/learning experience using wireless technology

The widespread use of wireless technologies in our everyday lives has made their application to electronic-learning (e-learning) environments, such as the classroom, imminent. However, there are several security and authentication issues that must be addressed before wireless devices can be used in any teaching scenarios including those requiring examination/testing. This paper addresses some of the issues that currently hinder (and complicate) the introduction of such devices to the classroom. We discuss and propose solutions to the challenges of providing a secure, nondistracting, web-based wireless environment suitable for both class lectures and quizzing scenarios. We present a novel system which, regardless of class size, authoritatively determines who is logging on to utilize an e-learning application and whether a student is accessing the application from the classroom or otherwise. The system also allows for the instructor to monitor the ways students use their wireless devices, an issue critical to maintaining integrity especially in quizzing situations. In addition to being secure, we propose a system flexible enough to allow an instructor to selectively control Internet, intranet or virtual LAN (VLAN) resources students have access to. Our proposed system provides a secure and easily adaptable environment that allows for tie development of secure e-learning applications which will significantly enhance the classroom experience for both instructors and students.