Computing


Icomm Technologies calls on educators to become ‘wireless-fit’


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T service, support and solutions provider, Icomm Technologies has carried out a survey to expose the state of the UK’s wireless network capabilities across the education sector. The survey – conducted at last month’s Education Innovation conference – reveals that 89% of educators acknowledge that wireless networks are a fundamental part of delivering an effective learning environment. However, only 52% of respondents said that their wireless networks were currently up to the job, with regular disconnection from the network cited as a key failing.


The survey comes as part of a wider national campaign launched by Icomm to improve wireless capabilities within education buildings across the UK, in a bid to get educators ‘wireless-fit.’


As part of the campaign, Icomm will offer free wireless audits to schools and colleges throughout the UK. The audits, carried out by a CRB-cleared team from Icomm, will help educational institutions to assess the effectiveness of their existing wireless infrastructures – highlighting issues such as future capacity and the impact different building materials have on wireless performance.


Icomm Technologies’ Steve Buet, said: “With such a heavy reliance on mobile devices, failure of the wireless infrastructure can be catastrophic. All too often we visit schools where staff have lost confidence in the use of mobile technologies, with trolleys of laptops and


Parents go ‘back to the school’ to brush up on e-safety


St Leonard’s First School in Dunston joined forces with Staffordshire-based educational technology specialist Fantastict recently to host a workshop aimed at helping parents to ensure their children make the most of their iPads and tablets while staying safe online.


Course leader Sally Tippett exlpained: “In addition to providing parents with peace of mind that they can ensure their children stay safe online we wanted to make the session fun and interactive. We explored how to make puppet shows on the iPads and each group of parents produced their own little show about a Princess called Prudence and her handsome knight, Kevin! I wanted to show parents how easily their children can create exciting multimedia projects and use the iPad for learning as well as for games. We also explored augmented reality using children's own drawings and brought their artwork alive with video explanations from the children themselves.” The course was the brainchild of St Leonard’s headteacher Julie Lane, who was keen to promote the use of smart technology in school to enhance learning. School Business Manager Caron Armstrong added: “The session was a huge success, with parents commenting on how useful they found the experience. We have followed the session up with regular newsletters that give further tips and advice as to useful apps such as Book Creator and Beebot, and we have also launched a successful ICT club on Thursdays after school. This has not only been a real hit with parents but has attracted members of the wider community keen to brush up their skills. “Overall, we’re delighted with the way that the workshop went and would highly recommend a Fantastict workshop to other schools looking to engage parents in ICT matters.”


u0800 030 5241 uwww.fantastict.co.uk 24 www.education-today.co.uk


tablets that sit dormant because the wireless network does not adequately support their use during lessons. Our recent survey backs this up, with a worryingly high amount of respondents lacking confidence in their existing wireless capabilities.”


Meru Education-Grade Wi-Fi supports 'Most Improved' school Hove Park


Meru Networks has announced that Hove Park School in Brighton, East Sussex has deployed a Meru Education-grade (MEG) wireless solution to support Apple iPads given to each of its 1,700 students. The school also makes extensive use of iTunes U, in addition to Apple TV, which is supported using Meru Bonjour Service Control. Hove Park School joins more than 3,000 schools in the UK and Ireland currently using Meru MEG solutions.


"iPads have revolutionised the way we teach and the way students learn. There's a real sense nowadays that unless education environments move with the pace of change of technology, they will fall behind," said Niel McLeod, deputy head teacher and business manager at Hove Park School. "Our device of choice is the iPad. With it, we have been able to dramatically increase the ability to access information, increase the range of tools and applications available and increase the amount of student collaboration with one another and with others beyond the walls of the school. We've effectively democratised the classroom!"


"There's a real buzz about Hove Park at the moment and we're delighted to be part of the school's transition to a personalised learning environment where every pupil has access to an iPad," said Mark Howell, area director for UK and Ireland at Meru. "The school's decision to empower students to take responsibility for their learning and encourage more independent and creative learning is a great example of how a school can improve performance and raise standards through technology."


uwww.merunetworks.com April 2014


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