This document provides guidance on adding mobile devices to a school network. It discusses assessing current network infrastructure and needs, determining how teachers, staff, and students will use mobile devices, selecting access points, developing a budget, implementing security measures, maintaining the network, creating an acceptable use policy, and reviewing results from another school's mobile network implementation.

1. How to Add Mobile Devices to Your
School Network
WiFi For Mobile Networks

2. Issues to Consider
 What is a Network?
 Current Network
 Needs Analysis:
 Why do we need mobile devices?
 Access points
 Teacher, Staff and Administrator needs
 Student needs
 Budget & Infrastructure
 Implementation
 Maintenance & Testing
 Network Security
 Acceptable Use Policy
 Local Results

3.  A network connects computers to each other, and
often to the Internet
 Switches connect computers and printers within a
building, creating a network, or Intranet.
 Routers connect computers to other networks, or the
Internet
What is a Network?

4. What is a Wireless Network?
 A wireless network allows devices to access each
other (computers, printers etc) and the Internet
without cables. Prior to wireless technology , most
computers connected via phone modems or
Ethernet cables.
 Most newer computers have built-in wireless
networking; older computers may require a
wireless network adapter card (Cisco).
 A wireless router typically extends up to 300
feet, sufficient for a room or home space. (Cisco).

5. Current Network
 How many computers, peripherals and other
devices?
 What servers, operating systems are running?
 What is the speed of the network?
Photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ash-brown/955897562/

6. Why Mobile Devices?
 Students need laptops, tablets and other
devices for school work
 Teachers want to use iPads or other devices
in the classroom
 The computer lab is overused or
overscheduled
 School wants to use cloud storage

7. Access Points
 Existing computer
lab/facilities
 Classrooms
 Common areas:
hallways, locker rooms,
library, lunch room.
 Other areas on campus:
 Teachers lounge
 Labs, gym, field
 Do visitors need access?
Photo source:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cimatti/433593238/

8. Teacher & Staff Needs
 How do teachers plan to use mobile devices?
 Streaming movies in class
 Use iPad apps
 Use student response systems
 Use their own laptop in the classroom
 How do staff members plan to use mobile
devices?
 Attendance
 Contact with parents
 Training purposes

9. Student Needs
 Where will students use
wireless?
 In classrooms for learning
 In common areas
 Possibly outside buildings
to extend the classroom
 Can students bring their
own device (BYOD) ?
 How will students
connect?
 Automatically, or
password?
Photo source:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56155476@N08/6660042
699/

10. Budget
 Faster speeds and higher capacity = Higher costs
 Consider the following:
 Number of devices: Each user may have multiple
devices such as a laptop, tablet and smartphone
 Number of access points – each
classroom, common areas, etc.
 Bandwidth limitations – consider the busiest times
of day and usage expectations.
 Maintenance/Hardware costs
 Initial Setup
 Ongoing maintenance and upgrades
 Plan for expansion

11. Security
 Network security starts with the
router. Becky Waring of
PCWorldsuggests, “If you haven't
already, enable your router's
encryption... The Wireless
Protected Access (WPA) protocol
and more recent WPA2 have
supplanted the older (WEP).
 The router firewall prevents
users on the Internet from
accessing your computer, but
does not protect the network
from being used.
 Make sure you change the
default network name and
password on your router.
 Students should keep passwords
Photo source:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/simon_cocks/453
4589059/

12. Maintenance & Testing
 After the network is configured, Education world
suggests that you check and test the coverage.
 “Do you have coverage in the areas you expected?
Is the performance what you expected? Keep an
open mind and remember that some adjustments
may be needed.”
 On-going maintenance includes back-ups,
security software checks and hardware tests
 Change password regularly/annually for schools
 Make plans for expansion as needs change

13. Acceptable Use Policy
 The Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) document
communicates expectations to students and
parents
 The policy can lay out the school vision, list
specific do’s and don’ts or discuss hardware care
and maintenance.
 It defines the student’s and school’s responsibility
in case of inappropriate use, accessing content,
and loss of equipment.

14. Local Results
 In my previous high school, a wireless network was
put in place several years ago:
 All teachers, staff and students had access
 Devices were configured for each community member
– passwords were not handed out except for guest
access
 Each person had a unique email address, server
space
 Each full-time staffer and student has an iPad
(beginning 2012)
 Laptop, iPad and smartphone use prevalent
 Network frequently does not have enough bandwidth
for streaming video or accessing server mid-day, but
improvements are made annually.
 Network extends through multiple school buildings

15. References
Education World (n.d.). Setting Up School Wi-Fi Part 2: Larger Networks.
Retrieved June 21, 2013 from:http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech
setting_up_school_wifi_part_2.shtml
Cisco Systems (n.d.). What is a Network Switch vs. a Router? Retrieved June 24,
2013 from:
http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/solutions/small_business/resource_center/arti
cles/connect_employees_and_offices/what_is_a_network_switch/index.html
Cisco Systems (n.d.) Wireless Network FAQ. Retrieved June 24, 2013 from:
http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/solutions/small_business/resource_center/arti
cles/work_from_anywhere/wireless_networking_faq/index.html
Waring, Becky. (2007). How to secure your wireless network. PCWorld. Retrieved
from: http://www.pcworld.com/article/130330/article.html