What is less clear is whether we should provide network access to students in the classroom and if so, how to do it. With the approval of the IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless networking in September 1999, three Ethernet drops in the ceiling should be added to the specifications for smart classrooms on all campuses. These drops will allow the placement of up to three wireless Access Points in every smart classroom. The cost is insignificant. Schools that are not already wired should look carefully at the wireless option.
Wireless classrooms are configurable classrooms.
Seating does not have to be in fixed rows. Classroom furniture can be rearranged to suit the needs of each class. Campuses such as Clemson have gone far down the wired road. All faculty offices and all dorm rooms have been wired. We have 15 classrooms with wired network access at the student tables and 60 smart classrooms.