In today's digital age, technology plays a crucial role in education, and having reliable Wi-Fi access in schools has become more important than ever. 

With the increasing use of laptops, tablets, and other devices in the classroom, a strong Wi-Fi connection is essential for enhancing the learning experience and preparing students for the future.

Here are five ways in which improved Wi-Fi access can benefit your school.

Seamless integration of technology to the classroom

As many teachers have experienced over the years, there’s nothing worse than standing before a boisterous, impatient class of Year Nines with a powerpoint that simply won’t load. Whether you like it or not, technology has been so deeply ingrained in our education system that learning can become disrupted when it malfunctions. 

With a stable and fast internet connection, teachers can ensure learning runs as smoothly as possible. They'll also be able to incorporate a wide range of online resources into their lessons, such as educational videos, interactive simulations, and even digital excursions (the Google Expeditions feature now allows classes to take virtual field trips to places like Mount Everest and the Louvre).

This not only makes learning more engaging but also caters to different learning styles, helping students grasp difficult concepts more easily. 

For projects and assignments, access to online tools and databases empowers students to conduct in-depth research, helping them develop critical thinking skills and improve their analytical ability.

With fast, accessible Wi-Fi, teachers can make the most of these digital resources and deliver learning in a quality, time-efficient manner.

Increased collaboration

Within school environments, teamwork and collaboration are encouraged from an early age. From working on a joint presentation to peer assessing classwork, students are continuously required to communicate with each other and share ideas.

Improved Wi-Fi access enables students to collaborate with their peers on projects and communicate with teachers in real-time. Since the relaxation of restrictions on schools imposed during the height of the Covid pandemic, there have been concerns about increased absence from school, and in particular an increase in the proportion of pupils with high levels of absence.

At the time of writing, according to figures by the Department for Education, the absence rate for the 2023/24 academic year to date is 7%. While the factors that contribute to poor attendance are numbersome and complex, it’s increasingly likely that not all children in a class will be present on a day-to-day basis. Whether it's through video conferencing, messaging apps, or collaborative online platforms, students can work together effortlessly, regardless of their physical location. 

Microsoft 365 for Education and Google Workspace for Education have proven to be particularly efficient facilitators of this.

But these learning platforms are both cloud-based, in a school environment which is increasingly enabled by mobile devices, meaning school-life relies heavily on connectivity.

Nothing illustrates this point more starkly than the recent news of a secondary academy having to fully close to pupils for the day due to the Wi-Fi being down.

An introduction to the digital world

In an increasingly digital world, it is essential for students to develop digital literacy skills to thrive beyond the classroom. 

Improved Wi-Fi access in schools helps students become familiar with technology from a young age, preparing them for the workplace and the FE/HE demands that an increasingly digital future will place on them.

By integrating technology into the curriculum, students learn how to use digital tools effectively, navigate online resources safely, and develop critical thinking skills to evaluate information. In a technological landscape that is often rife with altered images, clickbait and misinformation, it’s important that students are able to differentiate between what’s real and what’s fake. 

Having reliable access to Wi-Fi can therefore help teach staff and students to critically evaluate online information and verify the credibility of sources before relying on them. Amid the rise of AI in education and beyond, this is increasingly crucial - students will need to differentiate between misinformation and disinformation, whether it’s a historical source or a recent meme on X (formerly Twitter). Educational settings can teach children these digital literacy skills in a safe environment, through exposure to technology and encouragement of open discussion.

Strengthening the Wi-Fi capabilities of your institution can also be particularly helpful for students who wish to pursue STEM careers. By introducing children to specific software and apps from an early age, they will be well-equipped to pursue their chosen career path post-education.

Simplifying administrative responsibilities

As well as providing accessible educational material, strengthening your Wi-Fi connection can also help facilitate administrative tasks. Accessing student records, distributing institution-wide emails and managing budgets will all be made easier with a strong internet connection. Whether it’s using iPads to record student attendance or sending out mass emails to parents alerting them to school closure during bad weather, technology can be utilised efficiently to keep the school running smoothly. 

Additionally, strong Wi-Fi enables faster and more reliable communication among staff members. This can help important information circulate more quickly and improve coordination of tasks - if a senior staff member needs to quickly inform all teachers about a change in schedule for an upcoming staff meeting, a reliable internet connection will simplify the job. 

Improved Wi-Fi access will also allow administrators to access school networks and systems remotely, enabling them to work from home or off-site if needed. This can be extremely useful during emergency situations such as school closures, as staff members will be able to continue working on essential tasks such as payroll processing and budget planning.

Meeting legal requirements

It’s important to remember that your school or MAT is legally obliged to meet certain standards when it comes to wireless connectivity. Under ‘Wireless network standards for schools and colleges’, schools in the UK must:
  • Use the latest wireless network standard approved by the Wi-Fi Alliance
  • Have a fully functional signal from your wireless network throughout the school or college buildings and externally where required
  • Have a solution that can centrally manage the wireless network
  • Install security features to stop unauthorised access

These guidelines are designed to ensure that schools run properly and have rigid protocols in place to protect student data. 

From installing a wireless solution that uses the Wi-Fi 6 standard to positioning Wi-Fi access points around site to guarantee fully functional signal, improving the wireless connectivity of your institution can help ensure you don’t fall foul of the law.

That’s why it’s crucial to upgrade your Wi-Fi solutions to meet the current requirements.

How Novatia can help

Getting your classrooms connected with the latest Wi-Fi systems could minimise disruptions, so you have more time to focus on the areas of teaching, learning and administration that can have the greatest impact.

When it comes to keeping up with the latest connectivity standards, institutions should be looking towards the future. While 2024 sees a movement from Wi-FI 6e (802.11ax) to Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), we already have Wi-Fi 8 (802.11bn) set to be implemented in 2028. 

That’s why it’s important to choose the right solution - and to collaborate with reliable ICT consultants who can help you navigate the procurement and implementation process. 

Here at Novatia, we can guide you through the process via our three-step approach:

  • Identify your specific requirements
  • Provide quotation and support with procurement
  • Supply and install the solution

To find out more about our solutions, please get in touch with us today. 

 
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