Current Filter: Network>>>>>News>

   

The Unknown Network, a study commissioned by Aerohive Networks of 560 IT decision makers in schools around the world, found widespread dissatisfaction in the current deployment of Wi-Fi services to meet the needs of students and teachers. The findings show that 92% of IT decision makers in schools recognise the importance of high-quality Wi-Fi for the learning experience. Only 41% of respondents however feel they have deployed Wi-Fi that provides enough visibility and control to support students with their learning. According to the study, while access to budgets remains competitive, investment in Wi-Fi and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) connectivity solutions will be a major priority for a large proportion of IT managers in 2016. Keyfindings include:

• The Unknown Network report confirms that devices and mobile technology have permeated the teaching environment in recent years. Schools have invested heavily in laptops and tablets to enrich the learning experience. 75% of schools and other educational institutions have embraced and actively encourage BYOD.

• Respondents believe high quality Wi-Fi will most likely improve learning outcomes for IT / technology, science, and maths which is significant, given that global demand for a workforce skilled in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects continues to grow.

• But only 42% of IT managers feel they have the controls in place to manage this influx of new devices and a lack of network intelligence means many cannot meet their school’s Wi-Fi demands. This has created what Aerohive terms as the ‘network of the unknown,’ preventing schools from fulfilling their duty of care to students and providing the best learning experience.

• Consequently, almost all (95%) IT managers feel teachers and students aren’t satisfied with school Wi-Fi systems. The underlying problem is revealed to be poor visibility over the portfolio of devices being used, and how they are being used, leading to a lack of control. Without this network of intelligence, IT managers suggest that they are unable to plan for Wi-Fi demand to ensure they are meeting the teaching needs of their schools.

• For schools to achieve their learning outcomes and remain competitive, future-proofed technology is crucial. 78% of educational establishments think they will need to review and update their Wi-Fi provision within the next year to compete with the best schools in their area. For some, the need is even more pressing: 48% think that this review needs to happen now or within the next 6 months.

• By using network intelligence to respond to these changes, schools have a better chance to mitigate duty-of-care concerns, reduce improper use of bandwidth, and ensure Wi-Fi provision fulfils its purpose – improving learning outcomes.

A total of 560 IT decision makers with ultimate responsibility for the delivery of IT within their educational establishments were surveyed in December 2015. Respondents were from eight global regions, including the UK, France, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Italy, Nordics, Australia, and New Zealand. The survey included schools of various sizes, ownership models, and IT budgets. The research was commissioned by Aerohive, and conducted by Loudhouse, a London-based independent research agency.

“The internet provides schools with an invaluable resource for teaching and learning, but without effective Wi-Fi it can’t be used to its full potential,” said Paul Hennin, senior director, international marketing, Aerohive Networks. “When teaching resources can’t be loaded, or programmes stall and crash, this eats into children’s learning time. Schools cannot afford to fall behind in digital learning.”