Wireless West PointWest Point's Wireless Network: Fast, Secure, and Convenient
Active LearningResearch has shown that students learn and retain the least knowledge when the professor lectures and the most when the student is actively involved in learning activities. West Point is incorporating more active learning activities into each course as we continually improve the quality of the cadet education. Information technology is an important catalyst in active learning. Computers connected to the wireless network running the right software can be used to really enhance teaching and learning. Creating an information-rich environment is one of the key enablers of our goal: that graduates anticipate and respond effectively to the uncertainties of a changing technological, social, political, and economic world.
West Point uses the high-bandwidth 802.11a standard. Because West Point's classes are small (18 or less) the result is over 10 times the bandwidth of a comparable 802.11b network. West Point's wireless network is also secure from attacks. West Point uses a security firewall that includes National Institute of Standards and Technology certified encryption and integrity protection. It also verifies the identity of both the wireless computer and the access point - eliminating a major vulnerability in wireless networks. This security not only keeps the network secure from outsiders but allows us to use laptop computers and the wireless network for graded work. Observations by Leading IT Media about Wireless West PointSee what others are saying about the West Point Wireless Network Project SMC Connects Cadets in West Point's Wireless Classrooms, 802.11a News, Feb 13, 2003, http://www.80211anews.com/publications/page352-456724.asp High Marks for Security, Information Security Magazine, April 2003, http://www.infosecuritymag.com/2003/apr/highmarks.shtml Cadets Scale the WirelessWall, 802.11 Planet, Dec 3, 2002. http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1551021 West Point Secures Wireless LAN, Information Week, Dec 9, 2002 http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20021206S0012 Right to the Point, InfoWorld, Dec 13, 2002 http://www.infoworld.com/article/02/12/13/021216opwireless_1.html West Point chooses high-end Wi-Fi security, Dec 02, 2002, http://www.infoworld.com/article/02/12/02/021202hnwestpoint_1.html West Point learns wireless lessons, Mobile Village, 28 Feb,
2003, http://www.mobilevillage.com/news/2003.02.28/nw-westpoint.htm IEEE 802.11a goes to West Point: Could military training take 802.11a to prime time? IBM Roaming Charges, Feb 1, 2003 http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/wireless/library/wi-roam7/index.html Pentagon seen backing off hard-line wireless stance, Network World, 17 Feb 2003, http://www.sparkpr.com/news_detail.php?n_id=131 Staying on Point with Wireless, Federal Computer Week, 12 Feb
2003, http://www.construction.com/technologyother/2003/02/12/34951/ Wi-Fi Means Business, Business Week, 28 Apr 2003, http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_17/b3830601.htm Wireless at West Point, Government Computer News, 21 Apr 03, http://www.gcn.com/22_8/tech-report/21744-1.html West Point Creates Campus Wireless Network After Overcoming Security Issues, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 8 Jan 2003. http://chronicle.com/free/2003/01/2003010801t.htm |
West Point has one of the world's largest high-speed, secure wireless
networks. It is primarily used to enhance teaching and learning but
also makes it more convenient for students, staff and faculty. Everywhere
at West Point that teaching and learning occur has wireless connectivity.
This not only includes the classrooms, but conference rooms, faculty
offices, the Library, and the student union.
Each
cadet is issued a state-of-the-art notebook computer that is configured
to work with the high-speed wired connection in the cadet room and with
the wireless network. During the week before classes start, cadets pick
up their new computer and with the help of other cadets and the faculty
set up the computer. Before the first class, each cadet will not only
set up their computer but know how to use it to accomplish basic tasks.