Name of NGM Educator:
Jeremy Rubock, Technology Education, Wilby High School |
Name of Host Company:
St. Paul Travelers: Leo Dionicio |
Grade Level:
9 - 12th grade |
Student Work Types:
- Engineering a WiFi Presence in an educational/corporate environment
- Engineering a long-range WiFi Access Point for Internet access
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Task Abstract:
The students will use available software tools and Wireless Access Points to design and specify a wireless network catchment that would permit seamless mobility for students or teachers within the first floor of the high school. A second strand would be to use the wireless network to include a long-range system that would allow a user, from a distance of hundreds of feet to access the Internet. |
Task Objectives:
- Use a networking simulation program to design a wireless network that would allow for seamless roaming with a laptop computer within a defined area.
- Specify, and price from vendors' websites the networking equipment necessary to construct a viable wireless network to allow seamless roaming within the defined area.
- Collect data from a test wireless network built from available wireless access points and other networking equipment.
- Design and build, test, and refine a long-range antenna that could be attached to an access point to permit a user to access the Internet from a range of hundreds of feet.
- Document their activities, and present their findings to teachers and administration in an effort to secure funding for future improvements in the IT infrastructure in the high school.
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Esssential Understandings/Questions:
- What are the pros and cons of a wireless network compared to a wired network?
- How is it possible to secure a wireless network? Which way is best? Why?
- What is the difference between a LAN and a WAN? Where does WiFi fit in?
- What hardware and software would be needed to construct a robust WiFi network?
- How is a radio signal attenuated, and what can be done to minimize attenuation?
- What factors need to be addressed to convert an omnidirectional antenna into a unidirectional antenna?
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Task Description:
- Design, simulate, and specify a wireless network for the ground floor of Wilby High school that would permit a student or teacher with a laptop to seamlessly go from room to room while still being able to access the Internet.
- Design, specify, and build a unidirectional antenna for a Wireless Access Point that would permit a user to access the Internet with a laptop computer from a distance of hundreds of feet.
- Document the activities with photographs and data. Develop and present a PowerPoint presentation.
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Resources Required:
Laptop computer, Wireless Access Point / Router, antennas, switches, networking cables, network monitoring software (NetStumbler), Cisco Packet Tracer. Tripods. |
Prior Learning Required:
Familiarity with computer and network configuration; Algebra to engineer a long range antenna from formulas. Familiarity with concepts relating to Local Area Networks as well as Wide Area Networks.
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Educator's Comments:
A project of this magnitude would be assigned as a research project. It involves a fair amount of planning and oversight. It will probably take a couple of months to complete. Real-world scenarios will always excite and enable the kids. Let's begin! |