This network complements the City infrastructure, providing connectivity within the overall project area. This in turn facilitates greater, more flexible access to NWRC computing and educational resources, the Internet and the applications and services developed in complementary aspects of the project. NWRC’s role has a number of distinct components:

Wireless Networking On and Off Campus
The first strand of the initiative involved the provision of a wireless network covering the computing, creative studies sections of NWRC, providing wireless connectivity in a range of areas such as classrooms, meeting rooms, student areas, canteens and other places where people congregate. The objective here is to allow enhanced, more flexible access to computing resources and the Internet in the designated areas.

SMART Classrooms
The second strand of the initiative involved enhancing the capabilities of a number of existing NWRC classrooms by equipping them according to the SMART classroom model. A SMART Classroom facilitates a truly collaborative learning environment where students & lecturers, through the use of Interactive Whiteboards, Tablet PC’s and a wireless network, can interact transparently and share knowledge. The facilities on offer include wireless connectivity, interactive whiteboards, and a range of multimedia audio and video equipment and projection systems. Exploiting and making effective use of these facilities poses many challenges and, a review of teaching and learning strategies on an on-going basis leads the way for innovation in the delivery of all courses at the College.

Tablet PC Mandate Initiative
To take full advantage of these resources and the accompanying infrastructure, a pilot project will be undertaken to identify issues related to the development of a “Tablet PC mandate” approach. These machines are lightweight, portable, offering wireless connectivity and include advanced features such as pen based computing, digital ink and advanced collaboration facilities. Staff and students on the HND Interactive Media course were provided with the Tablets and the impact of the impact of this technology on teaching and learning was investigated.

HND course in Interactive Media
Students taking the innovative HND course in Interactive Media at the North West Regional College are involved in a futuristic project designed to optimise collaborative learning and performance. Every student on the programme has a state-of-the-art wireless enabled Tablet PC free of charge, and experiences the latest digital technologies in the SMART classroom. The course, is highly vocational and industry-focused, designed to develop practitioners in both the creative and technical aspects of digital media technologies.

The 2 year programme includes units of study such as moving image, sound, computing and art and design. On completion, students are employable in a range of career primarily as artists, designers and producers of interactive digital content.

For information about the HND Interactive Media Course at NWRC contact: Wilson Campbell – e-mail: Wilson.Campbell@nwrc.ac.uk, Tel No: 028 71 276 472 or james McGarrigle - e-mail: James.McGarrigle@nwrc.ac.uk, Tel No: 028 71 276 568.

For further information on the Wireless Project at North West Regional College, contact Dr Margaret Duddy, Project Officer, t. 028 7127 6348
email: margaret.duddy@nwrc.ac.uk