Exploring processes and outcomes of wireless internet in higher education: a case study of a university’s early experience

Many universities in the UK have recently started offering their staff and students free wireless Internet access through Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technologies, such as Wi‐Fi. Based on a small empirical study of WLAN deployment in a university setting, the article explores adoption processes of the new technology by both the organisation and individuals, and considers factors behind the decision to offer wireless and how students as well as teachers appear to have responded so far. Despite technologists’ enthusiasm for the new learning opportunities created by the technology, wireless availability does not appear to result in, or be linked to, a coherent m‐learning strategy. Furthermore, the findings suggest that too little attention has been paid to understanding students’ social contexts of use and attitudes towards the technology, which are seen as pivotal to the development of wireless pedagogical uses.