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Kyle Academy becomes one of the first schools to offer disruptive technology, LiFi to their students in the classroom

Connectivity in the classroom opens up a world of knowledge and resources that extend far beyond any collection of textbooks or jotters. However, not all schools are connected equally, and poor connectivity can result in students falling victim to the digital divide. LiFi in the classroom can make a world of difference.

Kyle Academy located in Scotland’s Ayrshire Council has explored how a technology called LiFi can bridge the divide for their students. Kyle Academy deployed LiFi  in a classroom not only giving students unprecedented access to digital resources they are accessing those resources with the most cutting-edge wireless communications technology in the market called LiFi.

The project, supported by the Scottish Futures Trust, Scottish Government, The University of Edinburgh and  pureLiFi  demonstrated how investment in cutting-edge wireless communications can provide unprecedented connectivity and enhance the learning environment by allowing access to high-bandwidth learning materials such as videos and e-books. This is something traditional Wi-Fi networks struggle to provide due to being overloaded with activity by hundreds of students and staff downloading content at the same time. This investment in world-class wireless communications technology supports Education Scotland’s strategic ambition to promote high-quality professional learning and leadership amongst education practitioners.

LiFi is high-speed, bidirectional and fully networked wireless communication of data using light. LiFi uses light rather than radio waves used in Wi-Fi to transmit data. LiFi offers faster speeds, greater security and unprecedented data density meaning more data can be transmitted at a time compared to Wi-Fi.

 

LiFi Installation in the classroom

 

The WiFi APs are deployed in the corridors of the school such that they serve multiple classrooms simultaneously. This is typical of deployments over the last decade, but no longer considered “good practice”. The current arrangement can result in a large number of users per AP which has the potential to introduce significant overhead in the system and reduce the achievable per-user, as well as total, data throughput that can be achieved by such a system.

 

 

pureLiFi’s latest product LiFi-XC was installed in Kyle Academy’s modern studies classroom. Eight LiFi enabled lights were introduced in the ceiling allowing for full coverage of the student and teachers working areas. Each student was given access to LiFi-XC Stations that plug into their laptops enabling high-speed connectivity through the lights. Students, were able to stream educational videos and download resources with seamless connectivity where they struggled to before, allowing them to get more out of their 45-minute periods with their teacher. In the future LiFi can unlock complete new educational environments by enabling next-generation technology like virtual and augmented reality.

 

With the increasing number of internet-connected devices in classrooms, installing LiFi alongside Wi-Fi provides additional bandwidth to reduce network congestion – enabling students to stream educational videos and download resources with seamless connectivity. Wireless connectivity is also in growing demand as schools seek to cater for more students by maximising the use of space with flexible work areas through the use of mobile devices, such as laptops, rather than a room of wired-internet PCs.

LiFi Installation Map

Alistair Banham CEO of pureLiFi

“LiFi is a disruptive technology that offers access to unprecedented bandwidth and data. At Kyle Academy, LiFi has transformed the classroom into a fully connected environment allowing students to have a world of educational tools at their fingertips through light. The students at Kyle Academy are taking part in the early adoption of technology that will someday be in every light and every device connecting everyone and everything. This is an opportunity we can all be excited about.”

Student Toby Nixon Said:

“It is exciting to be part the world first LiFi deployment in a school especially because it is a technology born in Scotland a country with a proud history of innovation. “

Head over to this piece of news to find out what Paul Wheelhouse, MSP Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands and William Grant, Councillor, say about this LiFi deployment.

 According to research by popular comparison site uSwitch 69% of UK, parents believe that internet is essential to their child’s education and that 1.2m Children in the UK are falling behind at school due to poor connectivity.

 

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