Educational institutions worldwide have embraced the Internet, believing that  it has a place in the classroom; however, will they be as welcoming to wireless networks and gadgets? Will wireless technology enhance a student’s ability to learn? The pilot projects and round table discussions are just beginning to take shape.

At the front of the line are Sonicblue, a subsidiary of frontpage Inc., and River Logic. The two companies recently announced that they will launch a two-year pilot project to assess the pros and cons of a personalized portable classroom environment built on wireless technology.

The program, School Path, will commence in September of 2001 in elementary and secondary schools in Boston and California.

Students and teachers will use frontpage’s ProGear tablet, a wirelessly-enabled Internet appliance, with the interface and customized applications via River Logic’s Web4Classroom technology. This combination will allow for up-to-date learning material, access to the Internet, customizable curriculum, on-line testing all within a wireless, personalized, portable and broadband-based learning environment, said Janet Leising, general manager of frontpath.

Web4Classroom technology includes

• On-line classroom
• Curriculum management system
• Access to a variety of education content from leading brand names in the education market

"We believe that ProGear and Web4Classroom technology will not only bring the library into the classroom and home, but also offer a clear educational advantage via customizable curriculum for teachers and students, and the ability for parents to play an integral and active role in their children’s academic future," said Wes Whittington, executive vice-president of business development at River Logic.