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The Study of Students Perceptions of On-campus ... - Research Bank

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on-<strong>campus</strong> WLANs affected student decisions on whether or not to use it.<br />

Sometimes, the students’ decisions were very simple. <strong>The</strong>y used on-<strong>campus</strong><br />

WLANs simply because they could use their own laptops. Mobility was one<br />

advantage for the <strong>campus</strong> to provided WLANs to students that facilitates<br />

learning and study. Whilst this had been shown to be the case it did not<br />

preclude the need <strong>of</strong> the institution to provide physical work areas.<br />

5.6.2. Opinions from participants<br />

In considering the findings <strong>of</strong> the inconveniences reported by interviewees,<br />

there are many opportunities for the provider to improve the on-<strong>campus</strong><br />

WLANs. <strong>The</strong> slow speed and unstable signal were the two major concerns <strong>of</strong><br />

the users. Most <strong>of</strong> the users were not satisfied with the quality <strong>of</strong> the<br />

on-<strong>campus</strong> WLANs when they participated in this research. <strong>The</strong>y expected<br />

the speed <strong>of</strong> the WLANs to be faster and the signal to be more stable and<br />

strong. <strong>The</strong> slow speed and weak signal made a lot <strong>of</strong> problems for surfing on<br />

the Internet and even made it difficult to login to the wireless networks.<br />

Based on the findings, the users are also expected more power outlets and<br />

more physical places to sit or meet for a longer opening times.<br />

Some participants <strong>of</strong> this research were using laptops borrowed from the<br />

library. Since they were only allowed to use them for thirty minutes, they<br />

wondered if they could use them for longer, such as an hour. As the<br />

on-<strong>campus</strong> WLANs were available for all students at UNITEC New Zealand<br />

and Unitec’s international students were some <strong>of</strong> the users <strong>of</strong> the on-<strong>campus</strong><br />

WLANs, cultural differences influenced the expectations <strong>of</strong> some students. As<br />

the researcher knows, there is one dictionary application in Chinese that can<br />

be used on computers at Unitec’s computer labs although those computers<br />

can not type in Chinese. So if the laptops which could be borrowed in the<br />

library had multiple language input method or some applications in other<br />

than English installed, many international students could benefit from them.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y would not need to bring their heavy laptops to <strong>campus</strong> and they could<br />

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