Design, Development, and Implementation of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN): the Hartford Job Corps Academy Case Study
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Nova Southeastern University NSUWorks CEC Theses and Dissertations College of Engineering and Computing 2009 Design, Development, and Implementation of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN): The Hartford Job Corps Academy Case Study Tracey Kershner Cooley Nova Southeastern University, [email protected] This document is a product of extensive research conducted at the Nova Southeastern University College of Engineering and Computing. For more information on research and degree programs at the NSU College of Engineering and Computing, please click here. Follow this and additional works at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/gscis_etd Part of the Computer Sciences Commons Share Feedback About This Item NSUWorks Citation Tracey Kershner Cooley. 2009. Design, Development, and Implementation of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN): The Hartford Job Corps Academy Case Study. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences. (125) https://nsuworks.nova.edu/gscis_etd/125. This Dissertation is brought to you by the College of Engineering and Computing at NSUWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in CEC Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of NSUWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Design, Development and Implementation of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN): The Hartford Job Corps Academy Case Study by Tracey K. Cooley A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Computing Technology in Education Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences Nova Southeastern University 2009 Approval/Signature Page We hereby certify that this dissertation, submitted by Tracey K. Cooley, conforms to acceptable standards and is fully adequate in scope and quality to fulfill the dissertation requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. __________________________________________ _____________________ Marlyn Littman, Ph.D. Date Chairperson of Dissertation Committee __________________________________________ _____________________ Ling Wang, Ph.D. Date Dissertation Committee Member __________________________________________ _____________________ David Metcalfe, Ph.D. Date Dissertation Committee Member Approved: __________________________________________ _____________________ Edward Lieblein, Ph.D. Date Dean Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences Nova Southeastern University 2009 An Abstract of a Dissertation Submitted to Nova Southeastern University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Design, Development and Implementation of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN): The Hartford Job Corps Academy (HJCA) Case Study by Tracey K. Cooley March 2009 Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) offer flexibility, mobility, and scalability to educational institutions. Students are increasingly expecting anywhere, anytime access to online resources. Secondary school administrators, who serve a similar population as the National Job Corps Program (NJCP), realize that student success in the 21st century workplace depends upon the student’s ability to use new and emerging technologies, including wireless technology. Computer access anytime and anywhere is crucial to the success of students today. Wireless technology has been broadly deployed at educational institutions, such as the Hartford Job Corps Academy (HJCA), but little is known about how these networks are deployed and used, specifically at a Job Corps center. HJCA deployed a WLAN in 2005. Information about the core aspects of the design and implementation of anytime, anywhere initiatives, such as wireless solutions in education, is needed to complement the current research. The NJCP does not have a model for standardizing, organizing, and maintaining wireless networks. The goal of this investigation was to develop a model for planning, designing, and implementing a wireless solution for the Job Corps system. The case study findings from the investigation and the systems development life cycle (SDLC) provided the framework for structuring WLANs at other Job Corps centers. This framework also facilitated the investigation and a determination of the significance of the case study findings, and the analysis and development of the WLAN implementation model for the NJCP. The findings of the HJCA investigation from multiple sources are presented. Using the SDLC framework and the findings from the case study, the NJCP WLAN implementation model is presented. The NJCP WLAN implementation model may be used to facilitate the deployment of WLANs at government-operated, education and training facilities, such as the NJCP. Acknowledgments I wish to thank my committee chair, Dr. Marlyn Littman, and committee members, Dr. Ling Wang, and Dr. David Metcalfe, for their knowledge and expertise throughout the dissertation process. I would like to thank my friend, Marlene Groman, for being my constant cheerleader through this process. A very special “thank you” goes to my dissertation coach and mentor, Dr. Diane Stoy. I need to thank all of the staff and students at the Hartford Job Corps Academy (HJCA) and the National Office of Job Corps for allowing me to conduct my investigation at the HJCA facility. Particularly, the Academy Director, Anita Cardella, for “making it happen.” Finally, I need to thank my family, particularly my husband, Kevin, and mother and father, Carole and Cecil, for their constant support and encouragement. Table of Contents Abstract iii List of Tables viii List of Figures ix Chapters 1. Introduction 1 Statement of the Problem Investigated and Goal Achieved 3 Relevance and Significance for the Study 5 Barriers and Issues 8 Research Questions Investigated 9 Planning Phase or Phase 1 10 Analysis Phase or Phase 2 11 Design Phase or Phase 3 11 Implementation Phase or Phase 4 11 Support Phase or Phase 5 11 Limitations and Delimitations of the Study 12 Definition of Terms 12 Summary 18 2. Review of the Literature 20 Landmarks in the Development of Wireless Technologies 20 Relevant Wireless Technologies 21 Infrared Technology 21 Bluetooth Technology 22 Spread Spectrum Technology 23 Key IEEE 802.11 Wireless Extensions 24 IEEE 802.11a 25 IEEE 802.11b 25 IEEE 802.11g 26 IEEE 802.11e 26 IEEE 802.11i 28 IEEE 802.11n 29 Wireless Security Challenges 31 Wired Equivalency Privacy (WEP) 31 Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) 32 Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) 32 Virtual Private Network (VPN) 33 Thin Client Technology 34 Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) 35 Mobile Devices 37 v WLAN Implementation 38 High School WLAN Implementation 39 Summary of What is Known and Unknown about WLANs 41 The Contribution this Study will Make to the Field 42 3. Methodology 43 Research Methods Employed 43 System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) 44 Propositions 45 Planning Phase or Phase 1 45 Analysis Phase or Phase 2 48 Design Phase or Phase 3 50 Implementation Phase or Phase 4 52 Support Phase or Phase 5 53 Unit of Analysis 53 Instrumentation 54 Reliability and Validity 56 Formats for Presenting Results 57 Criteria for Interpreting Findings 57 Planning Phase of the NJCP WLAN Implementation Model 58 Analysis Phase of the NJCP WLAN Implementation Model 58 Design Phase of the NJCP WLAN Implementation Model 59 Implementation Phase of the NJCP WLAN Implementation Model 59 Support Phase of the NJCP WLAN Implementation Model 59 Resource Requirements 59 Summary 60 4. Results 61 Findings 61 Planning Phase, or Phase 1, of the HJCA WLAN 62 Data Analysis: HJCA WLAN Planning Phase 64 Analysis Phase, or Phase 2, of the HJCA WLAN 68 Data Analysis: HJCA WLAN Analysis Phase 70 Design Phase, or Phase 3, of the HJCA WLAN 73 Data Analysis: HJCA WLAN Design Phase 75 Implementation Phase, or Phase 4, of the HJCA WLAN 76 Data Analysis: HJCA WLAN Implementation Phase 77 Support Phase, or Phase 5, of the HJCA WLAN 81 Data Analysis: HJCA WLAN Support Phase 81 Summary of Results 82 5. Conclusions, Implications, Recommendations, and Summary 86 Conclusions 86 Planning Phase, or Phase 1, of the NJCP WLAN Implementation Model 87 vi Analysis Phase, or Phase 2, of the NJCP WLAN Implementation Model 89 Design Phase, or Phase 3, of the NJCP WLAN Implementation Model 91 Implementation Phase, or Phase 4, of the NJCP WLAN Implementation Model 92 Support Phase, or Phase 5, of the NJCP WLAN Implementation Model 93 Implications 96 Implications for Future Research 97 Recommendations 97 Summary 98 Appendices A. Instrumentation 106 Student Questionnaire 106 Instructor Questionnaire 111 Network Administrator Interview Questionnaire 116 Division of Informational Technology & Support, Division Chief Interview Questionnaire 117 B. Letters Requesting Consent to Conduct Research 118 C. Consents to Conduct Research 121 D. Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval Memorandum 123 E. Institutional Review Board (IRB) Participation Letter 125 Reference List 127 vii List of Tables Tables 1. HJCA WLAN Access Locations (students) 65 2. HJCA WLAN Access Locations (instructors) 66 3. HJCA Student and Instructor Computer Skills 67 4. Top Four Uses of the HJCA WLAN (students) 72 5. Top Four Uses of the HJCA WLAN (instructors) 73 6. Mobile Device Ownership (students) 77 7. Mobile Device Ownership (instructors) 78 8. Satisfaction Level with the Performance of the HJCA WLAN (students and instructors) 79 9. Major Complaints with the HJCA WLAN (students) 80 10. Major Complaints with the HJCA WLAN (instructors) 80 11. Top 5 Types of Training Received on the Use of