Wireless communication is a necessity in today’s society, but the principles behind it may not necessary be easy for the students to understand, especially those from the rural areas who have little exposure to advanced technologies. There is no better way to teach the basics of wireless communications that using analog radios, which are easily available and quite prevalent in particularly rural environments. It also has the added advantage in addition to defining a subject of making lessons easier for students to understand.
Understanding the Basics of Wireless Communication
Wireless communication is a form of data communications that is achieved without physical connection by use of electromagnetic signals. This may comprise of radio, television and mobile phones among others. Other concepts like radio could be unknown to some of the students and using the analog radios, they get to see how information could be transmitted through the air without the use of wires. Based on the demonstration of transmitting and receiving signals using a device familiar to most students at home; the students are able to understand the conceptual knowledge being taught.
How Analog Radios Work
Analog radios use frequency modulation or amplitude modulation as its method of transmission and reception of signal. They pick signals from radio stations, and as is known, these are sent through the air in the form of electromagnetic waves. These electrical signal are ejected by the radio’s antenna then translated into sound waves then amplified and passed out the speaker. When the students switch to different frequencies on the radio, they get to listen to different stations making them understand that different channels convey different information at the same time without causing an interference.
Demonstrating Frequency and Bandwidth
Analog radios are most suitable for use while illustrating some concepts that are frequency and bandwidth to mention but a few. Teacher and students can exploit on how each station works at a given frequency by just using the tuning button of the radio. Students can also get some sound like noise in between the two stations, which demonstrates the concept of the frequency bands and how each station requires its own band width so as to avoid interference from other stations. It provides the students with physical exercise on such ideas, thinking them and relating them in tangible ways.
Explaining Signal Transmission and Reception
Analog radio may be used to help the educators demonstrate how the signals are transmitted or even received. A real-life example can be illustrated through the use of a basic radio transmitter which require relevant permits and security measures) whereby sound picked by a microphone is converted into radio waves before being received by another radio. In the live demonstration here, the students are able to understand the reality of the concept where signals are transmitted by making them see how it happens from the time you speak into the microphone and when you hear it in the radio.
Connecting Analog Radios to Modern Wireless Communication
While introducing the use of an analog radio, students can easily relate it with the modern wireless features to include mobile phones and Wi-Fi. They can explain that while the technology has evolved, the fundamental principles remain the same: information is in the form of a signal that uses electromagnetic waves to travel through the air or a cable medium before being detected by a particular device after which it is reprocessed in order to be useful. Comparing analog radios with digital mode of communication assists the students in a sense of flow of communication technology while at the same time making them recall the basics of the course.
Benefits of Using Analog Radios in Education
Analog radios are inexpensive, can be operated by a layman and are readily available in the rural world. It allows teaching wireless communication in a rather easy and efficient manner without the need for costly equipment. Also, it builds on previous learning and experiences of the rural students and hence makes the learning process even more relevant and interesting. It also encourages curiosity, because students can interact with radios in other classes and this knowledge is only enriched with hands-on experience.
Conclusion
Teaching Wireless Communications using Analog Radios offers educators the ability to teach a concept and relate it to a piece of technology that students will find intuitively understandable. For the rural learners, it offers them a ground for understanding the wireless communication without demanding much from them and thus could be a basis for their subsequent studies in technology and engineering fields. Taking into account geographical features and integrating the context into learning, more young people can be engaged and interested in the learning how the technologies surrounding them work.
