System and method for wireless communication in an educational setting

Abstract

A communication network includes an instructor wireless communication device and a plurality of student wireless communication devices, which may be conventional smartphones. The student devices do not communicate with the wireless service provider, but communicate with the instructor device in the classroom via a short-range communication network established between the student devices and the instructor device directly or via an access point. In one embodiment, communication with the cellphone network service provider is cut off by disabling the network transceiver in each student device. The instructor device can exchange question and answer data with the student devices. The system can be configured to provide security in student responses to prevent potential cheating. Student answers may be automatically collected, collated, and graded. The answers are accompanied by an ID that uniquely identifies each student. The system may further provide for automatic classroom attendance and participation by logging nonresponsive student devices.