Computing's James Brown says a new survey conducted by Dell reports that 69 percent of teachers say wireless is key to the future of education, giving them greater flexibility in their use of technology in the classroom.

Graham Cox, vice principal of the U.K.'s Mossbourne Community Academy, agrees with the survey's findings. "IT is helping to reduce the time teachers spend on administration and allowing them to focus on the delivery of their lessons and the national curriculum," he says.

"Students benefit too as they are more engaged through the use of interactive whiteboards and access to the Internet. Together, this results in a more positive and productive classroom environment."

The survey also found that 55 percent of teachers think interactive whiteboards will be important in the future, though 79 percent said budgets will be a barrier to deployment.