18. A method for use with a plurality of student wireless communication devices, each having a network transceiver to establish a network communication link between the respective ones of the plurality of student wireless communication devices and a wireless communication network utilizing a wireless network infrastructure, the method comprising: transmitting a beacon signal from a wireless access point; each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices using a short-range non-network transceiver within the respective plurality of student wireless communication devices to detect the transmitted beacon signal; using a beacon signal to establish a short-range communication link with an instructor wireless communication device via the wireless access point without utilizing the wireless network infrastructure; performing an authentication process for each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices upon establishing the short-range communication link between the respective ones of the plurality of student wireless communication devices and the instructor wireless communication device to thereby authenticate each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices; upon authentication, disabling the respective network transceivers during a period of time in which the short-range communication link is established between the respective ones of the plurality of student wireless communication devices and the instructor wireless communication device; transmitting data, including query data requiring a response, from the instructor wireless communication device to each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices via the wireless access point; at least a portion of the plurality of student wireless communication devices generating a response message, including a query response; and receiving data, including the query response, transmitted from each of the portion of the plurality of student wireless communication devices generating a response message to the instructor wireless communication device via the wireless access point; wherein the short-range communication link is established between the instructor wireless communication device and each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices via the wireless access point and without utilizing the wireless network infrastructure.
18. A method for use with a plurality of student wireless communication devices, each having a network transceiver to establish a network communication link between the respective ones of the plurality of student wireless communication devices and a wireless communication network utilizing a wireless network infrastructure, the method comprising: transmitting a beacon signal from a wireless access point; each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices using a short-range non-network transceiver within the respective plurality of student wireless communication devices to detect the transmitted beacon signal; using a beacon signal to establish a short-range communication link with an instructor wireless communication device via the wireless access point without utilizing the wireless network infrastructure; performing an authentication process for each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices upon establishing the short-range communication link between the respective ones of the plurality of student wireless communication devices and the instructor wireless communication device to thereby authenticate each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices; upon authentication, disabling the respective network transceivers during a period of time in which the short-range communication link is established between the respective ones of the plurality of student wireless communication devices and the instructor wireless communication device; transmitting data, including query data requiring a response, from the instructor wireless communication device to each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices via the wireless access point; at least a portion of the plurality of student wireless communication devices generating a response message, including a query response; and receiving data, including the query response, transmitted from each of the portion of the plurality of student wireless communication devices generating a response message to the instructor wireless communication device via the wireless access point; wherein the short-range communication link is established between the instructor wireless communication device and each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices via the wireless access point and without utilizing the wireless network infrastructure. 21. The method of claim 18 wherein the authentication process comprises receiving identifying information from each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices, the method further comprising using the received identifying information from each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices to retrieve data associating a student identification with the identifying information from respective student wireless communication devices to thereby permit identification of students.