Moreover, because of the ways in which the Internet is changing job requirements, students must have ample experience with the technology to develop the skills necessary to compete in future work environments. But while there are policies in place to ensure connectivity within schools, such as President Obama’s Connect Ed initiative to provide 99 percent of schools with high-speed connectivity, disparate access for students after school hours presents another challenge for school districts altogether.
The problem that arises is that as schools continue to integrate Internet connectivity into the education process, students who do not have access outside of the classroom are poorly equipped to compete academically with their peers that do. Thus, if districts are going to incorporate technology into their lesson plans, administrators must bear the responsibility to ensure that connectivity is available to students as they continue their course work after school hours. Failure to do so will result in inadequate development of computer skills and students in underserved areas are left at an academic disadvantage. And this lack of early development haunts the students as they move into higher education and into the job market. By addressing this issue initially, however, it does not have to be expensive or complex.
Schools struggling to rectify the uneven access to connectivity within their districts should consider two California school districts that put wireless routers on school buses to address the problem. These two districts were able to grant an equal footing to the segments of their community that otherwise were at a loss for adequate connectivity. They looked at the unique challenges in front of them and utilized available technology to the fullest.
These districts parked their buses overnight in areas with high concentrations of students with limited Internet connectivity, bringing connectivity to communities ranging from trailer parks to tribal reservations. The routers are powered by solar panels, and students have a specific protocol installed on their devices for secure log-in.
The Internet is part of the education process now; there’s no going back. School systems must take the responsibility to ensure that all their students have access to the same technological resources. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of a little ingenuity to make great networking solutions available to all children.
The districts in California started small, with just three Wi-Fi-enabled buses. The program was such a success, however, that plans to expand the project to 100 buses are in the works. So as your school district continues to integrate technology into the classroom, be sure not to leave students behind. With a little ingenuity, networking tools can provide every student an opportunity to reach their full potential.
Cox Business
As technology takes an increasingly larger role in the classroom, preparing kids for their future has as many advantages as it does challenges. Providing the speed and quality that students and teachers need is something, we at Cox Business, are very proud to do. We can help design a system for your school that's tailored to the needs of your students, teachers and administrators, all while accommodating your budget. Visit www.coxbusiness.com/education to learn more about Cox Business Education solutions.
