Bring your own device initiatives, a push for one-to-one implementation and personalized learning are being emphasized more and more in today's classroom. While these practices are transforming the learning environment, they are useless without a high-tech infrastructure.
So says Thomas C. Murray, writer for SmartBlogs.com. In his article, "Why #Internet4Schools Matters", Murray said many schools "remain largely disconnected" despite a number of initiatives to help schools install high-speed Internet.
Murray reflects on the Consortium for School Networking's recently released results of its second annual E-Rate and Connectivity Study. He then lists some outcomes of the report in the article.
"According to the survey, more than 80 percent of districts indicated that the E-rate program’s current funding levels are not meeting their need," Murray said. "Only nine percent of districts have adequate bandwidth to fully meet the demand for the online assessments and digital content anticipated over the next 18 months."
Murray also said that "45 percent of school districts indicated they do not have the capacity to deploy a one-to-one initiative" and "the cost of connectivity is higher in rural districts than in urban/suburban. In some cases, connectivity can be 25-80 times more expensive than in suburban locations."
Reflecting on the results from the report, Murray calls on the FCC to "increase E-Rate funding as an investment in our nation’s future."
It’s not simply an educational issue," he said. "It’s one that will have a long term economic impact. Let’s connect our schools and support our nation’s children. It’s time."
Read the full story and comment below.
Article by Kassondra Granata, Education World Contributor
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