ODYSSEYWARE

Do you remember dial-up? Close your eyes and think back to a time when a high-pitched whine signaled that your phone line was trying to connect your computer to AOL or Netscape. Often, the result was a busy signal. This was frustrating to hordes of excited explorers who were at the very brink of the digital revolution. If you remember that, you probably remember getting “knocked off” too. Patience was a requirement if you were to stick with this Internet thing. (You don’t remember? Take my word for it; you wouldn’t have liked it.)

Today, it’s easy to take for granted quick and simple accessibility to the information highway(unless, of course, you have no computer, no Internet-connected mobile device, and no iPad™).

According to a survey conducted last year by Pew Internet & American Life Project,

• 74% of American adults (ages 18 and older) use the Internet.

• 60% of American adults use broadband connections at home.

• 55% of American adults connect to the Internet wirelessly, either through WiFi or WiMax via their laptops or handheld electronic devices.

Disconnectedness affects not only individuals, but schools. Students in areas where access is not available, affordable, or reliable have no way to tap into the learning, creative, and collaborative opportunities available on the Internet.

In early 2009, Congress directed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop a National Broadband Plan to ensure every American has “access to broadband capability.” Released in March, it has beneficial implications in the education sector:

1. Modernize broadband infrastructure to support 21st century teaching and learning.

Through the FCC’s E-rate program, 97 percent of American schools now have Internet access. Reliability, speed, and availability, especially in rural and low-income districts, remain as challenges. Additionally, the ever-expanding advances in technology continue to change and increase the technology needs of schools. By updating this program and others, we can meet these challenges for more American students and help education keep the pace with the world outside.

2. Expand access to broadband with common sense reforms.

The plan also proposes more flexibility for schools and libraries to extend their Internet resources into the communities they serve. Changes to the E-rate program will promote more affordable broadband and wireless solutions, allowing schools to grant community access to school networks for programs like adult education and after school tutoring.

 3. Improve access to high quality online instruction.

A growing number of students and schools are turning to online learning solutions for specialized, elective, and core curriculum. Learning opportunities and teaching resources are now global, supporting collaboration, creativity, and individualized learning. The world of education has indeed become interactive. The national plan supports this education migration that takes learning beyond the walls of the classroom.

4. Unlock the power of educational data.

Teachers, parents, schools, and government agencies need quick access to accurate, relevant data, with strong student privacy provisions, to make informed decisions that will improve educational outcomes. Broadband technology will help give teachers the data they need to help students succeed. Parents can take a more active role in the education of their children when information regarding progress and school programs are readily available.

Perhaps this broadband plan seems like overkill in a world where you take high-speed Internet access for granted, but digital equity is NOT a reality–at least not yet. The implementation of the National Broadband Plan will give every school, every community, and every child a portal to a world of self-directed discovery and teacher-led exploration. All of our children will have the opportunity to develop the digital skills required to participate in our 21st century economy and society.

Why is high-speed, broadband access important to you school and your community? What is the most beneficial aspect of broadband access in your life?