Comments on: Education and the National Broadband Plan http://www.portical.org/blog/education-and-the-national-broadband-plan/533.htm Mostly pertinent thoughts about technology and education by school and district leaders. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:51:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Chris Rink http://www.portical.org/blog/education-and-the-national-broadband-plan/533.htm/comment-page-1#comment-6006 Chris Rink Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:54:50 +0000 http://www.portical.org/blog/?p=533#comment-6006 Imagine the Possibilities! The type of technology available to our students is diverse, but most hold one key similarity: Wireless ability. Itouch, kindle, most mobile phones, pda’s, laptops (old school), and netbooks (newer school) all have the ability to connect wirelessly, and while I am unsure of an exact number in all locations, I have done some work on my own in determining student access to that type of technology. While not every student has a computer at home and even less with internet access, basically all students in my school have access to at least one of the above listed technologies (either available to them some time during the day or, in most cases, in their possession at school). With that being the case, imagine the limitless possibilities for delivering instruction to our students if the federal government were to guarantee broadband access and with it wireless broadband access to the masses. We could cease to be a county of “have’s and have not’s”! Unlimited access to information, people, and places. A more utopian, technological society would be outside my scope of imagination. I challenge everyone to get involved in this movement and contact state and federal law makers and lobbyists to help make this dream a reality. Imagine the Possibilities! Imagine the Possibilities! The type of technology available to our students is diverse, but most hold one key similarity: Wireless ability. Itouch, kindle, most mobile phones, pda’s, laptops (old school), and netbooks (newer school) all have the ability to connect wirelessly, and while I am unsure of an exact number in all locations, I have done some work on my own in determining student access to that type of technology. While not every student has a computer at home and even less with internet access, basically all students in my school have access to at least one of the above listed technologies (either available to them some time during the day or, in most cases, in their possession at school). With that being the case, imagine the limitless possibilities for delivering instruction to our students if the federal government were to guarantee broadband access and with it wireless broadband access to the masses. We could cease to be a county of “have’s and have not’s”! Unlimited access to information, people, and places. A more utopian, technological society would be outside my scope of imagination. I challenge everyone to get involved in this movement and contact state and federal law makers and lobbyists to help make this dream a reality. Imagine the Possibilities!

]]> By: Brian Beaver http://www.portical.org/blog/education-and-the-national-broadband-plan/533.htm/comment-page-1#comment-6000 Brian Beaver Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:40:25 +0000 http://www.portical.org/blog/?p=533#comment-6000 South Korea leads the world in rural broadband. The public-private partnership that this example typifies a concept that seems to have been lost in America: that public-private partnership is a necessity to expand public utility beyond high profit dense urban areas. I live in rural Arkansas. We did not gain access to DSL in my neighborhood until after a tornado destroyed an old,outdated telephone box less than 300 meters from my house. In the 1930s, rural electrification, as part of the New Deal, brought flood control and electricity to many 'unprofitable' areas in which various power companies now make profits. The infrastructure demands will be enormous, and this will require a public-private investment comparable to rural electrification. In my opinion, this is as much a necessity as electricity was in bringing rural farms into the 20th century. Without this capability, our national lead in economic success will fall. South Korea leads the world in rural broadband. The public-private partnership that this example typifies a concept that seems to have been lost in America: that public-private partnership is a necessity to expand public utility beyond high profit dense urban areas.

I live in rural Arkansas. We did not gain access to DSL in my neighborhood until after a tornado destroyed an old,outdated telephone box less than 300 meters from my house. In the 1930s, rural electrification, as part of the New Deal, brought flood control and electricity to many ‘unprofitable’ areas in which various power companies now make profits.

The infrastructure demands will be enormous, and this will require a public-private investment comparable to rural electrification. In my opinion, this is as much a necessity as electricity was in bringing rural farms into the 20th century. Without this capability, our national lead in economic success will fall.

]]> By: Kay Tepera http://www.portical.org/blog/education-and-the-national-broadband-plan/533.htm/comment-page-1#comment-5991 Kay Tepera Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:29:08 +0000 http://www.portical.org/blog/?p=533#comment-5991 Our state has been looking at how to do this here without much luck. To have the federal government intervene on behalf of all Americans would be a good thing. Most states would probably have difficulty in affording to pay for wireless broadband for the entire state. Our state has been looking at how to do this here without much luck. To have the federal government intervene on behalf of all Americans would be a good thing. Most states would probably have difficulty in affording to pay for wireless broadband for the entire state.

]]> By: Harry Dickens http://www.portical.org/blog/education-and-the-national-broadband-plan/533.htm/comment-page-1#comment-5990 Harry Dickens Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:18:41 +0000 http://www.portical.org/blog/?p=533#comment-5990 Wireless Broadband in rural areas of America would help in many ways. One being dial up would be a thing of the past. Many online learning programs require high speed internet. Student in rural areas could participate in online learning programs just like students in urban areas. With wireless broadband, teachers and students in rural areas could build hypermedia projects from home. With broadband and computers in every home the idea of a truly flat planet reaches rural America. Wireless Broadband in rural areas of America would help in many ways. One being dial up would be a thing of the past. Many online learning programs require high speed internet. Student in rural areas could participate in online learning programs just like students in urban areas. With wireless broadband, teachers and students in rural areas could build hypermedia projects from home. With broadband and computers in every home the idea of a truly flat planet reaches rural America.

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