Describe the results of researching your level of access to digital resources. Then answer the following questions:
During my researching of my level of access to digital resources, I checked out my Fixed Broadband Deployment from the Federal Communications Commission. I do not have the greatest broadband speed for upload and download. It is the second slowest connection in the neighborhood. In the past, I have had to go to a nearby cafe to upload or download larger files for my content for my students. For online browsing or streaming, it has been fine, but if you are submitting larger files it can be time-consuming. I’m fortunate I can afford to drive and find a cafe, and I have a laptop that I can upload my files with.
1. What types of barriers might impede students’ opportunities to access digital learning?
When I taught in a low-income rural community the access to devices could be a problem. The county decided to go to one-to-one devices. Then the problem became that students didn’t all have access to the internet to do their school work at home. The county then provided hotspots on the buses that they stationed in those areas. Eventually, the buses were removed because they found there wasn’t enough use to justify the cost of it. I can see if you don’t have access to a device or the internet it can prevent you from doing the school work you have been assigned.
2. What might we do to eliminate such barriers?
As I mentioned above having device that they can use to connect to the internet is helpful. Most of my students had smartphones, but it would be hard to design or write an entire paper on it. Providing students with an iPad or Chromebook would be the first step. Then have a way for them to connect to a hotspot so they can access the internet. For students with disabilities having the appropriate apps installed on their devices could help them have things read aloud to them or provide them with alternate ways to understand the content they are learning.
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