Comments on: The Digital Divide Continues http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/the-digital-divide-continues/ Learning with the Read/Write Web Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:36:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bill Fitzgerald http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/the-digital-divide-continues/comment-page-1/#comment-49186 Bill Fitzgerald Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:50:34 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/the-digital-divide-continues/#comment-49186 Hello, Will, I'd like to get excited about Meraki, but, as I understand it, they have some issues to sort out, more related to their business model than their technology -- see http://www.virishi.net/from-happy-hacking-screw-you-story-meraki Open-Mesh, however, seems like a great option: http://www.open-mesh.com/ Cheers, Bill Hello, Will,

I’d like to get excited about Meraki, but, as I understand it, they have some issues to sort out, more related to their business model than their technology — see http://www.virishi.net/from-happy-hacking-screw-you-story-meraki

Open-Mesh, however, seems like a great option: http://www.open-mesh.com/

Cheers,

Bill

]]> By: Ben Hubert http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/the-digital-divide-continues/comment-page-1/#comment-49077 Ben Hubert Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:00:24 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/the-digital-divide-continues/#comment-49077 Since there is a demand for internet service nationwide, there's bound to be more ISPs, such as Meraki, entering into the market and replacing the old, crippled ones with better service and inspiration. Could we copy the European model with the $3 million setup for citywide wi-fi? Sure we could, if local city councils, the state government, or just maybe the federal government paid for the setup without killing the local residents (that is, the lower and middle classes) in the process. If students lost internet access, then that dampens their ability to gather better information from the net. In addition, teachers would be less able to assign more interesting and challenging homework assignments that create more meaning and originality for the students. Cesar DeLaRosa, for example, is a fifteen year old who wants to study new reports on Global Warming for his science project. Without the internet, how can Cesar quickly get the information he needs to present his project with accurate information? Unless he's able to get the paper sources fast enough, he can't. While companies such as Meraki come in to continue internet service is a comforting thought for everybody, but the time it takes for one to collapse and another to get setup can mean a lot, in terms of the quality of education in students' lives. Since there is a demand for internet service nationwide, there’s bound to be more ISPs, such as Meraki, entering into the market and replacing the old, crippled ones with better service and inspiration. Could we copy the European model with the $3 million setup for citywide wi-fi? Sure we could, if local city councils, the state government, or just maybe the federal government paid for the setup without killing the local residents (that is, the lower and middle classes) in the process. If students lost internet access, then that dampens their ability to gather better information from the net. In addition, teachers would be less able to assign more interesting and challenging homework assignments that create more meaning and originality for the students. Cesar DeLaRosa, for example, is a fifteen year old who wants to study new reports on Global Warming for his science project. Without the internet, how can Cesar quickly get the information he needs to present his project with accurate information? Unless he’s able to get the paper sources fast enough, he can’t. While companies such as Meraki come in to continue internet service is a comforting thought for everybody, but the time it takes for one to collapse and another to get setup can mean a lot, in terms of the quality of education in students’ lives.

]]> By: Tami http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/the-digital-divide-continues/comment-page-1/#comment-48957 Tami Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:46:03 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/the-digital-divide-continues/#comment-48957 I think that we have to find a way to connect students and people to the valuable resource that is the internet. I really do think that it is a shame that in a nation as wealthy as ours, we still have the inconsistencies in funding for schools, as well as no real national programs compared to other countries. If we can't do something about health care for all, shouldn't we at least make sure that all students are given access to the same high-level instruction and access to technology that the more affluent schools and students receive? And I too, agree that districts need to loosen their reigns on the internet and not fear the access to knowledge and opportunities for students to create empowering work. I think that we have to find a way to connect students and people to the valuable resource that is the internet. I really do think that it is a shame that in a nation as wealthy as ours, we still have the inconsistencies in funding for schools, as well as no real national programs compared to other countries. If we can’t do something about health care for all, shouldn’t we at least make sure that all students are given access to the same high-level instruction and access to technology that the more affluent schools and students receive?

And I too, agree that districts need to loosen their reigns on the internet and not fear the access to knowledge and opportunities for students to create empowering work.

]]> By: a. woody delauder http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/the-digital-divide-continues/comment-page-1/#comment-48852 a. woody delauder Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:55:38 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/the-digital-divide-continues/#comment-48852 @Matthew, I couldn't agree more. I too teach in a Title 1 School. I see computers being used for just this... Using computers for drills and not to create content. Schools have been using computers for Math and Reading remediation for 20 years. We need to show what can be done with the internet. Until Districts start to take the internet seriously, we will remain stagnate. In the future, the students that have been connected will thrive in a digital world. The students that are disconnected will struggle to get a job. This is a National crisis that needs to be taken seriously, Now! @Matthew,
I couldn’t agree more. I too teach in a Title 1 School. I see computers being used for just this… Using computers for drills and not to create content. Schools have been using computers for Math and Reading remediation for 20 years.

We need to show what can be done with the internet. Until Districts start to take the internet seriously, we will remain stagnate. In the future, the students that have been connected will thrive in a digital world. The students that are disconnected will struggle to get a job. This is a National crisis that needs to be taken seriously, Now!

]]> By: Mathew http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/the-digital-divide-continues/comment-page-1/#comment-48846 Mathew Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:14:36 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/the-digital-divide-continues/#comment-48846 As a teacher at a Title I school, the alarming part of the Digital Divide to me is that low-income schools that have computers (and we do) use the computers in ways which are simply remedial (my classroom being an exception, I hope) while higher income schools use the same computers for students to create their own content. I think we need to keep this as part of the debate as we go forward. When computers are used just for remediation I don't think they really increases student achievement and then people who don't want to spend the money can use it as an excuse not to buy more. Giving wireless access and equipment isn't enough. Electronic math fact flashcards are not going to transform education. We need to be putting computers in the hands of students, giving them some guidance, and then letting them create. As a teacher at a Title I school, the alarming part of the Digital Divide to me is that low-income schools that have computers (and we do) use the computers in ways which are simply remedial (my classroom being an exception, I hope) while higher income schools use the same computers for students to create their own content. I think we need to keep this as part of the debate as we go forward.

When computers are used just for remediation I don’t think they really increases student achievement and then people who don’t want to spend the money can use it as an excuse not to buy more. Giving wireless access and equipment isn’t enough. Electronic math fact flashcards are not going to transform education. We need to be putting computers in the hands of students, giving them some guidance, and then letting them create.

]]> By: Charlie A. Roy http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/the-digital-divide-continues/comment-page-1/#comment-48845 Charlie A. Roy Sat, 22 Mar 2008 13:55:23 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/the-digital-divide-continues/#comment-48845 @ Will, I was having a conversation last week with a friend about the reality that by the time my sons (6 year old twins) are my age that the web will be freely accessible to everyone in a similar way that radio signals and TV signals are free. My own progressive little enclave in West Peoria Illinois has toyed with the idea. Hopefully we will be moving forward with it in the next planning cycle. Thanks for all the great posts and fabulous work you do! @ Will,
I was having a conversation last week with a friend about the reality that by the time my sons (6 year old twins) are my age that the web will be freely accessible to everyone in a similar way that radio signals and TV signals are free.

My own progressive little enclave in West Peoria Illinois has toyed with the idea. Hopefully we will be moving forward with it in the next planning cycle. Thanks for all the great posts and fabulous work you do!

]]> By: Robert Rowe http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/the-digital-divide-continues/comment-page-1/#comment-48844 Robert Rowe Sat, 22 Mar 2008 13:25:08 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/the-digital-divide-continues/#comment-48844 Will, I lived and taught in Philadelphia when Earthlink's deal was first announced. It definitely wasn't advertised well, and there was confusion between Earthlink's offering and Philly's "free-wifi" in places like Love Park and Reading Terminal Market. I'd love to see municipal wifi work. Any info on how European systems work? Why aren't we imitating them instead of trying to reinvent (and failing) the wheel? Will,
I lived and taught in Philadelphia when Earthlink’s deal was first announced. It definitely wasn’t advertised well, and there was confusion between Earthlink’s offering and Philly’s “free-wifi” in places like Love Park and Reading Terminal Market.
I’d love to see municipal wifi work. Any info on how European systems work? Why aren’t we imitating them instead of trying to reinvent (and failing) the wheel?

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