Fast Internet is as essential to your child’s education as that Trapper Keeper.
With fiber internet, students can download assignments, upload homework, and have reliable webcam calls with classmates and instructors worldwide. Fiber Internet enables off-site learning, cooperative programs, access to global resources, and multimedia exercises. All of which is nearly impossible in rural areas that are often without fast, reliable, and affordable Internet.
85%
85% of teachers, principals, and district leaders support the increased use of digital learning in their schools.
The Arkansas Department of Education states that 68.7% of the state’s 263 school districts reported some students with no internet access at home. [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette]
Some of the Ways Fiber Internet Furthers Our Children’s Education:
Media-rich learning materials.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then video is priceless. Lessons accompanied by audio, video, and interactive elements are immersive and relatable. They keep our children engaged in the lesson far better than any textbook. Slow Internet with data caps introduces limits on these tools and renders the lessons useless.
Enhances Cooperation and Involvement in Virtual Classrooms.
Fiber internet nearly eliminates latency and dropped data that can cause your child to miss what the instructor has said. They will be able to reply to questions promptly or watch a video simultaneously with the class. Your child will not have to wait extended periods to upload their work—or drive to the local coffee shop to upload it!
Almost half—49%— of those who relied on cellphones, 39% with slow home connections, and 17% of students with high-speed home internet access said they often or sometimes left their homework unfinished. [PEW Research]
Eliminates Make-Shift Solutions in Home Learning.
Many homes are relying on their smartphones and cellular plans as their home internet service. Some internet plans do not allow tethering or hotspots, so students have to participate in class directly on a phone versus a computer with a larger screen.
Spend Time Learning — Not Waiting.
School packs tons of learning into a day. A student may have to spend hours doing homework after school. This precious time shouldn’t be spent waiting on the lesson actually to download or upload. Fast fiber Internet helps children complete assignments in a short time so that your children can get back to family game night!
Reduces Textbook and School Supply Costs.
Textbooks aren’t cheap. And with new advancements made every day, books become outdated very quickly. By substituting standard equipment with tablets and devices, schools can save a great deal of money. The better the broadband connection, the better those devices perform.
Participate in Multi-Cultural, National, and Global Learning.
With online learning programs, schools can now take advantage of live streams and video conferences that allow students to experience important world events and topics as they happen. A science class could watch the next Space-X rocket launch, experience a cultural exchange with another class in Africa, or a music class could watch a concert from the New York Philharmonic. These are experiences likely to happen just a few years ago. A fiber internet connection allows students to be a part of the world normally outside the budget of small and rural schools.
If a family is using their smartphone as the home internet source, there is the issue of data limits and the resulting bandwidth throttling or, worse, additional data charges.
For the reasons stated in this article and many more, Arkansas Valley Electric and Wave Rural Connect are hard at work to reduce our fiber build timeline and get effective fiber services to all our members who want and deserve top-tier Internet.
Wave fiber-optic services provide our students with an excellent opportunity for success. Explore our services to find out what package can help your child at home. www.waveruralconnect.com
