What are means to learn? Did you know that in 2001 99% of school districts had no internet access? And despite this growing availability in schools and in classrooms, much of the population within the United States continues to live without access within the confines of their own home?
One school district in California implemented a unique solution to this dilemma. School buses used to serve one purpose and one purpose only. That purpose was getting students to and from school. But driven by a mandate to provide internet connectivity to all the students, some creative districts have deployed mobile wireless technology to transform their buses into moving Wi-Fi zones. Stationary hot spots or buses in a California District gave access to their students and families. According to the superintendent in one school district, only 60% of the student population had internet access at home with in his school district. He needed to discover some methods to solve this problem. Therefore, he put his own spin on the concept of mobile learning. He said they’re putting Wifi in cars now. So why not put it on a school bus?
The school district rolled out a Naples School Bus Initiative and used three buses to provide Wifi to students. Wifi was offered on the way back and forth to school and for field trips as well sporting events. The district also used buses parked overnight in neighborhoods where internet access would not otherwise be available such as trailer parks. Tribal reservations were among the district’s first choice to provide Wifi for free.
Wi-Fi magnified additional access for educational success including family union, supporting and building family ties as a beneficial component to academic success. The support of parents and families is the most important method to improve education. Strong family ties aid in higher grades. They increase test scores and greater school attendance as well as graduation rates. Having access increased family ties which in turn increased motivation, lowered suspension and disciplinary issues. The decreased use of drugs, alcohol and even fewer instances of violent behavior at school were also noted as side effects of the increased wifi accessibility in addition to increased self-esteem.
What does his have to do with means? It’s simply pointed out that since you’re watching this video you have the means to learn anything that you desire. Ponder for moment your accessibility to information. Is there really something you could not learn because the means were unavailable?
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By Tracy Atkinson
Tracy Atkinson, mother of six, lives in the Midwest with her husband and spirited long-haired miniature dachshunds. She is a teacher, having taught elementary school to higher education, holding degrees in elementary education and a master’s in higher education. Her passion is researching, studying and investigating the attributes related to self-directed learners and learning styles. She has published several titles, including MBTI Learning Styles: A Practical Approach, The Art of Learning Journals, Calais: The Annals of the Hidden, Lemosa: The Annals of the Hidden, Book Two, Rachel’s 8 and Securing Your Tent. She is currently working on a non-fiction text exploring the attributes of self-directed learners: The Five Characteristics of Self-directed Learners. Check out her courses on Udemy.
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