Availability ≠ Access
There is no guarantee of internet access, stable Wi-Fi or bandwidth availability. As instructors that thrive off seeing the faces of students in class and feel affirmed by the eye contact and head nodding, blank screens with names can feel cold and detached. There is a worry that the student is disengaged; we have to move beyond our feelings though. This is not an indictment on one’s ability to teach or deliver appropriate education, but we must consider the countless issues that affect whether a student is available to be visible online or not. In seeing the students’ names there we must trust that they are in attendance. The fact of the matter is this is not the ecosystem campus was, where things were all equal. Some students may be accessing the class from their phone while sitting in the Walmart parking lot because they have exhausted their data allotment. Other students may be accessing the class from the bathroom of their house because that is the only quiet spot. Some students may be accessing class from standing on the street in front of a store because of the Wi-Fi accessibility. While other students may live in a mixed citizenship status home and be fearful of outsiders seeing their undocumented family members.
With students of all ages and parents all working from home the Wi-Fi is stretched to maximum capacity. The bandwidth may be low because there are many users. Purchasing additional bandwidth can be a socio-economic issue. Countless families may not have funds to increase their internet services. Another issue is the different time zones. Again when everyone was on campus this wasn’t an issue, but some of our students may be accessing our classes from around the world or on the other side of the United States. There is also a geographic issue, the internet is often available to rural students, but it may not be high speed. Any effort to increase bandwidth, speed or purchase additional devices becomes an issue of financial ability.