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.