Contents


Home

Introduction

Purpose and Objectives

Summary of Key Findings

Infrastructure

Access

Professional Development

Distributed Learning

New Technologies

Final Observations

Infrastructure

In bringing technology to classrooms, bandwidth and network connectivity appear to be the top challenges. With a stable and reliable network connection, teachers are better able to leverage online resources and bring new ideas and innovation into the classroom.



 
Sea to Sky district (SD#48) says that, "Schools rely ever increasingly on Internet access. If we don't have large pipelines to the Internet, then the software we purchase is diminished in value".
 

As traditional “bookable” computer labs become outdated, the devices that are desired and used in the classroom are data projectors (80%), interactive white boards (65%) and laptops (61%). Just-in-time access to technology is critical to students’ current and future learning environments. Getting up to leave the classroom, and the learning environment, to take a trip to the computer lab is no longer desirable or effective.



Most responses indicated that bandwidth was an issue, especially considering the increased use of online resources. Districts asked ERAC to work on their behalf with PLNet and the Ministry of Education to continue to find ways to solve these issues and create a long-term sustainable model for ubiquitous access.