4.+How+accessible+is+technology+for+students+both+in+school+and+at+home?

Web 2.0 tools require a high speed connection to the internet to utilize their full potential. While internet access for students used to be a significant concern it is now assumed that the vast majority have the appropriate access at home or at the very least access at a public library or their school.

 If you live in the city, in a middle class neighbourhood or better, there is an assumption that teachers and students have computers and internet connectivity at home. This is not always the case, and teachers may not realize that they have the technology poor in their classrooms. Teachers must be cognoscente of the fact that some students may need to use public computers in order to complete assigned work.  The reality in the city of Ottawa is that well over 90% of high school students have their own cell phones and close to 100% have computer access at home. For those few students that may not have access to such technology, there is free access to computers at each library within the city as well as before and after school within the board. One issue that may arise with cell phones is that there are still parents that are taking a stand against their use. If classrooms/schools begin to utilize cell phones for academic purposes, it may create tension with such parents.

If you teach or live in a mixed urban/rural or rural setting, high speed internet access may not be possible at home; high speed internet is not ubiquitous across every community. While dial-up access is a possibility for most of these students, it is not guaranteed. Furthermore, certain Web 2.0 activities may not work without a high speed connection.

Most schools in southern Ontario are equipped to handle Web 2.0 applications. However many school computers are older equipment which may not support all Web 2.0 applications. This is especially true of multimedia applications. In terms of access there are many access points available to students most students have libraries in communities. If a student cannot afford technology there are programs and used technology that students in cities like Hamilton can access.

The bottom line, at the current time teachers should not assume that all teachers and students have ready access to high speed Internet and that the computer hardware and software avaible both at home and within the school can support all Web 2.0 applications.