Read the report focusing on Home Broadband Adoption 2012 http://www.pewinternet.org/Static-Pages/Trend-Data-%28Adults%29/Home-Broadband-Adoption.aspx
In the comments section of this posting, include three findings that are important for teachers.
You are encouraged to read (and post comments on) other scholars' comments.
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1 – In April 2012, 66% of American adults have a high-speed broadband connection at home.
ReplyDelete2 – From the table, this trend has been on the rise.
I find this interesting because though it seems to be on the rise, it does appear to be leveling out.
3 – In September 2009, 93% of American teens used the internet.
This is an interesting fact because though they may use the internet, it is possible that they may not know how to use the internet to fully help them in their education.
For teachers, the first important point is obviously the tremendous expansion of broadband use across the United States in the last 12 years. Currently, 66 percent of adults now have broadband. Potentially, two-thirds of all students would also now have access to the most efficient method of delivering the Internet. Beyond this, 95 percent of all people between 18 and 29 now claim to use the Internet. This has clear ramifications for how teachers can assess students in terms of assignments, communication and testing.
ReplyDeleteWithin this research, there are also important findings related to demographics. While over 95% of those making over $50,000 a year (97% for those making over $75,000) to use the internet, only 68 percent of those making less than $30,000 a year are able to do the same. Likewise, the demographic statistics relating to education level and Internet-use are important. For example, only 47 percent of those with no high diploma and 72 percent of those who are high school graduates use the Internet. This lags significantly behind those with some college (90%) and college graduates (96%).
For teachers, this means that, despite its apparent prevalence, one still has to be very cautious in assuming that all students will have Internet use at home or will have an adult equipped with the familiarity to help them with assignments mediated through the Internet. Disparities of household education and income can still leave some students lacking the same resources as others.
I think three things I took from this article that would be important for teachers to consider are:
ReplyDelete1. Although 66% of adults have access to the internet at home, the remaining 1/3 of people do not have it and therefore their kids (or if they are the students, then the adults) do not have the ability to do assignments that rely strictly on using the internet. So it is still important to keep in mind the students that do not have internet access outside the classroom (or at home).
2. According to the information about “what internet users do online”, a great deal of the users activities involve social media usage, online buying, and other forms of communication. Even looking at what the teens do online it is similar (maybe add in online gaming) and you have a great deal of what they do. So even though people have access to the internet, they are not necessarily using it for educational purposes, nor do they necessarily know how to find valid and accurate information or learning tools to incorporate into their assignments. As teachers, I think it is important to give students an idea of what kind of sites offer good information to stop students from using false information or from just copying and pasting information from Wikipedia and handing it in as their own work.
3. I think that if teachers wish to use technology or the internet for assignments they should either use a portion of the class time to allow students to complete the work or make sure that all of their students have time to acquire access (from a library or otherwise) in order to complete the work so that a student’s grade doesn’t suffer just because they don’t have internet access at home. It is also important that if you are using something more complex than a search engine or email, that you demonstrate in class how to operate the site since the students (and their parents) may never have used the technology, as the information hints at based on internet usage.
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ReplyDeleteSorry in advance for the "removed" comments. I was attempting to get my user-name up-dated on my eBlogger account. Here is my post with my up-dated name ;-)
ReplyDelete1. 66% of American adults have a high-speed broadband connection at home. This however leaves a 34% without such access. This contributes to why as teachers we cannot yet expect all students to be able to complete assignments/projects from home. I suppose one solution is to give an all-class survey on day 1 as to whether kids have access from home. Those who mark "no" can be pulled aside to discuss accommodations to remedy the imbalance of access. Fair is not always equal, therefore, based on the "no's" I receive, I'd set up library times or special lunch/study hall passes for those students in order that they too can access and complete on-line work.
2. In 2009 93% of American teens used the internet. However, this could be misleading to educators. Just because a teen "uses" the internet, we do not know the quality nor quantity of usage. I, for example, introduced google scholar to students last week. All of them without exception was amazed at what they could access for researching purposes...and even do it in Spanish! These "light bulb" moments come when we guide them into what we expect internet usage to look like. It goes far beyond logging on to twitter or scanning Pintrest.
3. Due to differences in social-economic status, we as teachers must come armed with the "how" and "where" for students to gain internet access outside of school. Knowing our communities is vital to helping give students the tools for success in the "real world." For example, there are several community centers within my Bellevue/South Omaha area that offer FREE computer courses and offer computer labs for community usage. Being ignorant of this leaves students sitting within arm's length of exactly what they need but with no such knowledge of said fact. We must be knowledgeable about our community centers and have the information on hand.
1. Internet access has reached 66% among American adults by April 2012. This fact shows that the internet is becoming more integrated into society, thus opening the door to so much more information and globalization. Teachers can use this to their advantage when forming lesson plans and exploring different aspects of topics they must teach from the curriculum.
ReplyDelete2. Dial-up connection has exponentially decreased as opposed to the great increase in broadband connection. This fact shows how the internet connection process has improved drastically just over the last ten years. This in turn, shows how technology is changing and advancing at such an extreme rate. Teachers must always be aware of this knowledge so as to make sure they keep up to date about technology. New programs, learning tools, methods etc. are being invented which could improve students' learning.
3. The primary demographic for internet use is young, middle/upper class whites who graduated from college. This information shows teachers the challenges in bringing access to all students of many different backgrounds. With the emergence of the internet, learning in theory should be a level playing field for all types of students rather than just upper class, white male students. The issue with this is, even though internet use should be equalized, it is not, so teachers and schools must find ways to provide this internet access to students who don't have internet at home.
1. It seems that college educated individuals place a high value on being connected to the internet. 90+ percent of these individuals are using the internet. I think it shows that those who have pursued higher education see the benefits of the internet. We should encourage students to follow their lead and use the internet to help learn more about the world around them.
ReplyDelete2. It looks like 2005 was the tipping point for broadband. I think the fact that it changes so rapidly means teachers must constantly be adapting to the changes and students needs.
3. It seemed to me that it would be difficult to assign students projects that required the internet because they would not all have access. However, these statistics show 69% of American homes have the internet. I would venture to say students who do not have the internet at home can easily access it at a friends house, community center, school or library. It seems like teachers can integrate using the internet for homework because students more than likely have access or can easily get access. I did not fully realize this before.
Three findings that I believe teachers would find useful are as follows
ReplyDelete1. 81% of adults use the Internet. This is great information because there is a high chance that if a student does not know how use the internet that there will be someone in their family who can help them.
2.The gadget ownership overtime chart. This chart shows that the portability (phones and tablets) of the Internet is growing which could allow for new ways for integration outside of the classroom.
3. The demographic of Internet users chart. I found this informative in that even though the Internet is very common most users have middle class incomes and up.
I echo others' thoughts in that one cannot assume that Internet assess is universal and every student has assess to Internet at home. About 93% of American teens used the Internet based on the September 2009 survey. In 2011, the percentage of teens that used the Internet increased to 95% at a July 2011 survey. In comparison, only 66% of Americans have broadband connections at home April 2012 survey. Given the volume of people that do not have Internet at home, teacher will need to do a detailed survey to ensure that this does not affect the academic performance of the students.
ReplyDeleteI also find it interesting to see the statistics of how teens use Internet. 62% of online teens get news about current events and politics online (September 2009). 80% of teens use an online social networking site like MySpace or Facebook (July 2011). This is a trend that teachers and parents need to be aware of. In fact, 69% of parents of online teens are concerned about how their child’s online activity might affect their future academic or employment opportunities, with some 44% being “very” concerned about that
(http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Teens-and-Privacy.aspx). Discussion need to be encouraged at school as well as at home to observe guidelines on those digital activities.
With the number of teen internet users increasing (95%), I think it is time to promote policy of affordable broadband usage. In the survey 53% of Americans do not think affordable broadband should be a government priority (August 2010). In my opinion, affordable broadband may not be an urgent priority for the government but it is of strategic importance. I have seen countries in Asia, such as China, Korea, and Japan, invested heavily in broadband infrastructure. Giving away the leading role of broadband infrastructure to other countries will reduce American competitiveness and hurt economy in the long run.
With so much availability of the internet it would be a waste not to take advantage of that and incorporate online resources and tools into one's course content.
ReplyDeleteHere are my thoughts about reading the Home Broadband article.
ReplyDelete1. The statistics from this article obviously show the tremendous expansion of Internet in the home and on our children's lives.
(I refer to the following statistics. 66% of American adults have broadband. 95% of teens and young adults use Internet. The large expansion of Internet from 14% to 81% fom June 1995 to Setember 2012)
Yet, as some of you have mentioned in your comments, are we teaching our students how to discern what is moral and academically trustworthy from what is not? All this tecnology is there, but are we teaching them how to use it correctly? Just because it's there doesn't make it right.
2. I also agree with those of you who have noticed that a good portion of people still don't have Internet. Obviously we are aware that technology is increasing, and we should incorporate it in schools. Yet it still isn't safe to assume that all students have access to it for their assignments. As a substitute elemebntary teacher, I teach in areas where there is a high amoount of poverty and violence. A great amount of my students don't have access, so we have to give them time at school to use it.
3. The statistics in the article talked a great deal about technology use across the demographics.
I have read these statistics like these in other articles both at Creighton University and here at UNO, and I have become very concerned. The authors interpret these stats, and they jump to conclusions about socioecomonic status, social justice, equality, and racism. I have read so many researchers who get so upset that their numbers are not the exact same across the board.
In short, I think that it is wise to be careful about how we interpret the demographics. Do they expect the numbers to be exactly the same because this isn't reality?
1. The first section I looked at in this article is the demographics of teen internet users. I focused on the numbers for students that I primarily work with and see at school. These are students between the ages of 14 and 17 and who are Hispanic. 88% of Hispanic students use the internet. This is the lowest number in the race/ethnicity category. It is important for teachers to be aware of the student population at their school.
ReplyDelete2. The second thing I found interesting is that only 77% of teens own a cellphone. I thought that the number would have been a lot higher. It is important for teachers to remember that even though we live in a technology driven age, not all students have access to cell phones or other electronic devices. As teachers we can't always count on our students as having access to the internet or other devices at home.
3. It is also important to note that teens primarily use the internet for social networking sites. This is not a surprising statistic. I think that teachers can incorporate those things into the classroom. Some teachers have created facebook pages where students can post questions they have about class and the teacher or other classmates can answer them. This is a good way for teachers to keep students engaged in class and allows them to utilize social networking for educational purposes.
1. 81% of adults use the internet.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the things they do online is encouraging, because many of them do many different things. Thankfully Social Media is not the top on the list, like it may be for students. So, it is reassuring to know that there are adults who know how to find information online for their students if need be, and that they are well rounded internet users. However, many people who think they know how to use the internet do not. These parents may or may not be able to use their internet skills to help their students with online assignments if needed.
2.Gadget use in adults.
I find this graph to be very interesting. Knowing that many students should have access to a tablet, smart phone, or laptop computer at home is refreshing. Many of our students should have access to at least one of these things making at home assignments more accessible for most of them. And if they do not have access to these gadgets at home, we can make school gadgets accessible to our students.
3. Teen Social Networking Use
These statistics are not surprising to me, as most people have already said. I think working the use of social networking into our classrooms could be a great opportunity for learners. Facebook groups for classes, teacher twitter accounts, etc. This will keep our students engaged in learning outside of school and gives them an easier way to comunicate with teachers.
There are several points in here that are important for teachers to know.
ReplyDelete1. 81% of internet users are adults ages 18 and up. The largest user group out of them is ages 18-29. This is important for teachers to know because not too many young kids use the internet. This could be due to students not having axcess to the internet, students not understanding how to use the internet, or even students not being interested in using it. Teachers can use this information to increase internet use in the classroom and show students fun and interesting ways to use the internet. Also, they can teach the students how they can effectively use the internet and why they should.
2. It was interesting to read that 23% of students ages 12-17 have smart phones, and the number is increasing. This could be useful for teachers because they can have the students use their phones for hands on activities, interactive activitites, and even just to add technology into a lesson. Teachers could have the students use their phones in positive ways and show them how to use them effectively in education.
3. It is also important for teachers to know that the majority of adults who use internet are white and have higher incomes and higher education that those who use the internet less. This is important for teachers in understanding student difficulties when using the internet, deciding if they should assign internet homework, etc. Teachers should know their students' basic family situations, which can help them decide when, if and what internet assignments would be appropriate.
1) The younger demographics seem to be more internet savvy. People are coming out of high school with the knowledge necessary to use the internet. However, where are they actually gaining that knowledge? Home or school?
ReplyDelete2) There is more widespread use of the internet at home which means students could be using that for learning. People are glued to technology so why not make it a part of the learning process?
3) The internet is being used mostly for searching and socializing anyway. So, again, this could be incorporated into the regular teaching/learning process.
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ReplyDeleteAfter reading the above entries, I agree with the comments. It seems like everyone had the same three points. I think the internet usage will increase as people become more knowledgeable about how to use it. Teachers will play an important part in this increase when students see the different ways to use.
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