Wi-fi enables new educational practices to emerge because access to the internet becomes ubiquitous – a given. When access to unlimited resources becomes available anytime, anywhere virtually instantaneously, educators begin to use those resources differently

Opponents of WiFi in schools would have you believe that there is nothing lost by banning WiFi in schools and that the alternative to enable internet access in schools is wired internet connections. While this may sound like a reasonable compromise, it is a major step backwards for our education system.

I believe by restricting WiFi access in schools, it would reduce and eliminate access for our children to the largest educational resource ever created – the internet. It imposes limits on the types of tools our teachers can use and negatively impacts the education of our children.

We need to take a balanced and rational approach based on weighing the benefits against possible risks. Anti-WiFi advocates believe banning WiFi has no pedagogical consequences for our children. Hence, if free WiFi access is band in schools students in our society would be limited to the technological world in this contemporary calibre, thus, the aim of schools is to ensure that our children are educated to the best of our ability.

According to Christensson 2014, Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that allows computers and other devices to communicate over a wireless signal.

Wifi is critical to our learners’ 21st Century Education. Access to it would ensure the removal of a barrier that is already part of a challenging future. Not allowing access to Wi-Fi means an entire generation of technology is not useable in classrooms – technology that is often easier for younger students to use than a traditional computer. Devices with network ports are becoming increasingly hard to find on contemporary laptops. But it is not just computers. Entire new lines of devices, such as tablets, e-readers, and smartphones, have no physical network connections.

However, Wi-Fi is not just about devices in a classroom for the sake of having a shiny new technology for technology sake. There are teaching and learning implications when choosing wired vs. wireless access in a learning environment. A wireless school is fundamentally a different learning environment than a wired school.

References:

Christensson, P. (2014, March 11). Wi-Fi. Retrieved June 20, 2016, from http://techterms.com/definition/wi-fi

Should Internet Access be Limited for Students?

Did you know that there is a debate whether internet access should be limited for students or not? Internet access can be positive but if used incorrectly can be negative also. If it is too extreme it may limit you from many valid sources. On the other hand some people think that if you don’t limit the internet they may use it as a distraction to their work. Schools should limit internet access depending on their age because it can limit kids creativity but can also distract them.

In an article it states,”limiting access impairs students ability to complete projects assigned by teachers, limits student access to creativity, and most importantly

it restricts their access to the very sites that they are to use to obtain their homework.” This is true because if you can’t reach websites or videos it can restrict you from creative ideas and information that you may need for your project. If you are in high school and college you will need as much info as possible so that you can get good grades. If they are blocked it will take twice as long and won’t get you info that you needed for a good project. It doesn’t just affect you it affects your grade which affects the teachers and school. So restricting internet access would just affect the school and teacher. So why would you want to do that in the first place. To me it wouldn’t make sense to me to block internet access for students. If you are in elementary then it would make more sense but still wouldn’t make that much sense. If you blocked only games then it would make sense. Limiting internet is not good. If students learn early how to limit THEMSELVES then it would be better than learning later on in life. Instead of being forced to focus. The only benefit is it would help them focus. If you help them focus then it still wouldn’t make them creative which will help you the rest of your life.

If students decide to play games instead of work in class then they are just punishing themselves by giving themselves more homework. If they don’t have a good or even a completed assignment then they will be graded terribly and so it should be their decision if they finish it in class, at home or finish it at all. It is the student not the teachers choice to have a good or bad grade. If a student doesn’t do their work and internet gets restricted because of that student, the students that did do their work shouldn’t get punished by his/her actions. Also, if one student is playing games in class then does all the work at home then why should you limit access to creativity if they did it in the end. In an article it stated,”Realizing the challenge of protecting students and giving them the freedom and access they need to do school assignments and work on digital media, Snavely recommended two options.  He notes that educators must first become digital natives; fully adept at using the internet and aware of the good and the bad.  Second, the students themselves must have a say in creating “a written policy for internet use that clearly states expectations for every computer user and penalties for misuse”. I completely agree with this article it can be good or bad but mostly good because it affects you not the school or the teachers, you. If your class set a reasonable agreement then it would make no sense to limit them because they already limit themselves. If someone breaks the agreement, then they will be punished in a reasonable punishment rather than limiting their creativity. Therefore they shouldn’t limit internet access to students.

On the other hand, if they misuse the internet it will have a very negative outcome. If you decide to put all your work to the side and play around with your laptop then it will ultimately destroy you. Your work will start to pile up then you will be working really hard to finish all your stuff. Most likely you will stay up late every night working which will make a cycle of you not getting enough sleep. If you don’t get enough sleep you will be dreary the next day at school ultimately affecting the amount of work you get done making it miserable all year. But, everyone will find a way to play games no matter what. Just like how drugs are illegal people still find a way to get them. Plus, if you have that experience early on you won’t ever make that mistake again. Therefore it won’t happen when it will affect your whole life, college. In college you don’t have time for mistakes. College literally shapes your future. You have to work really hard every day. You don’t have time to slack off. Which is why it would be way easier just to research freely. It would also be way better for students because it would teach them how to research and what type of websites to use. In an article I read it stated,” When children are in school they aren’t banned from speaking to one another.  Anyone who’s ever set foot in a classroom, as a student or teacher, knows that’s avoiding socialization in school is a futile effort.  Instead schools and teachers allow appropriate times for socializing and the same needs to be done with the internet. “

In conclusion, I think that Schools should limit internet access depending on the age. Limiting internet access can ultimately limit your creativity. But it can also distract you from your project. It will affect you and your grade. It is your decision what your grade is. If you decide not to do your work it is your fault not anyone else so why limit the other kids doing their work. In an article it states,” Isn’t it time to let students be a part of the policy creation for internet safety?” I agree with this statement completely. I think that all students should be able to decide what they do on the internet. They shouldn’t be limited because they chose not to have a good grade. I don’t think that you should teach kids to limit themselves in college when it is crucial to limit yourselves . Instead, you should teach them early to limit themselves in middle school.

I think that all students should have access to free internet at school or college so that they can look for materials on the educational process, or materials for buying or writing a dissertation, you can simply go to the site www.paperial.com and find everything you need. I think internet access is very important for students.