Internet Accessibility an Issue

By Isaac Graham · The Mainstream
Published November 16, 2011

The addition of online elements to classroom based courses has some students beaming and others screaming.  The separating factor: accessibility.

Technology has created online extensions of college classrooms, adding helpful, online tools for teachers and students.  This versatility, however, can only go as far as student access will permit.  The problem is that students are struggling to purchase monthly internet service for their homes.

“I have to come to school or go to Starbucks to do all of my homework,” said criminal justice major Jordan Andrecht. “There are distractions.”

Due to these distractions, language teacher Honora NiAodagain at times chooses to back away from internet-based homework exercises that would be difficult to complete away from home.

“This very week, I had a student tell me that they couldn’t access the material because they didn’t have internet at home,” said NiAodagain.

Challenges are also presented for students who only have the means to purchase a limited amount of online data. 

“I was in the middle of a test when [the internet coverage] ran out,” said business administration major Jessica Bancroft.  “I had to leave to go finish it.”

The library is just one option for students who need to access a free internet connection.  The library hours are Monday – Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  The following provide some other local options.

Starbucks, Fred Meyers, Mcdonalds, Taco bell, Douglas County Library, Subway on Diamond Lake, My Coffee, Books Gallery in Sutherlin, The Hollow Coffeehouse, While Away Books, Booster Juice, Full-screenMegabyte Computer Cyber Café, Applebee’s.