How Internet Access Is Affecting the Classroom
Advancements in technology are changing the way students learn. Schools are now leveraging these innovations to deliver course material that wasn’t available in the past.
For these technologies to work, schools need access to high-speed broadband internet. Unfortunately, many students don’t have access to the internet they need as some schools are using obsolete methods for providing connectivity.
Experts agree that for students to be able to take full advantage of digital learning, schools need a minimum of one gigabit (Gbps) data speeds for their internet access needs. Without these speeds, schools can’t leverage the technological innovations that allow kids to learn at their own pace and provide teachers with the assessment data necessary to understand the needs of each child.
Fiber optics are the key to upgrading schools’ low-speed, copper networks to the advanced technologies of the future. Fiber optics not only increase speed and bandwidth but because they are buried, they are less susceptible to damage and security issues.
You might think that fiber optics will come with high costs given all the benefits, however, this is not the case. The average school without fiber pays excessive rates per month for 300 megabit (Mbps) or slower bandwidth while those with fiber can pay significantly less. That’s because the cost of maintaining fiber is low and it does not change based on how much it is being used. Whether it delivers 10 megabits or 10 gigabits per second, the cost is the same.
If the United States is going to upgrade its schools from the low-quality internet access we have today to the multiple gigabit speeds we need, we must leverage the power of fiber to dramatically reduce the cost of bandwidth.
Enabling students to take advantage of digital learning requires us to follow the lead of other countries and provide the upfront investment capital needed to connect schools to fiber and deploy high-speed WiFi in every classroom.
This investment in infrastructure would increase educational opportunities and reduce bandwidth costs by as much as 90 percent. It would also create more jobs to fill the roles needed to upgrade the networks for all our schools.
How Schools Can Benefit From Fiber Optics
Here are the primary reasons all schools should consider using fiber optics going forward:
1. Easier for students to Access Information Quickly
Today, students at most schools use a variety of devices to access information on the internet including smartphones, tablets, and laptops. However, these devices will not help students in any way if they can not access the information they need quickly.
Fiber optic cables are much faster than copper cables as they use light to send and receive data. When your school has fiber optics installed, students won’t have any trouble with information not loading on their devices.
2. Teachers Can Use More Videos in Their Lessons
Students are not the only ones who will benefit from installing fiber optic cables as teachers have a lot to gain from a fast and stable internet connection as well.
One such advantage is that they are able to include more videos that they find in their lesson plans. Because fiber-optic networks are able to send and receive data so quickly, teachers won’t experience any issues pulling up a video at a moment’s notice to share with their students.
3. Prevents Outsiders From Gaining Access to a School’s Internal Network
As schools’ internal networks contain valuable data, it is important that they are protected from hackers and other security threats. With a fiber-optic network, you don’t have to worry as much about hackers accessing any sensitive information.
Whereas traditional copper cables are easy to tap into for the purpose of accessing data, fiber optic cables are very difficult to gain access to. As a result, your school is better protected from any would-be network intruders.
4. Helps Improve Safety
The safety of children is always a top priority as schools look to provide students the most secure environment possible in which to learn throughout the day.
Fiber-optic cables can help schools improve their security. This is because fiber optic cable makes it possible for schools to hook up high-quality security cameras throughout their buildings. They also enable the police to hook up their own security cameras to see what is happening inside the school at any time. This will allow for a faster response should an incident ever arise.
5. Aids Our Children in the Age of Remote Learning
We live in challenging times. Remote learning has become the norm for classrooms all over the world, and now more than ever, children are learning from the screen of their laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
In the age of remote learning, the importance of fast and reliable internet is more vital than ever. Schools without the bandwidth to provide adequate classroom hosting, video conferencing, and curriculum content on reliable, high-speed servers are always at risk of disconnects, storage loss, and much more.
With fiber, consistently fast internet speeds and the assurance of connectivity at any given moment is a worry of the past.
Contact Browning Electric Co
Browning Electric Company has been providing quality, reliable industrial electrical work for over 15 years. We are experts in commercial fiber optics and offer a variety of services including installations, fusion splicing, termination, and cable testing to ensure that you’re prepared for this school year and countless more to come.
Contact us today if you’re interested in upgrading to fiber optic internet or learning more about our electrical services.