The Internet has become way more than just a means to keep up with friends and find funny videos. When it comes to college, Internet connectivity has gone from “can do without” to “necessity” in just a few years. With many of the services that were once done in person are now online, Internet connectivity is a must have in order to get by.
With things such as:
- online registration
- online class support services like “BlackBoard”
- final grade postings
- emailing professors
- updates on school and class cancelation
- submitting assignments
Having a service that is not readily available for all students become a necessity makes it more difficult for lower income students trying to succeed in college.
Colleges have made strides in helping students by providing Internet services in most dorm rooms, computer labs, libraries and WiFi around most campuses, but this confines students to live at or around campus to get their class work done. If you are commuting from out of town, however, this gives you a large disadvantage as compared to other students. Commuting without Internet connectivity makes students take extra time to go to campus and work on quizzes and other homework that they would need the Internet for. Even though the online quiz process does save time for professors by having the quiz automatically graded and is done outside of the normal classroom time, it puts new strains on students having to jump through hoops in order to use the service and devote even more time to a class.
I’m curious to know what your opinion on the matter is. Do you think that Colleges and Universities are relying too heavily on the Internet, or is this just an inevitable change that others must accommodate to? Feel free to leave your comments in the section below.
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