How Technology is Fostering Unconventional Alternatives in Education

The Wall Street Journal produced an informative article on current trends in telelearning. More kids than ever before are attending school from their living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens. The result: A radical rethinking of how education works. An excerpt from the story is below:

It was nearing lunchtime on a recent Thursday, and ninth-grader Noah Schnacky of Windermere, Fla., really did not want to go to algebra. So he didn't.

Tipping back his chair, he studied a computer screen listing the lessons he was supposed to complete that week for his public high school—a high school conducted entirely online. Noah clicked on his global-studies course. A lengthy article on resource shortages popped up. He gave it a quick scan and clicked ahead to the quiz, flipping between the article and multiple-choice questions until he got restless and wandered into the kitchen for a snack.

Noah would finish the quiz later, within the three-hour time frame that he sets aside each day for school. He also listened to most of an online lecture given by his English teacher; he could hear but not see her as she explained the concept of a protagonist to 126 ninth graders logged in from across the state. He never got to the algebra.

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Technology Representatives Meet to Focus on Broadband in Latin America and the Caribbean

Caribbean PressRelease.com recently published an account of a meeting of technology industry representatives who were exploring ways of improving the regulatory framework in Latin America and the Caribbean to encourage greater broadband penetration and usage. An excerpt from that release is below.

On December 8, approximately 50 telecommunications industry representatives participated in the half-day brainstorming session, “IDB’s Broadband Platform: Creating a regulatory framework that works.”

The meeting was held at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) headquarters in Washington, D.C. Among the companies and nonprofits that attended the meeting or followed the proceedings by teleconference were Alcatel-Lucent, Intelsat, Microsoft, Intel, Qualcomm, Telefónica, Cable and Wireless, UNCTAD, Connected Nation and Inveneo. The meeting was organized by the Bank’s Office of Outreach and Partnerships (ORP) and the Science & Technology Division.

The objective of the consultation was to seek industry experience and input to improve the region’s regulatory framework to help facilitate increased broadband penetration. Over the next two months, IDB experts will write a publication with the industry’s input that will be part of the IDB’s Broadband Platform strategy for the Latin American and Caribbean region.

To read more about this event click here.

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Tech Firms Often Neglect the Unique Needs of Seniors

The Washington Post recently published a thought-provoking article on the plight senior citizens face trying to keep up with the pace of technology. An excerpt from the story is below:

Rapidly changing technology places everyone on a constant learning curve. This poses a particular challenge for seniors.

Americans older than 65 now number 40 million — that’s roughly 13 percent of our population.

The U.S. Census Bureau says that 11 million are older than 80. Very few of them are going to learn to use the innovative and intuitive devices younger consumers can’t seem to live without. Shockingly, few companies are providing pragmatic technologies to aid these 40 million people in their lives.

There will be 60 million of them once the youngest crosses the 65-year-old line. Isn’t that a market big enough to serve?

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Puerto Rico Continues to Cultivate a Knowledge Workforce through Community Technology Centers

By Wil Payton, Communications Specialist, Connected Nation

The Community Technology Centers (CTC) – East Region will have its second meeting on Saturday, December 3, where a host of presenters will provide insight into current technology trends and best practices.

In today's economy, students must possess knowledge of technology and have the ability to use it. Technology is used in classrooms, homes, and businesses for training, project completion, research, and basic communication. In today's world, technology opens the door to many resources. Access to those resources is the key to social and economic inclusion.

The CTC event is being held at the University of Puerto Rico, Enrique Laquerre Library, www.centroparapuertorico.org. Attendees will be informed on the following topics:

• Skype-like interactive organizational communications tools

By: Prof. Sylvia Figueroa, University of Puerto Rico, Recinto de Aguadilla

• Tools of Web 2.0 for your CTC

By: Vanessa Barreto, Network of Educators of Puerto Rico

• Internet for the Service of the Community

By: Prof. Wanda Cortez, Director of Public library of Añasco

• Movable Applications with administrative and educative approaches to add value for your CTC

By: James Lynn, Network of Educators of Puerto Rico

• How to use the technology to develop the sustainability of the CTC Network

By: Bernabé Soto Bertrán, Instructional Designer

The U.S. Department of Education established the Community Technology Centers (CTC) Program to provide access to computers and other forms of information technology in an educational setting to low-income, urban, and rural areas, and economically distressed communities. The need for such access was discovered through a U.S. Department of Commerce study showing that persons from affluent households are more likely to own a computer or have access to one.

Want to learn more about the digital divide and how you can help Connect Puerto Rico build awareness on broadband adoption and access? Take a moment to Follow us on Twitter, and Like us on Facebook to stay informed on the latest news!

Report from the Field: A Broadband Bridge to Puerto Rico

Anna M. Gomez, the deputy assistant secretary for communications and information for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), recently joined Critical Hub Networks staff and Puerto Rico Chief Information Officer Juan Eugenio Rodriquez on a tour of Critical Hub’s data center facilities in San Juan. The facilities are part of Critical Hub Networks’ Puerto Rico Bridge Initiative BTOP project.

Connect Puerto Rico recently released data that indicates that 14 percent of Puerto Rico households are unserved by a fixed broadband provider. This represents approximately 76,682 unserved households that do not have access to a fixed wireless or wired broadband service offering (excluding mobile and satellite service).

To help fill this gap, NTIA awarded Puerto Rico two Recovery Act grants to expand and enhance broadband infrastructure.

To read more click here.

Former FCC Commissioner Addresses the Need to Expand Broadband in Puerto Rico

Broadband holds the keys to our communities’ economic and social prosperity

By Wil Payton, Communications Specialist, Connected Nation

Former Federal Communications Commissioner and Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA) Strategic Counsel Henry Rivera highlighted the importance of expanding broadband and closing the digital divide for Latinos in a speech Thursday to the National Caucus of Hispanic State Legislator Summit at the El Conquistador Resort in Fajardo.

Rivera, who was the first Hispanic FCC Commissioner, works with the IIA to promote universal broadband. IIA is a national coalition dedicated to expanding access to high-speed broadband to all Americans including in Puerto Rico.

During his presentation — Connecting the Dots in the Digital Age: Policy, Social Capital and Advocacy — he called for eliminating the gap, or “digital divide,” that exists between those who have access to information technology and the resources and skills necessary to effectively participate as digital citizens and those who do not.

“You can see the link between broadband and opportunity, between broadband and an overall potential for improvement in so many areas of life and living,” said Rivera. “Latino families that do not have access to broadband, or that have access but do not adopt broadband technology, will inevitably be left behind in this new Internet age. It is as simple as that and it’s an outcome our country cannot afford.”

In a recently released report by Connect Puerto Rico, new data estimates indicate that 86% of households have broadband available at basic connection speeds (768 kbps download/200 kbps upload speeds). The estimate drops significantly when looking at higher connection speeds necessary to support Internet applications that consumers are increasingly demanding, such as video streaming. An estimated 41% of households across the island have broadband available at speeds of 6 Mbps/768 kbps or higher.

“The Latino community has many pressing challenges as we look for ways to grow the economy, grow jobs, make healthcare more affordable and accessible, and increase the quality of our educational system,“ said Rivera. “While jobs are a priority for everyone, they are particularly critical for our community because unemployment among Latinos is above 11 percent, significantly higher than the national average.”

Rivera is also a partner with Wiley Rein LLP, where he specializes in representing telecom and media companies before the FCC, Congress, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and the White House.

Want to learn more about the digital divide and how you can help Connect Puerto Rico build awareness on broadband adoption and access? Take a moment to Follow us on Twitter, and Like us on Facebook to stay informed on the latest news!

U.S. officlal gives thumbs up to PR broadband projects

By Stefan Antonmattei | Puerto Rico Daily Sun

A key U.S. government official in charge of implementing federal broadband projects throughout the nation said she was pleased with the three local projects started last year.

Puerto Rico broadband coverage has increased to 50 percent of the island’s surface and 30 percent of the island’s 1.2 million homes are connected to this service, placing the island ahead of many Caribbean and Latin American countries but well behind the U.S. national average.

Broadband penetration in the U.S. covers 90 percent of the country, where 65 percent of the houses have an Internet connection. Broadband is measured at 3 megabits per second or more. Two-thirds of U.S. households have broadband connectivity versus one-third on the island.

Three local Internet projects funded with federal money have received the approval of its management and execution — projects that are assisting the growth of Internet penetration in Puerto Rico. Critical Hub Networks received $25.7 million; INTECO received $12 million; and the governor’s office $2.5 million — all with the purpose of expanding the availability of broadband throughout the island.

The three Puerto Rico grants were among the 230 grants provided nationwide. The Commerce Department received more than 3,000 applications and picked the most sustainable projects. The key factors in granting the funds were: to have an experienced and competent management team, the resources available to build and operate the network, and a plan for business continuity.

Anna Gómez, deputy assistant secretary for communications and information and deputy administrator of the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), who visited the island to oversee the projects funded by her department, was pleased with the progress of the three projects.

Read more.