"Welcome to EdTechAfterDark! Our community was born out of discussions for a rich EdChat type gathering for those of us who are thinking about the digital edu-landscape long after the sun has gone down. For us night owls, when the clock strikes 10PM EST, you’ll find us on Twitter over at #edtechafterdark. All are welcome! Our discussions range from our philosophies about EdTech, digital best practices, and simply sharing our stories." --www.edtechafterdark.com
Welcome to #edtechafterdark! Tonight I am joined by my two best buddies @danvkoch and @MrLeonard8 to discuss Net Neutrality and its impacts on education!
Hey everyone, welcome to #edtechafterdark! I'm Zac Admin at @AcademyEs and I'm really excited to jump into this topic tonight! Thanks @alexstubenbort for developing some dynamite questions!
A1 - It could be catastrophic in that things we depend on like Google Classroom could be completely shut off because Google is a competitor. Which would in-turn make Chrome-books obsolete #edtechafterdark
A1: Honestly, it’s hard to say. Some experts fear the worst while others claim that the consumer has grown too accustomed to net neutrality to demand anything less. What’s leaving me scratching my head is what (if any) positives come from repealing it? #edtechafterdark
A1 It is critical schools can provide access to all resources for academic purposes, whether the site pays for it or not. Likewise, some bandwidth heavy content is ever more important in #edtech. These changes negatively impact both. #edtechafterdark
A1 I don't know what the implications might be, but it probably won't be really great. Those that can't afford top shelf materials will just get left further behind. #EdTechAfterDark
A1: Worst case scenario, internet suppliers create an education package that affluent schools can afford and sociology-economically disadvantaged cannot... this potential inequity to access has me ready to fight. #edtechafterdark
That would be my concern. Think like subscription fees/freemium content, just the next step. "Want bandwidth to share your project? Want to have tolerable speeds to access our materials? Pay up." #EdTechAfterDark
A1 I don't know what the implications might be, but it probably won't be really great. Those that can't afford top shelf materials will just get left further behind. #EdTechAfterDark
Yeah. The social iniquity of the whole thing is what drives me crazy. This is just another way to put your foot down on those in the margins. No one is clamoring for this. #EdTechAfterDark
A2 Would their be daily raffles to see which Dept or Classroom gets the most bandwidth? How would the access be distributed evenly? Tough questions... #EdTechAfterDark
A2 - Potential for massive instructional change, and PD, to an audiance who is already making a techtonic shift from paper pencil to technagogy (Copyright @danvkoch) #edtechafterdark
A1: Based on what I read, it could significantly impact the cost of access. Like schools are already dealing w/ budget cuts! No bueno! #edtechafterdark
A2 Would depend on teacher feedback and how big the speed impact is, but certainly would make me look back into locally hosted LMS's like @moodle#edtechafterdark
A2 This sucks. This goes against the whole concept of choice in how we learn and create. We force Ts and Ss to all use the same platform....because $$$? Even if it doesn't work for everyone? Ugh. #EdTechAfterDark
A2: It would lock schools in, force their hand, and create an unnecessary status quo. The beauty of the internet is in its equity. If someone comes along with a better product, we can all access it as easily as the old one. David can realistically topple Goliath #edtechafterdark
That's exactly what I'm saying. They need opportunities to access content, and many schools cannot afford to provide that access and instruction. That doesn't make in any less of a right, though. #sschat#digcit
A2: our district bought an intervention program but we have to share 25 license for our school. We assigned Ss half hr slots in the middle of class to try to give all Ss needed intervention. That’s what i imagine it would be like... #edtechafterdark
A2 It makes me think of Cell phone plans or cable contracts. You bought into something. Now you are stuck with it. Service can suck. They don't have to serve your needs. They already got your $$$. #EdTechAfterDark
A2: That would suck! No nice way to put it. What happened to choice? What if the LMS is not the one you've been using for years. Starting all over! #edtechafterdark
Right. But with the entire internet. Imagine a world where Google is a la carte. Where Youtube demanded your school buying a streaming package... this is the potential implications #edtechafterdark
A2: our district bought an intervention program but we have to share 25 license for our school. We assigned Ss half hr slots in the middle of class to try to give all Ss needed intervention. That’s what i imagine it would be like... #edtechafterdark
A3 - Student A can experience an unlimited breadth of information, statistics, and graphic representations. Student B has whats available contractually with their ISP and/or its parent corporation #edtechafterdark
A2: It would lock schools in, force their hand, and create an unnecessary status quo. The beauty of the internet is in its equity. If someone comes along with a better product, we can all access it as easily as the old one. David can realistically topple Goliath #edtechafterdark
A3: About the same as a student who only looks at one point of view or only visits certain sites - if you only go for the easy information you aren't doing the work #edtechafterdark
A3) Student w/ net neutrality learns to navigate the information highway to seek out reputable sources and come to informed conclusions. Student w/o receives truth from the highest bidder to avoid slow sites regardless of where the rabbit hole is leading them. #EdTechAfterDark
A3.1 It's interesting how much of a push providing #internetaccess to all students at home has been in the last couple of years - now we're discussing whether we could even provide it at school. :( #NetNeutrality#edtechafterdark
A3) well, if the ISPs don't like net neutrality, and they get to block whatever content they want, it'll be harder to find the critical arguments #edtechafterdark
A3: in my Title I School? My student may not be able to afford to research, or may be stuck with a bare minimum online resources my school can afford. Meanwhile a more privileged S has the WWW at their fingertips. #edtechafterdark
A3) Student w/ net neutrality learns to navigate the information highway to seek out reputable sources and come to informed conclusions. Student w/o receives truth from the highest bidder to avoid slow sites regardless of where the rabbit hole is leading them. #EdTechAfterDark
A3:
📍🏡Student w/slower internet cxns
or those who have to use the📍 Library to accesss the internet
or those who have to use their📍📱 phones for Research:
It takes LONGER⌚️ time.
They have to plan out their Research⌚️ TIME
#EdTechAfterDark
.@alexstubenbort A3- the tough part is that they may be very similar. But it’s hard to imagine a situation where a potential restriction to equal access to the internet could possibly be good for the common man. #edtechafterdark
A4 - Who/What-ever controled the fast lane would control information. Lost of conspiracy theory stuff here, but honestly to me this is the most dangerous aspect of overturning Net Neutrality. #edtechafterdark
Right. Best case scenario if it is repealed is that the experiences are for all intents and purposes identical. But what is to be gained by taking away equal access assurance? I still haven’t heard any convincing rationale from that perspective... #EdTechAfterDark
.@alexstubenbort A3- the tough part is that they may be very similar. But it’s hard to imagine a situation where a potential restriction to equal access to the internet could possibly be good for the common man. #edtechafterdark
A4: again this happens in schools NOW. We have to prioritize available bandwidth as it isn’t infinite. YouTube, even though it can present research is going to be slower than Ebsco. #edtechafterdark
For real. Everyone should be calling their local elected officials and saying something about this. This doesn't serve anyone but corporate interests. #EdTechAfterDark
A4 Those with the $$$ will get to frame the narratives. It'll be like the whole Texas social studies book controversy in your classroom every day. Those with the money will dictate what you need to know. #EdTechAfterDark
A4: What happened to information in the media when ratings became king? The information became less trustworthy and more sensationalized on both sides of the aisle for ratings sake. If popularity equals your ticket to fast lane status then sensationalism is king. #EdTechAfterDark
A3: It's like giving a 16GB RAM laptop to one S & a 100MB RAM computer to the other & expect them both to edit a movie in @AdobePremiere#edtechafterdark
Yes, but we’re talking districts across the nation who have finally found a way to balance their budget to afford high bandwidth, suddenly having to find more funds to pay for the information itself! #EdTechAfterDark
#SocioEcon would determine the speed of their internet cxns.
...as though Ss🙁 don't care
if their sources are reputable
or their conclusions are "informed"
regardless of the speed of their internet connections. #EdTechAfterDark#NetNeutrality
A3) Student w/ net neutrality learns to navigate the information highway to seek out reputable sources and come to informed conclusions. Student w/o receives truth from the highest bidder to avoid slow sites regardless of where the rabbit hole is leading them. #EdTechAfterDark
I’m sharing because I couldn’t agree more! As a Ray Bradbury fan, @blackmirror is my type of Sci-Fi as it holds so many truths for the here and now despite being set in the future. #EdTechAfterDark
A5 - Good Side - Ts rework lessons to align with content/websites etc that will be reasonably accessible to their students - Bad Side - Ts abandon tech in the classroom unless it is a remediation program or self-contained app. #edtechafterdark
A5 #edtech educators will need to have multiple alternate plans to deliver the same content predicated simply upon what works/is available that day. Massive overpreparation. #NetNeutrality#edtechafterdark
Schools from SocioEcon⬇️ areas
would have slower internet cxns.
Their Classes would reflect that TIME it takes.
Schools from ⬆️SocioEcon
would have MORE TIME for other Lessons.
#EdTechAfterDark
A4: Fast lane = faster constumption & more information; slow lane = less traffic & less information. That can be scary becuase who will dictate the information/misinformation #edtechafterdark
I’m with you. If I abandon my alarmist position and allow myself to think more rationally, what is the rationale of repeal? This is an honest and sincere question as I am at a loss at the moment. #EdTechAfterDark
Why would we? Thanks to erate there are specific laws as to eligibility and competitive bidding. Again not saying I’m all for repealing but let’s look at all angles and make rational arguments rather than going to the end of times.
A5 It'll be like the way we eat. The poor schools/Ts will shop bargains and eat junk because they can afford it, and hey, ya gotta eat. The rich schools/Ts will shop organic and get the prime stuff. Reality will be different depending on where you're born. #edtechafterdark
Actually if you google searches, it already favors Businesses
that have more money + power. #NetNeutrality
is SUPPOSED to allow for smaller businesses with less money'
to compete equally. #EdTechAfterDark
In reply to
@joshchoward, @taylortholen, @alexstubenbort
I honestly don’t see you as such. I’m sorry you were made to feel that way. The last thing I’d ever want #EdTechAfterDark to be is an echo chamber. I appreciate your insight and am giving them genuine consideration. Hope you reconsider.
A6 - "He who controls the spice, controls the universe" Dune is a story that thrilled many of us Gen X and Y ers. This quote applies more today than ever. #edtechafterdark
An open Internet requires a lot of human processing and has revealed a lack of media literacy. But talk about an awful solution to the wrong problem. #NetNeutrality#EdTechAfterDark
A4: What happened to information in the media when ratings became king? The information became less trustworthy and more sensationalized on both sides of the aisle for ratings sake. If popularity equals your ticket to fast lane status then sensationalism is king. #EdTechAfterDark
A5: I believe many Ts will find ways incorporate tech that is accessible. Sadly, it may deter other Ts from using tech in the classroom altogether. ☹️ #edtechafterdark
A4 Those with the $$$ will get to frame the narratives. It'll be like the whole Texas social studies book controversy in your classroom every day. Those with the money will dictate what you need to know. #EdTechAfterDark
A6 It opens up the content of the internet to be legislated by those who own the tubes. If you say something the owners of the tubes don't like...ADIOS! #EdTechAfterDark
A6: should freedom go to the highest bidder? Should sharing be limited to thoughts and ideas be limited by cost? There was a time when reading was only taught to the wealthy. Let’s not limit the ability to share, create, discuss, analyze, evaluate... #edtechafterdark
A5) i teach CS. For now, the tech companies aren't competing like this, but there are certain code libraries developed by Google, Facebook, etc. Imagining: "sorry, I can teach that code, because our ISP is sponsored by BigTech1" #edtechafterdark
I agree with @alexstubenbort ... I didn’t read the thread as dumb ... I agree some schools are Apple some Google some Microsoft ... our own preferences might impact our views on this topic #EdTechAfterDark
In reply to
@ash525, @alexstubenbort, @alexstubenbort
Thank you for engaging #EdTechAfterDark in this complicated issue tonight... admittedly I have much to learn but honored to learn alongside all of you tonight!
