#FlipClass Experiment Series - Access

Since this whole idea of flipping a classroom is fairly new in education, of course there are going to be plenty of issues and growing pains that come up along the way.  The biggest concern I have had raised in my work in flipping my class is access.  I have had questions raised from everyone from administrators to parents to students to other teachers looking to flip their classrooms, and every single group has raised the issue of access.  For some school districts this won't be as much of a concern, but teaching in a rural area means I have to be aware of and sensitive to the fact that not everyone has access to a high speed internet connection when they leave the school building.  I have found the following in my experience:

• The issue of access to high speed internet is not as prevalent as some might make it out to be.  I teach in a district that is designated as a low-income district, and I thought this was going to be a huge hurdle, but it wasn't.  While I do have some students without internet at home, there are not as many as I thought there would be.  High-speed internet is becoming the norm, even in rural areas.  You'll still need to account for this, but lack of access is definitely becoming the exception, not the rule.
• Some students without internet access still have a computer in the home.  I have a few students for whom I download classroom videos to a flash drive and send the videos home that way.  If students have a computer, just no internet... no problem.  They can still receive the content.
• Keeping the computer lab open at school as much as possible is mandatory.  I arrive at least 30 minutes before the school day kicks off each day and usually around an hour after school to allow students to have time with internet access if they need it.
• Surprisingly, a growing number of students with no high speed internet at home have access to mobile devices that will work over a wi-fi network.  Our school is working on an open wi-fi network to allow students to bring their own devices, and many students will hit up the McDonald's with their smartphone to get the access that they need.

Requiring access to a high speed internet connection can be a tricky move, and if not done with tact, can definitely ruffle some feathers.  If you're thinking about flipping your class, make sure you plan ahead and are prepared for this issue to come up... because it will.