Helping Students Stay Connected
Equity
Students will have variable access to technologies. The following resources may be available to assist them. Please communicate options and be flexible if students are having difficulty accessing and using technologies.
Devices
If a student is in need of a laptop/device, they can fill out the following form: Equipment Loan Interest Form. To use the laptop, students must provide their own internet access. The college has listed providers and resources through our page: We are Here to Help. The requests will be reviewed in two batches. Interest forms for the initial review are due Friday 4/3/2020 by noon for distribution on Monday. The interest forms must be submitted by Sunday 4/5/2020 at 6 pm for review for distribution on Tuesday 4/7/2020.
Internet
Empathy
First and foremost, please have compassion for yourself and your students during the next couple of months. You did not plan to instantly become a fully online instructor and your students did not plan to be a fully online student but compassion will go a long way to ensure we are all successful. Also, do not panic because the Centers for Teaching and Learning are there to support you and additional resources are being put in place for students. We’ve got this!
Please consider the following regarding your students (Rebecca Barrett-Fox, 2020):
Students will have variable access to technologies. The following resources may be available to assist them. Please communicate options and be flexible if students are having difficulty accessing and using technologies.
Devices
If a student is in need of a laptop/device, they can fill out the following form: Equipment Loan Interest Form. To use the laptop, students must provide their own internet access. The college has listed providers and resources through our page: We are Here to Help. The requests will be reviewed in two batches. Interest forms for the initial review are due Friday 4/3/2020 by noon for distribution on Monday. The interest forms must be submitted by Sunday 4/5/2020 at 6 pm for review for distribution on Tuesday 4/7/2020.
Internet
- FCC agreement stating that providers will waive late fees, not cutoff service for lack of payment, and open hot-spots.
- Comcast COVID-19 response: offers free WiFi for 2 months to low-income families plus all Xfinity hot-spots are free to the public during this time
- Charter Free Internet offer for 2 months
- AT&T COVID-19 response: offers open hot-spots, unlimited data to existing customers, and $10/month plans to low-income families. ATT has also opened all of its public wi-fi hotspots to the public.
- Verizon COVID-19 response: no special offers, but following the FCC agreement.
- Sprint COVID-19 response: follows FCC agreement, provides unlimited data to existing customers, and, starting Tuesday, 3/17/2020, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge.
- T-Mobile COVID-19 response: follows FCC agreement, plus unlimited data to existing customers, and, coming soon, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge.
- Spectrum is offering free internet: 1.844.488.8398.
- Cox has opened all of its public wi-fi hotspots to the public. Find the locations.
Empathy
First and foremost, please have compassion for yourself and your students during the next couple of months. You did not plan to instantly become a fully online instructor and your students did not plan to be a fully online student but compassion will go a long way to ensure we are all successful. Also, do not panic because the Centers for Teaching and Learning are there to support you and additional resources are being put in place for students. We’ve got this!
Please consider the following regarding your students (Rebecca Barrett-Fox, 2020):
- Students may struggle with technology. This site provides free computer skills training.
- Many students will be accessing your course via phone, as they did not sign up for an online class and cannot be expected to procure wifi, computers, etc. at short notice.
- Students may have their entire family home, with competing needs for their technology as students and adults working from home
- Some students may fall ill and be unable to participate, use compassion.
- Given the situation, some students may be working more hours which could interfere with live remote instruction.
- Students will be under stress given social isolation, loss of jobs, family members home, etc. Please use compassion.
- Reach out individually to students that are missing virtual classes or not completing assignments. This may be a sign they are experiencing accessibility or other challenges.
- Ask students how you can help them during this transition and experience.