Hi,
I don't wish to upset anyone, though I'm probably adding fuel to the fire.
It seems to me that there are several interesting points regarding students
accessing the internet from home, and I'm referring mainly to students who
have dyslexia.
- Some of the research I have read suggests that it takes everyone longer
(up to 15%) to read from a VDU.
- Home access to the internet is generally through a 56Kbps modem. I can't
see an LEA going for ISDN!
- Most Universities / institutions have much faster links (particulary if
they use Super JANET) provided free for students to use.
Bearing in mind the extra time, download times and costs, I generally
suggest that people who have no other impairments (which affects access to
a PC at their University) save information onto disks at the University,
provided they can do so without breaching copyright. If students can find
work far more quickly at college and then save work onto disk for use at
home, surely this is better for them? Over the years many students have
agreed with me as they also have important information on disk and ready to
hand. They find that a super quick connection here is far better than
spending hours on a slow one at home. However, I still feel that students
should be able to access the internet from home, but I'm not sure if it is
always the case that they need to spend hours and hours researching, or
more accurately waiting for information to download.
Just a thought
Stuart
Stuart Walker
IT Officer for Disabled People
Disability Office
University of Bradford
BD7 1DP
Tel:(+44) 01274 236007
Email [log in to unmask]
Email: [log in to unmask]
http://www.brad.ac.uk/disability
http://www.brad.ac.uk/disabilitystatement
http://www.brad.ac.uk/dyslexia
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