Broadly Speaking

  • 10/01/99

In this month's Broadly Speaking, we chat with Debra Marton, the Education Project Coordinator for AT&T Cable Services and a 19-year veteran of the cable industry. She helps to explain what broadband technology is and where it fits in the classroom of today and of tomorrow.

T.H.E.: What is broadband technology and what d'es it encompass?

Marton: Broadband technology is high-speed Internet service, cable service and local and long-distance phone service over cable. With broadband technology, the classroom can provide students with a vast amount of resources. Information gathering is much faster, Internet access is always available, and visual support in the classroom is readily available.

T.H.E.: What d'es broadband technology mean for education? Why is it important?

Marton: Broadband technology as it relates to education means enhanced learning. Extensive information resources, high-speed Internet access and an array of educational cable programs and materials enable teachers to expand their horizons outside the traditional classroom. With high-speed access, the Internet is always available to students and teachers. This decreases down time, which leads to increased levels of student interest. Educational cable programs developed for teachers bring 540 hours of eye-catching information to the classroom. Fresh and exciting educational material enhance teacher lesson plans to develop the visual student.

T.H.E.: What sorts of things can educators look forward to in the broadband-enabled classroom of the next few years?

Marton: Broadband-enabled classrooms will bring all people together through the ease of communication it will create. Communication through wireless and long distance phone service, cable television, high-speed cable modem Internet access, virtual workshops, electronic fieldtrips, long distance learning, complex graphic and online slide presentations are all enhanced features of broadband technology. The use of broadband technology in schools will provide students an equal advantage in preparing for the 21st century.

 

Featured

  • glowing digital lock surrounded by futuristic dollar signs, stacks of currency, and coins, connected by neon circuit lines

    FCC Reports Strong Interest in Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program

    The Federal Communications Commission has received 2,734 applications totaling $3.7 billion in funding requests from schools, libraries, and consortia for its Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program, the agency reported in a recent announcement.

  • person signing a bill at a desk with a faint glow around the document. A tablet and laptop are subtly visible in the background, with soft colors and minimal digital elements

    California Governor Signs Off on AI Content Safeguard Laws

    California Governor Gavin Newsom has officially signed a series of landmark artificial intelligence bills into law, signaling the state’s latest efforts to regulate the burgeoning technology, particularly in response to the misuse of sexually explicit deepfakes. The legislation is aimed at mitigating the risks posed by AI-generated content, as concerns grow over the technology's potential to manipulate images, videos, and voices in ways that could cause significant harm.

  • stylized illustration of an open guidebook with a glowing AI symbol hovering above

    ED Releases Toolkit for Intentional Use of AI in Education

    The United States Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology has released a new resource to help education leaders navigate AI adoption while ensuring student protection.

  • a digital lock symbol is cracked and breaking apart into dollar signs

    Report: Ransomware Costs Schools Nearly $550,000 per Day of Downtime

    New data from cybersecurity research firm Comparitech quantifies the damage caused by ransomware attacks on K-12 and higher education institutions.