The FCC's E-Rate Modernization Order, when considered in conjunction with the growing prevalence of wireless devices, interactive displays, collaboration tools and rich content, is poised to create a whole new way of learning for students. While you might not think this is all that significant in terms of your role in unified communications, you'd be wrong.
Learning Mandate
The E-Rate order, put in place last December, aims to better align technology budgets in schools with what's needed today versus nearly 20 years ago when the FCC first developed the E-Rate plan. (In actuality, E-Rate also funds libraries, but for the sake of this article, I'm focusing on K-12 education.)
Some of the people I've talked to about the program feel the changes are long over due. However, based on a significant amount of research I did last year on the K-12 vertical, I believe the changes are well timed. While schools have been experimenting with new technology such as tablets, laptops, and Chromebooks, I think the majority of them are just starting to figure how to use such devices to change the way students learn.
When I make the statement, "change the way students learn," I'm talking about more than just using tablets for e-books. While e-books do provide some cost and convenience advantages, they don't change the way students learn -- they're still about reading. The combination of wireless devices, interactive displays, collaboration tools, and rich content is what creates a whole new way of learning. Now students can interact with the content and remotely collaborate with other students, even ones at other schools.
Had these changes come even a few years ago, I'm not sure schools would have known what to do with the extra funding. I believe we're just starting to see the transformation of K-12 and the reallocation of E-Rate funds will be a big part of this change.
What You Need to Know
Understanding the new E-Rate plan can be confusing though. One option is to read the FCC's 176-page manifesto. Given my short attention span and the lack of an audio book version, I opted instead to interview Aruba Network's E-Rate expert, Dan Rivera. From that conversation I came up with the Top 5 things you should know about E-Rate.
Why You Need to Care
I know in the UC industry we spend a lot of time discussing new ways to work and how to mobilize a workforce to improve productivity. However, if we don't start changing the way students interact with one another in classrooms, then making the shift in the workplace is always going to be an uphill battle. I'm glad the FCC has recognized this... but it's up to the school administrators to understand how to maximize the money made available in the new E-Rate plans.
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