How I Utilize My Internet Time on One of the Top 10 Wireless Campuses

I love having the capability to go almost anywhere on campus and be able to access the internet. I think that, myself included, too many of the students take this privilege for granted. I don’t even think about what it must be like on other campuses to have to go to certain spots on campus to get online. I use the internet everywhere. One of my favorite things to do is find a spot outside and do my online homework on a nice day. I have even used the internet as I was walking to class reading an assignment that was due.

I don’t think that having such a wireless campus is a distraction at all. I think students will get on facebook and gaming sites or whatever they’re into no matter where they are. A lot of kids have that capability on their phones now so they can literally access those pages anywhere. It is really convenient to be able to pull out your laptop and play a game or check your email if you are outside an office or somewhere waiting.

It is definitely an academic help as well. I have been able to get on blackboard all over campus and access teachers notes if I am doing an assignment or studying somewhere else and don’t have my notebook. I also really like being able to get on blackboard really quick and look at the class rosters if I have a question to get a hold of someone in my class. However, one academic disadvantage is that it gives you even less of an excuse to say you didn’t get that email or haven’t checked it yet because it can be accessed virtually anywhere on campus. It just puts that much more pressure on us to stay on top of communication with the faculty, professors and peers.

I found an interesting article titled, “Totally Wireless on Campus,” from the USA today website. Two Ball State students discuss their experience being part of the first generation of students to grow up with computers and their wireless experience at other colleges and their own.