GCSE Results improved by Broadband
The Office of National Statistics released results from the latest UK Internet Access study, which indicated that GCSE testing results are better where the students had access to home broadband. It is expected that students with exposure and access to broadband internet, will have an advantage over those without this privilege. With broadband access, the entire learning experience is turned into a world of opportunity, and students have a wealth of resources at their fingertips. They can use their initiative to do independent learning, research, and discovery. There are also opportunities for added collaboration that could even go beyond the barriers of the schools, and extend across countries and continents.
There is a vast difference between those students who can make good use of opportunities and challenges that broadband delivers, and those who don’t. Kids can access online tutors to get help with their homework; they can search on Google for answers and aids to assignments and projects. There are also sample questions and answers to help pupils study better for upcoming tests and exams. There are online libraries with unlimited resources that they can peruse.
It was reported that of those who scored A to C in the GCE/GCSE exams this year, an estimated eighty percent had home internet access. On the other hand, a review of those who scored D to G showed that less than 75 percent had home internet access. This correlation also applies to degree level students, and it is proven that adults gaining degrees are the ones most likely to have had access to internet at home.
It is also evident that broadband is having a positive effect on the schools and the education system in general. Schools and teachers are using broadband as a tool to enhance and improve the learning process for their students. It is therefore important that effort be made to increase broadband access in the schools, and to provide it for families who are without any access at home. This will definitely be a big step in helping students improve and gain higher grades in exams.