Thousands of families across the region are relying on borrowed technology to help with the shift to online learning.
Director of Education Deb Crawford says the St Clair Catholic District School Board has lent out roughly 2200 devices.
“We’re finding there is challenges around rural internet, and that’s making it a little bit uneven,” Crawford says. “But we’ve been able to provide hubs or iPhones or different connections to people who didn’t have internet. So we were ready to go and people are progressing really well. It’s a big adjustment for some families.”
At the Lambton Kent District School Board, Director John Howitt says there are close to 5000 devices on loan, along with 400 internet hubs or similar technology for those who don’t have regular internet access.
“We did with the extension of the extra two weeks in elementary see another surge in requests for devices,” Howitt says. “As always, I will advocate for improved rural internet at any opportunity I have.”
However, both boards say overall the shift to online learning is going very well and kids, parents, and teachers seem to be adapting to the temporary measure.
The province is expected to announce later this week whether most kids in Ontario will have the option of returning to the classroom for face-to-face learning next week.