| 1. Sharing is good.Your connection to the Internet | | | | and is being pushed to over 70mbps. Let me also |
| deserves to be shared with everyone in your home | | | | mention that wireless hotspots are popping up all over |
| school program. One or two computers wired to your | | | | the place in coffee shops, health food stores and even |
| internet access can be turned into four or more in their | | | | your favorite burger place. Handheld computers or |
| own rooms. Even better you can create a small | | | | PDA's are advancing also into wireless to where you'll |
| computer lab where no one will be standing in line to | | | | soon be able to watch video on them also just like a |
| use the connection for homework or research. Even if | | | | regular computer - why the emphasis on video you |
| you have one computer for everyone in your home | | | | may ask, because it is an incredible learning tool.4. |
| school program with another computer sharing a | | | | Broadband wireless content is getting more info to |
| wireless broadband connection the access is doubled | | | | your desktop that you need.With the huge push to |
| without string another cable or phone line. Let me | | | | wireless broadband more and more information |
| share a quick story about a homeshcooling mom who | | | | providers are creating content that is more targeted to |
| had one computer in her bedroom and she was | | | | high speed delivery. Streaming videos of info from |
| homeschooling two teenagers who were getting more | | | | Discovery channels website, watching the launch of |
| email than their mom (computers are replacing cell | | | | the space shuttle (from NASA's own website) or the |
| phones when it comes to chatting if no one has | | | | landing just in case you missed it on television are one |
| noticed - can we say Instant Messaging). After buying | | | | of the few examples available to be accessed with a |
| another computer (under $300) and setting up a | | | | wireless broadband connection that is fast (see Numer |
| wireless network she now has her computer back | | | | 3 above) and you don't even have to check out a |
| and only has to listen to "Mom, Tony won't let me use | | | | video from the library (see Number 5, not to mention |
| the computer" - instead of "Mom when are you going | | | | how long it will take for the library to even get a video |
| to get off your computer".2. Dialup is too busySome | | | | of a shuttle launch).5. No more trips to an already |
| broadband users enjoying the speed of dsl would | | | | crowded library.A home schooling family of any size |
| probably argue that this should be number one and it | | | | has a full schedule as it is and squeezing a trip to the |
| did take some arguing not to make it number 1. Dsl | | | | library can be more than a challenge. If you have ever |
| users never get a busy signal when trying to access | | | | tried to get to the library and then stay for more than |
| the Internet and the connection is on all the time | | | | an hour looking for a book on homeschooling |
| without being dictated by a busy signal, downed phone | | | | curriculum only to find out it already has been checked |
| line, long distance charges or constantly updated dialup | | | | out then you feel my pain. Now you can even check |
| numbers. A homeschool resource is hard enough to | | | | to see if the book you want is available thru the local |
| get to without waiting for someone to get off the | | | | library's website and some of them let you reserve it |
| phone and in a home with several very talkative | | | | until you can drop by, pick it and leave in just under 10 |
| individuals that can be a long time. If you are a | | | | minutes. Looking good now, that broadband connection |
| homeschool mom you can have your phone and | | | | has paid for itself in time saved already.For more |
| Internet connection at the same time - who said you | | | | articles and other content, if you have an RSS reader |
| can have your cake and eat it too...3. Wireless | | | | click on this link: Peterson: 10-year consultant, instructor, |
| broadband is getting faster and faster.While this one is | | | | trainer |
| still tied to the one above it - remember that a 56k | | | | Helps african american and minority homeschools |
| dialup is like the topspeed of a Model T car when it | | | | bridge the digital |
| was first invented. The speed of dsl is getting faster | | | | divide by becoming computer homeschools. |