Private universities in Nairobi may be miles apart when it comes to their locations and courses they teach but it seems when it comes to Internet they just can't escape each other since they share a lot in common. Sample this.

AFRICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY

With the computer labs packed to capacity one can mistake them for normal computer classes but as it turns out the students are browsing to either do research or engage their friends in social networks such as face book.

Asked about their experience with the Internet speed they confess that they are happy. Moments later the electricity goes off and within a fraction of a second the computer labs are deserted. A brief chat with one of the student however reveals that Internet is central to their academic life. “Am stressed since I have to get some information from Internet", says a second year student.

Student at the campus also enjoy the benefits of wireless Internet access. “while at campus you can use your notebook computers to browse", notes a student at the university, she is also quick to add that the speed is adequate enough to help her access the information she wants.

A speed test by Peter Muia and Michelle Opiyo both assistant systems administrators at KENET however reveal that the Internet speed is fast enough for browsing.

At the institution the Internet is mostly used for academic research since according to IT manager the institution is an academic institution.

TANGAZA COLLEGE

A huge computer lab ,a deadly silence and students who were glued to computer screen is the sight that captured our attention on our visit to Tangaza college. And as we moved from one computer lab to another the same picture is replicated .

A spot check on the Internet speed however reveal that it is adequate enough to help student in research and access to other social networks like facebook. Most of the students interviewed however posit that Internet has been of great help to them especially in their research.“I have nothing to complain about since Internet speed and resources offered by Internet have been of great help to me,”says a student at collage.

According to Mr. Dennis Okello,the network administrator at the collage,the Internet speed has been up. The collage offers myriad of courses and as such bandwidth consumption is also high.

Student at the collage were however of the view that Internet as been of great help to them. For students doing their masters, most of them who come from outside the country, Internet it seem plays a huge role in their life. In fact it is central to their academic life.

The students use Internet for their teleconferencing lessons and as it turned out the lesson they receive is from one of their instructor who is stationed in Italy.

Like most of the institutions we visited Tangaza college has also wireless Internet access that is available to its students.

USIU STUDENTS SPEAK ON THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH KENET'S INTERNET

It is early in the morning at United States International University. Students using their laptops in library,classes and the desktop computers in the computer lab are a common sight. You will be forgiven if you think that the university only offers Information Technology courses to all its students. Simply put, the students are exploring the benefits of Internet provided to them by Kenya Education Network(KENET).

CRUCIAL TOOL

KENET has yet again proved that it endeavours to not only provides Internet but also transform and strengthen its member institutions by actively promoting the use of information communication technology in teaching,learning,research and management. Sample this:

Most of the students interviewed posit that the Internet has had tremendous benefit on their academic life. Consider the case of Mr. Patrick Maina a third year International Business Administration student. Patrick observes that with the help of the Internet he can access his notes,upload his assignments,read the online journals,print out his data sheet,access his grades,communicate via the e-mail,register online and above all do his research.

Mr. Patrick Afundi an information technology lecturer at USIU who teaches on web structure and design notes that Internet is of paramount importance.“Students must visit as many websites as possible in order to have a feel of exactly how a good website should look like.”said Mr.Afundi.He adds that coming up with a good website is subject to intensive research which can not be achieved without Internet.

Just to paint a picture of how crucial the Internet is Mr. Patrick Maina said that his day won't take off smoothly if the Internet speed is slow.

Mr. Chebosi a final year student in the same university echoes Mr. Patrick's sentiments. He observes the use of Internet has spared him the load of carrying heavy books.“Most of the information that I need can be found in the Internet and also we do have the online journals that is accessed through the Internet for references purposes. The high Internet speed makes it possible for me to do all that.”

MILESTONE

Last year the university initiated a shift from e-learning platform to the blackboard technology. The technology is said to improve every aspect of education. It enables the lecturers to engage more students in exciting new ways and also connect more effectively keeping students informed,involved and collaborating together.

According to Mr. Patrick Afundi the blackboard helps breath life into the educational content empowering the instructor with tools to engage every learner. One thing that stands out when it comes to blackboard is that it constantly evolves to meet learners needs. It helps create virtual classroom,offices and meeting.

The blackboard also offers exciting approaches, consider the example of peer to peer and instructor level help which involves each students on an individual level.

ONLINE PUBLIC ACCESS CATALOGUE(OPAC)

The universities library uses an online public access catalogue system to ensure that students don't waste time looking for books on the shelves. This essentially depends on Internet. According to Agrey Elegwa a worker at the university Internet has been a precious commodity for them especially when it comes to indexing and cataloging.

From the interview it is however clear that the Internet is lifeblood for USIU academic community since a great part of their learning depends on Internet.

CHECKS AND BALANCES

With the Internet becoming an integral part of the student life the university has come up with the “turn it in system”that ensures that students also consult with textbooks and do not lift materials directly from the Internet. This is basically meant to ensure students also consult the books.