4.1 Digital Equity
Candidates model and promote strategies for achieving equitable access to digital tools and resources and technology-related best practices for all students and teachers. (PSC 4.1/ISTE 5a)
Artifact: ITEC 7430 Equitable Access Blog Entry
Reflection:
This artifact in a blog post that I submitted for the ITEC 7430 class back in the spring semester of this program. In the second part of the blog post, I share my reflection over the digital divide many students across the country struggle with at home and at home. I also included a video that helps provide a visual on the “Homework Gap” many students face at home due to the lack of not having the necessary technology tools to complete homework. I share my opinion on digital divide on the blog post along with the personal divide my own students face in their homes on a daily basis. I have personally been on both sides of this digital divide and not having what my classmates had at home to complete the same assignments was very difficult but at the same time caused me to really think outside the box to complete my homework. By the time I got to high school, I had to come up with creative ways to complete homework where a computer was needed. There were times where I had to stay after school or go into school early in order to type assignments and have them printed. I use my personal example in my building to promote the use of the large amount of technology access we have for our students.
The Equitable Access blog entry demonstrates the mastery of standard 4.1 because I offered the different resources my school offers to help minimize the digital divide of our students. A video was also included in the blog post that I later shared with the teachers in my school. The video was eye opening for the at staff and opened up conversations on how we can help our parents to ensure students are able to complete their homework without having to struggle if they do not have a computer or tablet at home. The video made some teachers realize the limit they have put in technology in their classrooms, because they have decided to only One initiative our principal began is limiting the amount of homework our students have to complete. The only homework each grade needs to make mandatory is reading for twenty minutes. The technology committee suggested offering more time for computer use, if students have a project that requires additional time than normal. Students are welcome to come complete their work if they are finished with their breakfast.
I learned that there is in fact a digital divide found with in my school community. I believe that the divide exists at my school and within my district. I found that there was larger digital divide between teachers than students. I believe that the digital divide was bigger for teachers because many teachers use technology in various ways in their classrooms, but others choose to use technology minimally. While teachers have access to the most up to date technologies, students at my school are not as fortunate. I learned that students with economic hardships do not have access to sophisticated technology. This is the most critical digital divide of all. When students don’t have the same digital access as their peer then they fall behind each year in their digital literacy skills. If I were to complete this activity again, I would like to propose a digital equity seminar to help parents understand the importance of technology in homes and show them the opportunities local internet companies have for families at a low cost.
The work that went into creating this artifact could impact school improvement and student learning. Providing students with access to internet and technology at home would really impact their leaning and improve our school overall. This artifact could be assessed by reading the blog post and gathering a full discourse for the digital divide at my school.
Reflection:
This artifact in a blog post that I submitted for the ITEC 7430 class back in the spring semester of this program. In the second part of the blog post, I share my reflection over the digital divide many students across the country struggle with at home and at home. I also included a video that helps provide a visual on the “Homework Gap” many students face at home due to the lack of not having the necessary technology tools to complete homework. I share my opinion on digital divide on the blog post along with the personal divide my own students face in their homes on a daily basis. I have personally been on both sides of this digital divide and not having what my classmates had at home to complete the same assignments was very difficult but at the same time caused me to really think outside the box to complete my homework. By the time I got to high school, I had to come up with creative ways to complete homework where a computer was needed. There were times where I had to stay after school or go into school early in order to type assignments and have them printed. I use my personal example in my building to promote the use of the large amount of technology access we have for our students.
The Equitable Access blog entry demonstrates the mastery of standard 4.1 because I offered the different resources my school offers to help minimize the digital divide of our students. A video was also included in the blog post that I later shared with the teachers in my school. The video was eye opening for the at staff and opened up conversations on how we can help our parents to ensure students are able to complete their homework without having to struggle if they do not have a computer or tablet at home. The video made some teachers realize the limit they have put in technology in their classrooms, because they have decided to only One initiative our principal began is limiting the amount of homework our students have to complete. The only homework each grade needs to make mandatory is reading for twenty minutes. The technology committee suggested offering more time for computer use, if students have a project that requires additional time than normal. Students are welcome to come complete their work if they are finished with their breakfast.
I learned that there is in fact a digital divide found with in my school community. I believe that the divide exists at my school and within my district. I found that there was larger digital divide between teachers than students. I believe that the digital divide was bigger for teachers because many teachers use technology in various ways in their classrooms, but others choose to use technology minimally. While teachers have access to the most up to date technologies, students at my school are not as fortunate. I learned that students with economic hardships do not have access to sophisticated technology. This is the most critical digital divide of all. When students don’t have the same digital access as their peer then they fall behind each year in their digital literacy skills. If I were to complete this activity again, I would like to propose a digital equity seminar to help parents understand the importance of technology in homes and show them the opportunities local internet companies have for families at a low cost.
The work that went into creating this artifact could impact school improvement and student learning. Providing students with access to internet and technology at home would really impact their leaning and improve our school overall. This artifact could be assessed by reading the blog post and gathering a full discourse for the digital divide at my school.