I believe that we as a country should work towards eliminating the gap between students who have access to computer technology and students who don't; known as "the digital divide." I agree that states should be required to fund each school district in a way that would allow every student to have equal access to computer technology. I also think that they should go as far as writing grants for the purchase of computers in cases where finances are lacking, as the article suggests. I did not find it surprising that Whites and Asian Americans and those with higher income and education levels have above-average levels of computer ownership and Internet access. As an emerging solution, Morse says that by the end of this decade, every student have full-time access to portable computer technology (PWDs). Then the constuct of the digital divide would no longer focus on student access to computer technology but rather on which students know how to use this technology as well as how it is used differently by and with various groups of students (Morse 2004).
The article also made me become aware of the various ways inwhich students are utilizing computers. For some students with disabilities and students of color, computer technology is used to master basic skills, whereas for upper-middle-class it is used to development problem-solving and higher-order thinking skills. This difference has an impact on how students view their roles with respect to the use of technology.
I feel that it is part of my job as a teacher to educate my students on this ever-changing computer technology. This means that I need to be informed and educated on the latest technology so that I can then teach my students. Even if I am not instructing them in this area, I need to be aware of this technology as there (hopefully) will be a day when the majority, if not all, of my students come to class with a PWD.
I am very grateful for this class as it has already provided me with a whole wealth of information on computer technology. I will be more equipped to work with my students in the efforts to eliminate this "digital divide."
1 comment:
I've never heard of the "digital divide" but I have seen it in my school district. I teach a population that lives mostly at or below the poverty level (80%+ free/reduced lunch) where over half of them do not have computers at home. My district recently wrote a grant for technology and received it from the Colorado Dept. of Education. The grant focuses on training teachers to become proficient and advanced users of technology and gives them the tools of the trade to go along with professional development. Check out the website for Global Learners if you'd like to see how one school district is attempting to train their teachers and give them the tools to use technology to teach.
http://schoolweb.acsd14.k12.co.us/etil/EETT.htm
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