Technology in the classroom is ever-changing. Teachers have endless tools to utilize within the classroom through the powers of technology. Unfortunately, there are schools and school systems that do not get the opportunity to utilize technology as frequently or diversely as others. This presents the issues of equitable use of technology within the classroom.
Equity issues can be described as “a discrepancy in access to technology resources among socioeconomic groups” (Roblyer, 2015, p.15). Children from low-income areas, disabilities, and diverse cultural backgrounds may have little access to technology. As technology grows, unfortunately it does not correlate with the growth of technology within the classroom. These students are unable to consistently access not only educational technological devices, but they are limited to the amount of learning tools these devices have to offer. “As a result, many teachers have to create their own technology supply or provide administrators with alternatives for placing devices into student’s hands” (Harvey, 2014). Presented options include students bringing their own devices, computer labs, and leasing programs. |
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The Digital Renaissance
Some areas in the U.S. have successfully implemented
educational technology into the hands of all students. One school system calls
this the Digital Renaissance. The Baldwin County Board of Education in Baldwin
County Alabama has provided this opportunity to its teachers and students. This
allows the teachers and administrators of these communities to provide
individual tools to all students on a daily basis. Teachers are challenged to
continuously explore and use new and exciting learning tools with these
devices. Although there are many pros and cons to this event, it does provide a
solution to the digital equity issue.
References:
Roblyer, M.D. (2015) Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching. Upper Saddle Rive, NJ: Pearson
Harvey, Brinson (2014) Bridging the Digital Divide in Classrooms. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2014/07/02/ctq-harvey-digital.html
Johnson, Jason (2014) Digital Devices Streaming into Mobile & Baldwin Schools. Retrieved from http://lagniappemobile.com/digital-devices-making-waves-mobile-baldwin-schools/
Roblyer, M.D. (2015) Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching. Upper Saddle Rive, NJ: Pearson
Harvey, Brinson (2014) Bridging the Digital Divide in Classrooms. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2014/07/02/ctq-harvey-digital.html
Johnson, Jason (2014) Digital Devices Streaming into Mobile & Baldwin Schools. Retrieved from http://lagniappemobile.com/digital-devices-making-waves-mobile-baldwin-schools/