Resources
Barron, B., Walter, S., Martin, C.K., Schatz, C. (2009). Predictors of creative computing participation and profiles of experience in two Silicon Valley middle schools. Computers & Education, 54(2010), 178-189.
Hohlfeld, T., Ritzhaupt, A.D., Barron, A. (2009). Connecting schools, community, and family with ICT: Four-year trends related
to school level and SES of public schools in Florida. Computers & Education, 55(2010), 391-405.
As educators, we can help bridge the digital divide by providing access, expertise, and experience to our students. Schools can increase communication through digital media, like social networking, blogs, and websites, in addition to forms of print media, in order to reach all families. Schools can ask community members to donate old electronic devices for students to borrow for home use. By lending devices, schools begin closing the digital divide (Hohlfeld, 2010). Schools can also provide access to resources, like digital libraries and databases, or extend media center hours to ensure that all families have educational resources. Lastly, schools can provide students and community members with training courses to help them gain skills and familiarity, since these courses are more frequently offered in higher SES schools (Barron, 2010).
In the classroom, teachers can close the digital divide by giving the students access to devices in the class. Instead of requiring each student to bring his/her own device, teachers can have students work collaboratively and share devices with their peers, so that there is a 2-1 ratio. Sharing devices will make students who can not afford a personal electronic device more comfortable, since there will be no pressure on each student to bring a device. Also, the collaboration can provide students training by their peers, if they are not familiar with the digital tools. In addition to sharing devices, teachers can provide students with training in various technical tools and devices. Teachers can show students digital tools to facilitate and improve their projects, papers, and assessments. By giving one-on-one instruction or by creating a database of instructional videos, teachers can provide students the opportunity to learn about and practice with various electronic tools and resources.
I am proud to say that my school has taken part in these methods of closing the gap. By sending out messages via social-media and newsletters, both print and electronic, we were able to collect a multitude of old electronic devices, mostly smartphones and mp3 players, for student use. Our media center holds the devices, where students can borrow them for home use. Through the county’s learning management system, the media center has created a vast digital library of resources for students to access even when not at school. Additionally, our technology experts have offered courses in coding and other computer programing classes for members of the community in order for them to gain technical knowledge and skills. Teachers also provide training directly to students by demonstrating various digital tools and programs for students to use during class projects. In order to ensure that all students have devices to use in the classroom, the teachers, including myself, have written grants to buy tablets for classroom use. We also keep class sets of student-response systems to provide students who do not have personal devices. We acknowledge that not all students have access to the Internet and technology at home; however, we do our best to close the divide.
It is important to give all students access to technology in order to give students the best education. Technology facilitates best teaching practices that have been around for ages like engaging learners, creating meaningful lessons, providing communication, creating individualized learning, providing frequent feedback, using collaborative learning, summarizing knowledge, and creating connections. The use of technology in the classroom enables students to be active participants in their learning. Lessons are student-centered and authentic, which results in more active and engaged learners. Technology expands students’ education by giving them access to broader and deeper information and by expanding the audience. Students are able to communicate and collaborate with people beyond the classroom walls. It can give students a way to voice their thoughts and construct their own understanding in the method that they learn best. Students can pursue their interests while incorporating multiple intelligences. Creativity, collaboration, and constructivist learning have been made easier through technology. Technology enables teachers to easily individualize and adapt their lessons to the varying interests and needs of their students. Digital tools, like blogs and social media, can make it easier for teachers to communicate with parents and students about the activities in class. Teachers can quickly assess and provide instant feedback to their students through digital assessment tools, like Plickers, student-response systems, and online quiz-generating sites, like Quia. Teaching is more than just delivering information; it is creating lifelong learners and critical thinkers with the tools necessary to thrive in a digital world. Technology helps educators achieve this goal.