Chapter 4 Integrating Technology and Creating Change
Focus Question #3 What are "digital inequality" and the "participation gap"?
Digital inequality means that putting technology in schools and at home will not show the differences that social groups have to access them. Adding more technology is not the answer when some students can not even get to a computer because of how they live and their life at home. The gap between students who have access to computers and those who do not is called the participation gap. Without computers, the students without access fall way behind the other students who can just do their work at home. It is not fair because it is not their fault they do not have technology at home and have to limit doing their homework during school hours or until the public library closes. Also, these students do not have the same experiences at the ones with computers; they do not have a chance to connect online, do more research, or just explore the media.
Tech Tool 4.1
As a person who does not know much about the computer, it is true that integrating technology in the classroom, as well as doing everything else, is going to be a lot of work. Thankfully, they have some helpful programs to make it easier. The National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) has videos of other teachers and how they integrate technology in their classroom. There are also rubrics to see how well I am integrating technology; so basically a check to see if I am doing everything right. Edutopia resources on how to integrate technology, which is probably a website I am going to use a lot. NCTE Inbox includes articles sent to me through email. They are updates and important things I should know that are happening in the teacher world. The NCTE Inbox Blog explores any subject field lessons.
Summary and Connection
Although this chapter includes the cons of integrating technology into the classroom, there are many helpful ways that computers and such can help us. There are many tools that can help put technology in every aspect of the class. There are ways to help the teachers, and even the students. Students can work together and get work done. Some very cool assets are digital pens and digital notepads; they seem very advanced and can even help those with disabilities. Like I said before, I am not good with technology so this chapter taught me about how I can put away those differences, and add more excitement to the classroom by using technology.
Resources
Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010).Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon.
Though you may not find technology to be a strength, you must admit that it is a part of our daily lives. And, you are doing great at it! :) There are always things to learn in technology (and education, too), so seeing it as an integrated part of what you do makes it a bit easier.
ReplyDeleteOn the Tech Tool section, be sure to just pick one link and really investigate that in depth. Think about how you could use the information for either your personal knowledge or perhaps in the classroom, etc. The idea is to explore deeply and then relate to your own personal situation. :)