Digital Equity in the Digital Equity in the ClassroomClassroom

Sally BryanSally Bryan

EDMT 330 EDMT 330

Winter 2007Winter 2007

The Digital DivideThe Digital Divide

Children with a low SES, ethnic or racial minorities, and girls…

Have less access to computers and technology

Have a lower quality technology experiences

Are often subject to stereotypes by their teachers (consciously or unconsciously)

Access to TechnologyAccess to Technology

Access to technology Access to technology can be defined in can be defined in different ways:different ways: Ratio of students-to-Ratio of students-to-

computerscomputers Time spent on Time spent on

computerscomputers

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Access to TechnologyAccess to Technology

Students from diverse Students from diverse ethnic backgrounds ethnic backgrounds and low socio-and low socio-economic status often economic status often have restricted have restricted access to computers access to computers at school and many at school and many do not have a do not have a computer in their computer in their home.home. http://www.capegateway.gov.za/

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Access to TechnologyAccess to Technology

The U.S. Department of The U.S. Department of Education recommends Education recommends the student-to-computer the student-to-computer ratio in a school be 5-to-ratio in a school be 5-to-1.1.

Low SES schools have a Low SES schools have a higher ratio of students-higher ratio of students-to-computers than to-computers than students in High SES students in High SES schools.schools.

Computer and Technology Computer and Technology Experiences in the Classroom.Experiences in the Classroom.

Students in Low SES Students in Low SES schools often have schools often have their technology their technology experiences limited to experiences limited to “drills and skills” “drills and skills” which can have a which can have a negative impact on negative impact on student achievement.student achievement.

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Computer and Technology Computer and Technology Experiences in the ClassroomExperiences in the Classroom

Students in High SES Students in High SES schools have schools have technology technology experiences that experiences that promote critical promote critical thinking and have a thinking and have a positive impact on positive impact on student achievement.student achievement.

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StereotypesStereotypes

Many teachers hold stereotypes that girls and Many teachers hold stereotypes that girls and students of diverse ethnic backgrounds and low students of diverse ethnic backgrounds and low SES students are not interested in, do not have SES students are not interested in, do not have a need for education in technology or cannot a need for education in technology or cannot learn how to use technology.learn how to use technology.

These students tend to receive instruction in These students tend to receive instruction in which the computer maintains control of the which the computer maintains control of the learning opportunities instead of allowing the learning opportunities instead of allowing the user to maintain control of their learning.user to maintain control of their learning.

How We Can Narrow the Digital How We Can Narrow the Digital Equity GapEquity Gap

Acknowledge equity issues when planning Acknowledge equity issues when planning for technology acquisition.for technology acquisition. Equal access to computers and technology Equal access to computers and technology

should be given to all students and teachers.should be given to all students and teachers. Provide technology access at times outside Provide technology access at times outside

the normal school day.the normal school day. Provide parents and other members of the Provide parents and other members of the

community access to technology. community access to technology.

How We Can Narrow the Digital How We Can Narrow the Digital Equity GapEquity Gap

Explain the role technology plays in the Explain the role technology plays in the overall education program.overall education program. Technological literacy plays a role in student Technological literacy plays a role in student

learning and preparing for a higher education learning and preparing for a higher education and the workplace. Explaining the role of and the workplace. Explaining the role of literacy to parents and community members literacy to parents and community members will help gain their support in the will help gain their support in the implementation and expansion of technology implementation and expansion of technology requirements.requirements.

How We Can Narrow the Digital How We Can Narrow the Digital Equity GapEquity Gap

Use technology as a way to structure Use technology as a way to structure critical thinking lessons for all students.critical thinking lessons for all students. Students who use technology for projects that Students who use technology for projects that

require higher level skills are empowered as require higher level skills are empowered as learners and as thinkers.learners and as thinkers.

Relate technology lessons to the real Relate technology lessons to the real world to give students an understanding of world to give students an understanding of the purpose of the assignments.the purpose of the assignments.

The Education Reform Network offers a The Education Reform Network offers a toolkit that points educators to free or toolkit that points educators to free or inexpensive resources that address the inexpensive resources that address the digital divide in the classroom. Click on digital divide in the classroom. Click on the information button below to access the the information button below to access the toolkit.toolkit.

For more information about what For more information about what you can do in your classroom…you can do in your classroom…

Works CitedWorks Cited

Brown, Monica R., Higgins, Kyle & Hartley, Kendall. Brown, Monica R., Higgins, Kyle & Hartley, Kendall. Teachers and Teachers and Technology EquityTechnology Equity. . Teaching Exceptional ChildrenTeaching Exceptional Children 33(4) (2001): 32 – 9. 33(4) (2001): 32 – 9.

Rockman, Saul. Rockman, Saul. The Leader’s Guide to Education TechnologyThe Leader’s Guide to Education Technology. . EDvancenetEDvancenet. The Consortium for School Networking. 24 Mar. 2007 . The Consortium for School Networking. 24 Mar. 2007 <http://www.edvancenet.org/res_guide_pdf.shtml>.<http://www.edvancenet.org/res_guide_pdf.shtml>.

Solomon, Gwen. Solomon, Gwen. Digital Equity: It’s Not Just about Access Anymore. Digital Equity: It’s Not Just about Access Anymore. Technology & LearningTechnology & Learning 15 Apr. 2002. < 15 Apr. 2002. <http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/2002/04/equity1.phphttp://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/2002/04/equity1.php>.>.

The Five Dimensions of Digital EquityThe Five Dimensions of Digital Equity. . Education Reform Network.Education Reform Network. 2003. 2003. National Institute for Community Innovations. 20 Mar. 2007.National Institute for Community Innovations. 20 Mar. 2007.