The Participation Gapby Alonda Hassell

Mind the Gap

Participation GapThe fundamental inequalities in young people’s

access to new media technologies and the opportunities for participation they represent

“Media literacy helps students acquire the critical thinking skills they need to access, analyze, evaluate,

create, and participate with the powerful images,

words, and sounds through which much information is

delivered in the 21st century.”

Tessa Joll, CEOCenter for Media Literacy

“Embedding media literacy into the curriculum

and more importantly, into the habits of mind of students is

a multi-year process...we learn not for school but for

life.”Sue Sadler

Hathaway Brown Associate Head

The Haves~~being online~~

Students have unlimited access to the Internet

Students are fully immersed in technology

Students’ access to the Internet and to technology increases their social skills and social competencies

Students’ capacity to think and learn in new ways is expanded

The Have-Notsgoing online

Many students have access to the Internet for about 20 minutes per day between school and the public library

Students are unable to store original work or researched information for future work

Students face major restrictions on websites for fear of accessing inappropriate content

Access to email and social networking is limited

The availability and use of educational technology in public schools

2009

97% of teachers had one or more computers located in the classroom every day

54% could bring computers into the classroom.

Teachers reported that they or their students used computers in the classroom during instructional time often (40%) or sometimes (29%). Teachers reported that they or their students used computers in other locations in the school during instructional time often (29%) or sometimes (43%).

Teachers reported having the following technology devices either available as needed or in the classroom every day: projectors (36% 48%, respectively), interactive whiteboards (28% and 23%, respectively), and digital cameras (64% and 14%, respectively).

Of the teachers with the device available, the percentage that used it sometimes or often for instruction was 57% for interactive whiteboards, and 49% for digital cameras.

My students working with both new media literacy (SmartBoard and laptop) and

traditional literacy (writing a story board on the white board) while creating an original comic

strip.

Digital Natives - youth who were born into and raised in the digital world

Digital Immigrants - adults who are not immersed into the digital world

Digital Natives - Digital Immigrants = Ethics Challenges and Limitations

Digital Natives + Digital Immigrants =

Connections and Positive Learning

Students using technology to learn about the effects

of bullying

COMMON CORE Standard 8.1 Educational Technology (By the end of 12th grade)

ALL STUDENTS WILL USE DIGITAL TOOLS TO ACCESS, MANAGE, EVALUATE, AND SYNTHESIZE INFORMATION IN ORDER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLABORATIVELY TO CREATE AND COMMUNICATE

KNOWLEDGE.

Schools lacking in technology only add to the participation

gap for students

Many schools are not equipped

with the technology needed to

meet the common core standards

Percentage of students who rely on school or the library

to access the Internet:Blacks - 45%

Hispanics - 39%White - 15%Asians - 11%

So, now what?Educators must incorporate more technology in daily classroom lessons - blogs, email, educational websites like bookflix and free rice, newsletters, etc.

Educators must be trained and equipped to use technology; they must be open to new techniques to best reach all students

SmartBoards, iPads, laptops, desktops, media centers - all are necessary to enhance lessons and encourage participation

Schools should offer more access to blocked sites like social networking and gaming to allow the connection between digital natives and digital immigrants. This will allow teachers to use common sites and student interests as lessons

Libraries must provide greater access to technology via desktops, laptops, iPads and tablets, and more

Parents and educators should provide thumb drives or teach students how to use email and dropbox to store work properly

Schools should offer before and after school cyber cafe’s that afford students to conduct research, complete homework, check and send emails and more to help disadvantaged students stay connected

References Bergman, J. (2012, October 24). Students without access to technology create a digital divide. Retrieved December, 4, 2013 from, http://flipped-learning.com/?p=1041

Fast Facts: Educational Technology. (2009). Retrieved December 7, 2013 from, http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=46

Gowen, Annie. (2009, December 06). Lack of computer access hampers some students. Retrieved December 1, 2013 from, http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-12-06/news/36831210_1_computer-lab-free-computers-lack-of-computer-access

Jenkins, Henry. (2008, February 6). Audio - Combating the Participation Gap: Why new media literacy matters. Retrieved November 30, 2013 from, http://www.ischool.berkeley.edu/newsandevents/events/dls20080206

Joll, T. (2010, September 8). Hathaway Brown discovers the power of media literacy for students in the 21st century. Retrieved November 29, 2013 from, http://www.medialit.org/sites/default/files/eschoolnewsHB%5B1%5D.pdf

Long, Cindy. (2008, March). Mind the Gap. Retrieved November 15, 2013 from, http://www.nea.org/home/15468.htm

Walton, B. (2013, September 4). Retrieved December 7, 2013 from http://www.itclearning.com/blog/?p=1868

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-12-06/news/36831210_1_computer-lab-free-computers-lack-of-computer-access