Blog Post #10 Equity Issues

What thoughts do you have about digital equity after having read the three articles?
In your work setting, do you see evidence of a divide according to race, gender, or socioeconomic status? What are some ways you can address this issue?

One has to conclude, after reading the three articles that we still have to work with providing digital equity in several areas. We have to offer meaningful digital media access to all students regardless of gender, social, abilities or economical background. Technology itself is not at fault in trying to accomplish this goal, is the human being behind it. This is another example that educators are the main conductor in the student learning process. A teacher that cares about every student academic improvement will look for ways to provide opportunities to use technology in an enriching way. A teacher has to become and continue to be a learner before becoming a teacher. Educators cannot become comfortable in the traditional ways of teaching. They should become their student’s advocates in obtaining the appropriate digital media to their students’ needs. They should claim for better and continuing training on how to better use technology in the classroom.

Working in Bridgeport around four years ago, I saw my students attend their computer class. It was just a word processing class and the teacher will always stay away from the students. As a matter of fact, if the students came to the computer area in a rowdy manner she will send them back to the classroom as a consequence for their behavior. It took me few weeks to realize the teacher lack of commitment was affecting my student’s access to a quality technology education. They had the computers available but they didn’t have access to a quality instruction. Later, on I taught in Westport, where I say a smart board and a laptop cart for the first time. They had access to technology. Nevertheless, there was no equity in the access to a quality of instruction because while the French Department were using podcast and digital stories to teach, practice and create French communication the Spanish teachers used the computer laboratories to create just written projects with clipart without any interaction. At my present school, I have seen students take the Blue Ribbon test in computers. They have learned how to use Inspiration to organize information. They have used type to learn. What I have not figured out yet is if there is collaboration between the classroom teachers and the media specialist on the creation of project based learning. Also, I do not know if there is any type of accommodation for special education students in the educational use of technology what I consider is another aspect of digital inequity. I believe for what I have witness that they do not match the educational technology with the students’ individual needs.

One thing is clear, based in my educational experience; there is no equity in technology access. The best way to address this issues are advocating for more training on how to integrate technology education in the classroom providing quality and equal access to students regardless of gender, social, abilities or economic background.