Can teachers provide students with equal access to the digital world? This is a tough question. Its almost a trick question. Teachers alone cannot provide equal access to all students to the digital world. Maybe in Fairfield County in CT where the public schools have lots of money and all the teacher has to do is fill out an equipment reguest. But what about in Berlin, NH where the economy has completely ravished the town? Are teachers expected to spend the little money that they make on providing hardware and software access for their students? That is a big sacrifice to make and financially it is not feasible.
Although teachers cannot physically provide equal access to all students they can help get the ball rolling. It is the responsibility of the district and the school board to budget the cost of computers and other related costs. But the teachers are the individuals who need to emphasize the IMPORTANCE of equal access. They can demonstrate how certain technologies enhance their cirriculum. Teachers can show that provididnt equal access with enrich the lives of the students in that town.
Reading chapter 4 of "The World is Open" by Curtis Bonk really opens up my eyes as a future teacher as how close we ARE to being able to provide equal access. The emergence of free and open source software is a revolution that I certainly didn't see coming. One company that comes to mind is Google. They have paved the road as far as free software goes. I just found out today that Google Reader has a word processing document. You mean I don't have to pay $150 for the newest version of Microsoft Word? This is mind boggling but also very exciting!
In conclusion, teachers can help provide equal access to students but the responsibility lies within the community. We need to show the taxpayers that equal access is integral to the education of our children. It is said that the longest journey begins with one step and as educators we need to take that first step together.
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You are right. Teachers alone can not provide equal access to technology. You make a very good point when you say that a major role that we can play is to advocate for technology. If teachers can show how technology can improve their curriculum and actually save schools money as well;there is a better chance schools will get funding for technology. I am so excited to learn that there are so many free educational tools available for use on the internet. I believe that schools which have not invested in technology are quite possibly not aware of all of these possibilities. As teachers our role will be huge in educating the school systems we work for.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up very valid points about the usage of free software and how it is becoming much more common place- that is one area I did not think of when I was reflecting on providing equal access for all students. That is certainly part of the "tools" needed to provide access to the digital world to all students...to the best of their ability.
ReplyDeleteEven in a town like Fairfield, there are inequities. My nieces live there, and did not grow up with the means that some of their piers had. But even in classrooms with only a few computers, teachers can ensure equal usage by all, and therefore equal access. At least during school hours. But you are right, there will be inequities at home among people in different areas, and even within the same town, even an affuent community. Though that may not necessarily be a disadvantage. By choice we raised our kids off the computer, no games, no internet access until recently, and they have not suffered. They use computer as needed at school, and now at home for h.w., but grew up playing outside, and with friends, and not in front of a computer screen.
ReplyDeleteI beleive Bonk has stumbled into a free computer tree. Which is the only way to really provide equal access, and it's also the only way any of the "free and open source" sites and software could benifit said "devistated" Berlinites. Many of whom no-doubt cannot afford an interneing computer.
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