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Editorial: Bridging The Digital Divide
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Bridging The Digital Divide
July 18, 2022
By David McCrary
Cur/545: Using Technology for Teaching and Learning
Inform the Community
Inform the Community
"According to the American Library Association’s widely accepted definition, a digitally literate person is someone who knows how to “find, understand, evaluate, create, and communicate digital information in a wide variety of formats” using many different technologies. In addition, a digitally literate person uses information in ethically appropriate ways that promote learning and maintain privacy while knowing how to “communicate and collaborate with peers, colleagues, family, and on occasion, the general public” as members of a “vibrant, informed, and engaged community” (Maloy, Edwards, Woolf, 2017 ). It is important for educators to inform the community on the importance of technology integration. In addition, the community needs to be informed about the free internet that can be accessed in different places such as, the coffee shop or the public library.
Keeping he community engaged is vital to bridging the digital divide in the educational settting.
Professional Development Matters!
Professional Development Matters!
In the language of the ISTE Standards, teachers inspire student learning and creativity through designing digital-age learning experiences, modeling digital-age work, promoting digital citizenship, and engaging in professional development and leadership in schools. Students are asked to think creatively, communicate and work collaboratively, learn the skills of information research and fluency, think critically while solving problems and making decisions, and practice digital ethics, all while expanding their knowledge of technology operations and concepts. Professional development for educators that aligns with accurate knowledge that bridges the digital divide in the educational setting is a necessary to students' success.
Provide Student Access
Provide Student Access
According to the Transforming Learning with New Technologies Textbook:
- Classrooms without technology are becoming less common, but there are schools where access to technology occurs mainly in the school library.
- In many schools, a teacher has a single computer, usually at her/his desk. Students access multiple machines only in the library or a computer lab. Alternatively, the school may have laptops or tablets on rolling carts, moving between the classrooms. Labs or rolling cart machines must be reserved and may or may not be available on any given day.
- Even where there is regular access to technology, there may or may not be up-to-date software or digital projectors, interactive whiteboards, digital cameras, and other tools to integrate into lesson activities.
- Newer or recently refurbished schools often feature multiple computers in a classroom, including one for the teacher and two or more machines for students. There are a number of advantages to these arrangements. First, multiple computers mean the teacher can conduct small-group activities and does not have to rely on moving the class to a computer lab or reserving a rolling cart of machines. Second, funding supporting new or refurbished schools often means the software is up to date and readily available. These classrooms tend to have other technologies as well, such as whiteboards and document cameras.
Students need access to technology in order to become college and career-ready global citizens!