Bridging the Digital Divide

Since we are doing a discussion post each week in my newest course for the MET Program at MO Bap on Digital Citizenship, I decide to keep my blog going.  I will share on Twitter too, so more people can see what we are learning about.

Teachers and administrators must be aware that technology will be important to the future of all students, not just a chosen few.  However, are schools doing a major disservice to students and teachers by providing the access without providing it equitably or without providing the training for using it to its best advantage?

Your discussion prompt for Week 1:  What are your thoughts on "the digital divide?"  

After reading "Digital Divide and Social Media: Connectivity Doesn't End the Digital Divide, Skills Do", I related most to the section when Radovanovic (2011) refers to sociologist Anthony Giddens thoughts about how “education plays a significant role in either strengthening or breaking down inequalities.”   I believe the Digital Divide will continue to grow if educators do not start being trained on how to use technology to its best advantage.  There is a huge difference in putting devices in students' hands for individual practice and using an app than actually having the students work together to collaborate, problem solve and create while using a device.  There are lots of devices being purchased in our country for schools to be able to say they are going 1:1, but are many of the teachers being trained to use them any differently than a stack of flashcards or a piece of paper and crayons?  I would guess that many districts are going about the process in the opposite direction of how they should.  

This blog post by Krista Moroder explains her journey to manage technology purchasing and integration.

 http://www.edtechcoaching.org/2014/01/perspectives-of-education-reform-life.html She has created the Ed Tech Challenge for districts needing a guide to avoid falling into the same rut she did when working as an ed tech coach.  http://www.edtechchallenge.com/

I know that there are districts trying to avoid creating new technology positions by asking already over worked and underpaid classroom teacher experts to do before and after school training. This is where the digital divide will occur the most in schools and districts.  Making technology training optional to learn about and use in lessons is a huge disadvantage for students.  All students deserve to get the same experiences and knowledge provided to them no matter what teacher they get. Teachers need someone to be with them during class time, during planning, to make them fell comfortable enough to even try something new.