Equitable Access of Technology for Students
In an ever changing, technologically based world we as teachers must adapt our instructional styles. Much of this adaptation has to do with technology based education and we must realize the advantages technology has for education. In order for teachers to appropraitely use technology, students must have equal access and this is becoming an increasingly large problem.
The following link takes you to a survey that was conducted amongst Christiana High School teachers that addressed the equitable access of technology in their school:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q2XCJYT
The BIG Problem:
In the survey about 80% of the teachers believed that the BIGGEST issue within the school that denies technological equity is the limitation computer access. Most teachers agreed that technology was an integral part in the educational system, but they believed that the availability of computers was very limited. Additionally, many teachers felt that the administrators weren't necessarily providing the appropriate support and resources to help teachers use technology to teach.
Yes, access is important, but what about equality on the technology?
Many teachers believed that equitable access of technology for students simply meant accessibility. Yes this is true, but now that we are further into the 21st century technology access for individuals is fairly equal. Now, equatable access has to do with the equality of the internet and the jobs that are technology based. So not only do teachers need to consider the availability of technology for their students, but also the equality of the technology they are using for their students. With understanding this, teachers can begin to teach their students how to responsibly use technology to learn and grow as young adults.
The following link takes you to a survey that was conducted amongst Christiana High School teachers that addressed the equitable access of technology in their school:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q2XCJYT
The BIG Problem:
In the survey about 80% of the teachers believed that the BIGGEST issue within the school that denies technological equity is the limitation computer access. Most teachers agreed that technology was an integral part in the educational system, but they believed that the availability of computers was very limited. Additionally, many teachers felt that the administrators weren't necessarily providing the appropriate support and resources to help teachers use technology to teach.
Yes, access is important, but what about equality on the technology?
Many teachers believed that equitable access of technology for students simply meant accessibility. Yes this is true, but now that we are further into the 21st century technology access for individuals is fairly equal. Now, equatable access has to do with the equality of the internet and the jobs that are technology based. So not only do teachers need to consider the availability of technology for their students, but also the equality of the technology they are using for their students. With understanding this, teachers can begin to teach their students how to responsibly use technology to learn and grow as young adults.
Resources:
The following are various forms of media about equatible access of technology.
Equobility- information about how technology is being used to provide people around the world with equal access to information and various other technological tools.
Article:
Equitable Access, the Digital Divide, and the Participation Gap- provides information about the digital divide and how it impacts individuals.
http://edweb.fdu.edu/folio/SarmientoA/assignments/IFE%20Journal.pdf
Assistive Technology
What is it?
Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, or product system—whether acquired commercially off-the-shelf, modified, or customized—that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities (Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative).
Why is it important?
Assistive technology enhances students ability and makes up for any disadvantage a student might have. Additionally, it provides students with equal access to information, whether it be technological based or traditional based (reading, writing, etc.). Understanding the importance of assistive technology will allow teachers to meet all of their students' needs in ways that are widespreading and fairly simple.
Examples of Assistive Technology:
-ReadPlease2003
A program that reads text out loud. Students can copy and paste text or create their own text.
-Onyx
A recording device that magnifies text for students written from a far.
-REDCAT
A auditory system that amplifies sound for those who are hard of hearing.
-FireVox
A talking browser extension for FireFox. Allows visually impaired students to easily browse the internet.
Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, or product system—whether acquired commercially off-the-shelf, modified, or customized—that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities (Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative).
Why is it important?
Assistive technology enhances students ability and makes up for any disadvantage a student might have. Additionally, it provides students with equal access to information, whether it be technological based or traditional based (reading, writing, etc.). Understanding the importance of assistive technology will allow teachers to meet all of their students' needs in ways that are widespreading and fairly simple.
Examples of Assistive Technology:
-ReadPlease2003
A program that reads text out loud. Students can copy and paste text or create their own text.
-Onyx
A recording device that magnifies text for students written from a far.
-REDCAT
A auditory system that amplifies sound for those who are hard of hearing.
-FireVox
A talking browser extension for FireFox. Allows visually impaired students to easily browse the internet.
Resources:
The following are various forms of media about assistive technology:
Understand Assistive Technology- this video provides insight about the use of assistive technology and how it can allow for equal access to education for all students.
Digital Citizenship by Justin Comegys is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.