Posts Tagged 'Digital Divide'

Digital Classroom – Technology Rich or Technology Poor

Published February 27, 2008 21st Century , 21st Century Skills , Class , Classroom , Digital , Digital Divide , technology , technology integration , Web , Web 2.0 3 Comments
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In one room that I teach I have a desktop and an LCD. Not even a printer. It is very difficult to be a Web 2.0 class when there are not computers for students. It is hard to be a Web 1.0 when I just have the one computer. There is no Smartboard, no clickers, or nor other interactive technologies. I’m the only interactive technology. The Tech Director had to modify settings to allow me to use programs like YouTube. There are two log-ins. Sometimes technology is almost too difficult to use.

Yes, I do use technology in class but it takes effort to figure out how to do it interactively. Students answer questions in turn instead of individually answering questions like they would  do if they had their own computers.  Students cannot move at their own pace, they move in -lock step.  Students cannot take online quizzes to measure their progress.

Let’s get rid of digital divide! Let’s harness the  power for learning that technology brings to the classroom.

Digital Divide-The Reality

Published November 13, 2007 21st Century Skills , Computer , Digital Divide , Student Leave a Comment
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I have changed where I teach from an four year to a community college; the grant dried up. I am amazed at how few of my present students have a computer at home (less than 60%). Most do not have a printer (70%) and only small number have the Internet.

I get tired of hearing the educational technology gurus talk about all the technology available to students. Web 1.0 is not a reality for my students. PDAs are not a reality. Digital cameras are not a reality. Internet is not a reality. Even a computer is not a reality. One of my student rented a computer since she does not have one. She had to decide what to cut from her small budget so that she could manage the rental for this semester.

When will the gurus realize that the Digital Divide exists! When will we realize that the digital divide is wide in the USA! When will federal and state governments try to reduce the Digital Divide so that students who are trying to better their lives can have technology?

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