In reference to this question, I am not sure. I do believe in the equality of opportunity for education but I highly doubt this would even be possible. Even with the incorporation of emerging technologies to all schools, not all teachers are trained to use the products are open to doing so. I addition I teach at a middle/upper socioeconomic school where our technology upgrade entails mounted LCD projectors from the ceiling whereas inner city school in my area have issued personal laptops to students for classroom use. How can socioeconomic status make a difference here? I'm not trying to discredit any discrepancies but my question is how is it ever going to be overcome when people have difference motives and views of technology. That is why I believe it must be a government initiative. The first step is Obama's idea for nationwide wi-fi. If we are to compete with the Chinese, as all our comparisons are made with, everyone must have equal access to technology and I don't think that is something that can be regulated at the state level. I know it is idealistic but it is the only way any discrimination can be averted.
Works Cited
Thornburg, D. (Producer). (nd). Diversity and Globalism. [Video Podcast]. Laureate Education, Inc.
Erin,
ReplyDeleteYou are right; there will never be an equal line among all the users of technology, that’s why we have the laggards and the adopters. Regarding the government creating technological standards in the classrooms, I am very skeptical that will work. There will always be teachers who take the initiative and use technological tools, and then there will be teachers who, even with the most sophisticated technology in their classroom, will prefer to ignore it.
Orit
Wireless access for all. Could that be accomplished using mobile technology? I know that many phones can stream wireless themselves today. I think that as we see smart phone technology become more ubiquitous some of these issues will fade away.
ReplyDeleteErin,
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about a "reverse" digital divide. When I first moved to Georgia, working in a school district digging its way out of "Needs Improvement," we received just about every bell or whistle requested, and certainly many more than we knew how to use! In my present district, the lowest achieving middle school has a higher teacher: student ratio, more materials, more computer labs, with various software programs, etc.
In a sense, however, working with special education populations, I truly see how disadvantaged students really need to have additional resources in order to have equal access to curriculum content.