4.1 Digital Equity
Candidates model and promote strategies for achieving equitable access to digital tools and resources and technology-related best practices for all students and teachers.
Artifact: Digital Equity Blog
Reflection:
The blog is a part of the portfolio website and I used it to reflect on my experiences going through the Instructional Technology program. I also used it to blog about new ideas for use in the classroom and ways to ensure digital equity for all students. I researched methods and ideas that have been successful in schools to promote the use of technology by underserved students.
One of the specific entries I composed for my blog was entitled “Equity.” In this blog post, I reflected on what we could do to improve the access of all students to technology in the classroom. I researched different methods that other schools have used to be successful and I highlight some of the better ideas that I found. These include opening computer labs before and after school for students to have access to and purchasing more mobile labs for use inside of the classroom. The very best way to ensure digital equity is a one-to-one program, which may seem expensive at first glance but can be cost effective when considering the other costs that are eliminated. If every student had an iPad then the cost of textbooks and paper to make copies would be almost eliminated.
Our county recently implemented a Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) program after researching best practices for students. They found that students are more engaged when using technology and therefore need to use it in the classroom. However, not every student has technology that they can use in the classroom and there is not a current plan to ensure digital equity for all students. I recommended purchasing more mobile carts so that students are using the technology in their classroom and not having to travel to a computer lab. This will also ensure that all students have access to a device in the classroom.
After completing this blog entry and the research associated with it, I learned that our school and district is still in the early stages of implementing technology with our students. We are on the right track, but we need to focus resources on specific areas to increase our students learning through the use of technology in the classroom. I would like to revisit this blog entry soon and see if new research has been released on initiatives involving technology and the classroom. I would also like to talk to my principal more about purchasing even more mobile carts for use at our school.
The blog is a part of the portfolio website and I used it to reflect on my experiences going through the Instructional Technology program. I also used it to blog about new ideas for use in the classroom and ways to ensure digital equity for all students. I researched methods and ideas that have been successful in schools to promote the use of technology by underserved students.
One of the specific entries I composed for my blog was entitled “Equity.” In this blog post, I reflected on what we could do to improve the access of all students to technology in the classroom. I researched different methods that other schools have used to be successful and I highlight some of the better ideas that I found. These include opening computer labs before and after school for students to have access to and purchasing more mobile labs for use inside of the classroom. The very best way to ensure digital equity is a one-to-one program, which may seem expensive at first glance but can be cost effective when considering the other costs that are eliminated. If every student had an iPad then the cost of textbooks and paper to make copies would be almost eliminated.
Our county recently implemented a Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) program after researching best practices for students. They found that students are more engaged when using technology and therefore need to use it in the classroom. However, not every student has technology that they can use in the classroom and there is not a current plan to ensure digital equity for all students. I recommended purchasing more mobile carts so that students are using the technology in their classroom and not having to travel to a computer lab. This will also ensure that all students have access to a device in the classroom.
After completing this blog entry and the research associated with it, I learned that our school and district is still in the early stages of implementing technology with our students. We are on the right track, but we need to focus resources on specific areas to increase our students learning through the use of technology in the classroom. I would like to revisit this blog entry soon and see if new research has been released on initiatives involving technology and the classroom. I would also like to talk to my principal more about purchasing even more mobile carts for use at our school.