Unfortunately, in a broad sense, I don't think that it will ever be possible to provide every learner with equal access to the digital world. Inevitably, children from wealthier backgrounds will have access to newer, more cutting edge technology in their homes and personal devices. In the classroom, however, it should be a priority for both the individual teacher and the school to mitigate this disparity and attempt to provide the most access possible to each learner.
Teachers and schools can provide the best possible access to the digital world by, first and foremost, having wireless, high speed Internet access in every classroom. In a perfect world, schools would be able to provide a laptop to every student. If that is beyond a school's means, providing computer labs and sufficient time for students to utilize them is probably the next best option. However, merely possessing the technological hardware isn't sufficient by itself, each teacher must also be cognizant that the lessons they offer utilize the digital world in a meaningful way.
As a future teacher, I can best help provide each learner with access to the potential of the digital world by understanding and utilizing that world in my classroom. I don't believe that providing access to the digital world simply means making the technology available, but, rather, it means demonstrating how the digital world can be used as a learning tool that brings communities of learners together and provides access to virtually limitless amounts of information. Lastly, in a world of finite resources, providing equal access may mean identifying those individuals who do not have access at home and attempting to rectify that deficiency on a case-by-case basis.
No comments:
Post a Comment