equity issues in educational technology. mike dillon university of phoenix cmp 521 – integrating...
TRANSCRIPT
Mike DillonUniversity of Phoenix
CMP 521 – Integrating Education Technology into Teaching (Using
Computers in Education)
Mary Sorensen, Facilitator
May 11, 2006
Defining Equity
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (2006), equity is:
What does equity mean?
“justice according to natural law or right; freedom from bias or
favoritism”
Defining Equity
The Iowa State Board of Education (2004) follows five basic principles when making educational decisions. Two of those are:
Then, what does equity mean in the classroom and in education in general?
1) All students can learn2) All students respond
best to high expectations.
In a sense, equity in the classroom means showing favoritism to every student.
Defining Equity
The catch is that each student has individual
strengths and weaknesses that need to be
accommodated in unique ways.
Defining EquityThe Iowa Special Education Advisory Board
established the following educational outcomes for special education students and students with
disabilities:1) Students receiving special
education will meet high education standards 2) Students with disabilities will be integrated with non-disabled peers throughout their education experience
Defining EquityThe Iowa Special Education Advisory Board
established the following educational outcomes for special education students and students with
disabilities:3) Students with disabilities will
transition to post secondary education or meaningful employment
In addition to students with disabilities and special needs, the idea of equity must also address minorities and cultural issues,
students with language barriers, low socioeconomic status, etc.
Defining Equity
So…how does technology fit with the concept of equity in
education?
Status of Technology Equity
“The literature on computer equity reveals that many students—not only
minority, disadvantaged and inner city, but also female, disabled and rural—have been hampered by inequitable access to computers, and by widespread patterns
of inequitable distribution and use of computers within and across schools”
(Nueman, 1993, ¶3).
Status of Technology Equity
“Students’ technological savvy has challenged schools to make greater use
of computer and the Internet in their curricula. Unfortunately, not every
student has the same access to it, and the inability to keep pace has created a digital divide that continues to widen”
(Mason & Dodds, 2005, ¶1).
Status of Technology Equity
“The digital divide particularly affects students who are black, Hispanic, Native
American, and poor” (¶2).
According to Mason and Dodds (2005):
• 67% of white children are online.
• 45% of black children are online.
• 37% of Hispanic children are online.
Status of Technology Equity
Access to Technology
According to the Technology Counts 2006 report, the state of Iowa earned the following
grades for technology in education:
B Use of Technology B–
Capacity to use Technology B–
OVERALL GRADE B–
Status of Technology Equity
Access to Technology
The statistical breakdown in Iowa for each of the these categories includes:
B • 3.3 students per instructional computer
• 7.0 students per instructional computer in the classroom
• 3.3 students per computer with high-speed Internet
• 7.8 students per Internet computer in the classroom
All of these stats were below the national average.
Status of Technology Equity
Use of Technology
The statistical breakdown in Iowa for each of the these categories includes:
B– • Iowa DOES have student standards that include
technology.
• Iowa HAS established a virtual school.
• Iowa DOES NOT assess students regarding technology.
• Iowa DOES NOT offer computer-based assessments.
Status of Technology Equity
Capacity to Use Technology
The statistical breakdown in Iowa for each of the these categories includes:
B–
• Iowa DOES include technology in its teacher standards, administrator standards, and initial teacher licensure requirements.
• Iowa DOES NOT include technology in its initial administrator license or its teacher and administrator recertification requirements.
How can technology help all students?
Technology can enhance teaching and learning in the following areas:
Technology can help diverse students with diverse needs learn
in the classroom.
Instruction Learning and Retention
Assessment
Organization
Special Needs
How can technology help all students?
Some of the capabilities of technology in the classroom include:
1) Text to speech
2) Speech to text
3) Computer-based graphic organizers
4) Vast E-resources
How can technology help all students?
Some of the capabilities of technology in the classroom include:
5) Presentation Media
6) Online Curricula
7) Interactive Projects and Worksheets
8) Communication
How can technology help all students?
Some of the capabilities of technology in the classroom include:
9) Accommodations for Visual and Hearing Impairments
10) ELL Accommodations
11) Etc.
How can technology help all students?
Some of the equipment that can enhance learning in the classroom include:
1) Computers2) Projectors and LCD
equipment3) Interactive Whiteboards
4) Calculators and CBL equipment5) Webcams and Video Conferencing6) Digital Cameras
7) Etc.
How can technology help all students?
Different types of software and online resources that can enhance learning
include:1) Tutorials and Online Curricula2) Drill and Practice
3) Software geared toward ELL students4) Online classes and distance learning5) Java Applets and Demonstrations6) Digital Media and Online Libraries7) Etc.
How can technology help all students?
According to Mason and Dodds (2005), many different types of technology are on the verge of entering into the educational
setting:1) Wireless Networks
2) Electronic Portfolios
3) Portable Technologies
4) Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
5) Virtual Schools
What are the lessons for learning and the classroom?Technology can provide teachers with
multiple avenues for presenting information and improving student’s
attention and retention (Silver-Pacuilla & Fleischman, 2006).
Technology can provide students with multiple avenues for demonstrating their knowledge and
skills.
Technology can allow teachers to easily adapt lessons to students with different skill levels,
abilities, and interests (Bowerman & Duncan, 2005).
Research is showing the benefits of giving all students access technology-based, sensory-
related accommodations (Silver-Pacuilla & Fleischman, 2006)
What are the lessons for learning and the classroom?
“Accessibility features in common technology applications can help
struggling students make important connections—to the content, among
ideas, among their own sensory modes of learning, and between their
digital competencies and the curriculum” (Silver-Pacuilla &
Fleischman, 2006, ¶11).
What are the lessons for learning and the classroom?
“Technology can support learning by building literacy and language skills and independence” (Silver-
Pacuilla & Fleischman, 2006, ¶13).
Technology can be used to adapt learning to a variety of different learning styles and
help teachers create differentiated instruction for a diverse classroom.
What are the lessons for learning and the classroom?
Technology can help students with special needs, disabilities, and
other barriers to learning receive a quality education in the least
restrictive environment.
When integrated effectively into the classroom, technology can create a school setting that provides
a fair and equitable education for all students.
What are the lessons for learning and the classroom?
What needs to be done?“Technology equity is a complex issue that
encompasses disparities in access to and use of powerful learning tools because of differences in socioeconomic status, gender, ability level,
racial and ethnic identification, geographic location, and handicapping condition…Only
when all students are routinely granted access to hardware to appropriate software, and only when technology is used to help each student achieve his or her own personal best, can we speak of technology and equity as partners”
(Mason & Dodds, 2005, ¶1).
References
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. (2006). Retrieved fromhttp://www.m-w.com/
Iowa Department of Education. (2004). Special Education in Iowa:State of the State IDEA 2004. Retrieved from http://www.state.ia.us/educate/ecese/cfcs/idea/doc/idea04_spec_ed_iowa_v20040321_files/frame.htm
Mason, C. Y., & Dodds, R. (2005, May). Bridge the digital dividefor educational equity. Education Digest, 70(9), 25.Retrieved May 10, 2006, from EBSCOHost database.
Bowerman, M., & Duncan, S. (2005, May). Technology for all. THE Journal, 32(10), 20. Retrieved May 10, 2006, from EBSCOHost database.
References
Silver-Pacuilla, H., & Fleischman, S. (2006, February). Technologyto help struggling students. Educational Leadership, 63(5),84. Retrieved May 10, 2006, from EBSCOHost database.
Nueman, D. (1993, May/June). Technology and equity. EmergencyLibrarian, 20(5), 34. Retrieved May 10, 2006, fromEBSCOHost database.