Based on the feedback of over 2,000 Advanced Placement and National Writing Project teachers, a 2013 Pew Research Center report indicates that "there are striking differences in the role of technology in wealthier school districts compared with poorer school districts." According to the report, "56% of teachers of the lowest income students say that a lack of resources among students to access digital technologies is a 'major challenge' to incorporating more digital tools in their teaching." I experienced this problem firsthand during my methods placement this semester; my coordinating teacher informed me that several of her students lacked personal devices, so I would be limited in how I could implement technology. This prompted me to consider how teachers can still use digital tools in a low-income classroom. Using the comment function, please share your ideas regarding different strategies, apps, or other resources that could be incorporated in a low-tech classroom, where not all students have personal devices and/or the teacher only has access to a Smart Board.
Anna,
ReplyDeleteI have thought about this problem because I am aware that Mobile County does have this as an issue. I have thought about library time and during my observation last semester, the teachers had their work computer and one computer which the students would take turns at throughout the class period. Other than that, the idea of Plickers is a wonderful idea. I like the idea that I found in this article http://www.digitalpromise.org/blog/entry/11-learning-24-7-at-sunnyside-unified-school-district. We have to find ways to bridge the digital divide. Plicker is definitely a great place to start. As your article pointed out, it's not just about the technology, but having tech savvy teachers.
The issue here seems to be lack of funding. It's just not practical to have a single computer in the classroom for student use. And scheduling library/computer lab sessions can be a pain, especially if all teachers are competing for access. I appreciate the initiative Superintendent Isquierdo took in acquiring devices for his district's students, as mentioned in the article. I think reaching out to local companies for funding is a great idea and one that could be implemented here at home.
DeleteI was able to see this in the experience I had at a Baldwin County school this semester. The students in this district all have computers provided to them by the school but the teachers can decide if they want to incorporate them. I explain this because in the classrooms that I observed, one teacher used all technology and no paper in the classroom while another teacher refused to use any technology other than an overhead projector. I was able to see the different environments and can imagine that this is what the difference in a low income school with no technology would be compared to the other classroom with only technology used. I did see that the students in the technology driven class were more engaged than those who were forced to listen to a lecture and take notes on paper. The student's attitudes were better in the technology classroom and their participation seemed to be more lively. I think this is a direct result of the teacher not being comfortable with technology and not knowing how to incorporate it in the class. I think, if the schools could find ways to improve the availability to students with technology and computers then maybe the schools would see an improvement in not only assessments but also in the interest and engagement of student involvement.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that teachers who use technology effectively are more likely to see higher rates of student engagement (compared to teachers who who not use technology). In "5 Reasons Technology in the Classroom Engages Students," Ashley Wainwright writes that "people learn better when they are comfortable with the delivery environment." Because students use technology on a daily basis, it makes sense that they would respond positively to the integration of technology in a classroom setting. As you say, it's really in the school's best interest to increase student access to technology.
Deletehttp://www.securedgenetworks.com/strategy-blog/5-Reasons-Technology-in-the-Classroom-Engages-Students
Anna - these are interesting tech issues. During Methods recently, I observed several teachers, including my own cooperating teacher, using part of certain class times to use their library's computers and tech components. For example, one class (a 9th grade English class at this very large public high school) used part of their classes to be instructed by both a computer teacher as well as the resource teacher in how to format a research paper, use a bibliography, and use search engines to gather appropriate information for their papers. Many of the kids didn't have personal computers, so this proved to be a positive use of both technical learning opportunities and a quick start to the land of the research paper.
ReplyDeleteA. McCall
Relying on a computer teacher or media specialist's expertise is an excellent strategy. Educators like these are an invaluable resource, particularly for gen. ed. teachers who feel overwhelmed or uncomfortable with incorporating technology in the classroom. Media specialists stay up to date with current technologies and so can assist teachers with this topic. While one-to-one devices are preferable, teachers should certainly take advantage of all the school library and its staff have to offer.
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