Blog #6
Teachers' Class Pages
Some of the class pages I've looked at includes information about the teacher (ex. their college education, what they teach, etc.) and their contact information, while others include information such as upcoming assignments and field trips. One teacher, in particular, is a soccer coach, so not only are her academic classes listed but also information for the soccer team she coaches. Below is a screenshot of the home page for Scholars Academy, a 6th-12th grade school that I substitute teach at. And here is a link to one of the teacher's class pages.
The Digital Divide
The digital divide, a term used to describe the availability of technology to some students and the lack of technology for others, can have significant impacts on students. For instance, it could cause a student to not be able to complete an assignment, to not be able to produce as high quality of a project, to not do well on computer-based exams, and/or to have difficulty adapting in college or the workforce. One of the primary causes of the digital divide is that of socioeconomic status. Put simply, some families cannot afford technology. Some families can't even afford the gas it takes to drive their child to the library to use the computers. Other causes could be because of location, as some rural areas don't even get internet/wi-fi. Other reasons could include a student having technophobe or strict parents or students who live with their grandparents, who don't understand the need for much technology. There are a number of different reasons for the digital divide, but no matter the reason, it is important for teachers to be aware of this issue and take measures in their classroom to ensure equal opportunity for their students.
For instance, as a teacher, I may have a classroom full of kids with plenty of access to technology at home, but there's one to two others who don't have such access. Alternatively, I may have a whole classroom full of students whose only access to computers is at their school. In the first case, I could give assignments that can be done on computers but that don't have to be, while also scheduling the class for a few days in the computer lab. This way, students with technology access at home can do the project as they wish, while students without such access can still have the opportunity to interact with technology and use it to complete their assignment. In the latter scenario, I would know that assigning projects or any kind of assignment requiring a computer would have to come with plenty of time spent in the computer lab, as my students would not be able to complete it otherwise. Either way, I would not exclude technology use from my lessons, as it would only cause detriment to my students in the future, seeing as knowing how to use technology (ex. sending emails, entering numbers in a spreadsheet, etc.) is rather vital in today's world.
Course Experiences with Twitter
I have been interacting with a number of different EME 2040 students as well as with various educational pages, such as Teacher2Teacher. I have found Twitter to be beneficial in that there are a lot of cool sources out there for educators, which ranges from simply funny and encouraging memes to helpful tips and tricks. I have not, so far, experienced any issues with the platform, and it could potentially be helpful in my future career by allowing me to connect with other teachers as well as with educational resources.
Commented On:
-Olivia's Blog: "Blog Post Six!"
-Mallory's Blog: "Blog #6"
I think it is really neat that you chose a class page of a school that is so close to FSU. I also wrote about the Digital Divide ultimately being because of the access children do or do not have to technology. As you said, it will be challenging to accomodate these children in the digital age we live in, but there are ways to work around this. I feel like I have learned a lot from Twitter too! It is way different than using it as a social media site but I am really enjoying it!
ReplyDeleteHey! I really enjoyed reading your blog post. I think it's awesome that you found a really interesting class blog. It's also really cool that you inserted the link on your blog as a "link" and not as just a like a https link. You wrote a lot about the digital divide which was cool to hear your insight about it. I think it will also be hard to accommodate for this gap within the children but it won't be anything that we can't accomplish!
ReplyDeleteHey! I really enjoyed reading your blog post. You brought up a great point about online examinations. These are making a huge wave across the country and without access to computers it is going to be very hard to complete this requirement.
ReplyDeleteHey Malyce, great post this week! I agree with you that a huge issue caused by the digital divide is that some students might not be proficient in using technology. This puts them at a huge disadvantage when they get to college or possibly want to work in a field where technology use is prominent. I really like your idea that you can provide students with assignments that can be completed online but do not have to be. This would provide students with access to technology a chance to practice and those who do not have access will not feel left out.
ReplyDeleteHey,
ReplyDeleteI found my exploration through various class pages to be similar to your experience in the fact that each page had a section about the teacher's bio and their class. I really liked your way of combating the problem of the digital divide by using the computer lab. That way, the students with less knowledge of technology can lean on you and ask you for help. I am also very glad that you've had a good experience on Twitter!
Hi Malyce! The teacher page that you found online was really interesting. It's cool that they are also a soccer teacher. I agree that one of the biggest contributors to the digital divide is SES. So many students cannot afford computers at home and therefore cannot complete many of the online assignments that teacher assign nowadays. It's interesting that you also brought up rural towns not always having access to wifi/internet. I didn't even think of that factor!I like your idea to implement activities using technology but also having alternative ways of completing those assignment without a computer or allowing students to complete those assignments in school in the computer lab.
ReplyDeleteHey Malyce! I agree with everything you said about the Digital Divide and how to manage it in your classroom, I said very similar things in my response. I think one thing that teachers don't think about is that there are a lot of kids who have access to computers but don't have printers at home. I think it is unfair to expect students to turn in hard copies of an assignment without giving them a chance to print them at school. At my high school, every grade had one big research paper that they had to do and they were all always supposed to be printed out and on the teacher's desk by the time school started! It was very stressful for me because I didn't have a printer at home, so I would always have to get to school half an hour early to print. If I didn't have the ability to get to school earlier, I don't know what I would have done!
ReplyDeleteIt's a great idea that you could give assignments that can be done on computers but that don't have to be, while also scheduling the class for a few days in the computer lab.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading comments on your post. Great job!