The "Digital Divide"

To: Canton City School Board Members
From: Michael Betro, Systems Administrator
Date: 7/14/2008
Re: Eliminating digital inequities in our school district

The issue I am presenting is the “Digital Divide”.The term “Digital Divide” refers to the gap between individuals who effectively take advantage of digital and information technologies and those without access or not making effective use of such technologies. This “Digital Divide” is many times defined in the context of groups such as socioeconomic, race, gender, geographical and age. In defining the digital divide in the context of education the focus has shifted from whether or not computers are available to students but rather how students are taking advantage of digital and informational technologies. This idea was addressed in 1997 when the United States Federal Communications Commission created the Universal Service Fund which guaranteed that schools, classrooms, health care providers and libraries should have access to advanced telecommunication services. This was implemented in order to address the issue of digital inequality in schools. Digital inequality occurs when students are not provided with adequate technology or do not use the technology provided effectively. The effects of digital inequities result in decreased productivity, less educated society while slowing the growth of technology. Quantity and quality of technology although important, must be used effectively if inequities are going to be erased. Technology literacy has become increasingly important in today’s society. For students to be successful in school and in the job market one will need the skills necessary to be successful moving through the twenty first century. Students experiencing digital inequities will find themselves at a disadvantage as they move forward through their educational career.
To allow our institution the opportunity to eliminate these digital inequities I am providing a list of six resources I believe will allow students to effectively utilize provided technology resources.
1. Open source software applications
2. Free e-mail accounts hosted by a third party
3. Low cost USB flash drive
4. Used or donated equipment
5. People
6. Staff training
Taking into account the resources listed above I believe if we, as an institution, harness the availability of free software applications such as “OpenOffice” (www.openoffice.org), we will have the ability to expose students to word processing, spread sheet, database and presentation applications at no cost. Secondly, providing students with a personal e-mail account hosted by a third party will establish a means of communication. Goggles “Gmail” is a free web based e-mail application offering up to 2 GB of storage space, and includes many other features. A third suggestion would be to require students to have a USB flash drive. I am of the opinion that a USB flash drive should become listed as a required school supply. USB flash drives are inexpensive, portable and will allow students to effectively store data. To take advantage of the aforementioned resources we will need computers. Refurbished computers and sales items represent a cost effective means to tool our classrooms, labs and libraries. Community colleges and government organizations many times offer equipment as they retool labs and offices. Many times this available equipment is in line with today’s technology. This represents a cost effective means of obtaining technological resources. If our school hopes to decrease digital inequities we must ensure the resources we provide students are used effectively. Providing training for faculty and staff represents a means to increase the skills of staff in an effort to pass the obtained knowledge onto the students.

In conclusion creating a universal letter stating our goals should be created and forwarded to local colleges and business organizations in an attempt to establish a relationship that may assist us in creating an environment in which our school may obtain training and equipment in a cost effective manner. Moving forward from this point, taking advantage of free and open source applications will ensure that we give every student exposure to tools that will allow them to utilize technology effectively. In turn this effective use of technology will aid our school in doing its part in shortening the “Digital Divide”.

Virtual worlds

Something I am slowly beginning to accept as a tool rather than a “game” is virtual worlds. I stumbled across an article written by David Antonacci and Nellie Modaress who did an excellent job of opening my eyes to the potential benefits Massively Multiplayer Virtual Worlds (MMVW’s) to the field of education. The main focus of David and Nellie’s presentation was the potential value of using Second Life as an educational tool. The focus of the article was to create awareness of developments in computer games and simulations. The EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) is an organization focused on learning transformation within higher education through technology. ELI has identified games and simulations as an emerging theme affecting teaching and learning.
I have, in my daily activities, had much exposure to simulations however gaming is not something that has interested me. After reading Antonacci and Modaress’ explanation I see where gaming could greatly benefit one’s ability to present as well as learn. Gaming and simulations as their core depend on constructivist thinking. This thinking promotes learning through doing. Students engaged in educational games and simulations are interpreting, analyzing, discovering, evaluating, acting and problem solving. Second Life provides a means of developing a virtual world where learners are presented with real life scenarios and in turn collaborate with others to arrive at a solution.
One thing I found interesting about Second Life was the idea that many times real life thoughts and biases are carried over into the virtual world. This is somewhat unfortunate however, I do see where it may be advantageous for individuals to experience what someone of a different race or a person with handicap has to overcome while carrying out activities of daily living.
In conclusion I feel that virtual worlds such as Second Life should be embraced as a tool in the field of education. Using such a tool allows educators a means to get away from simply lecturing by promoting an environment in which learners are given real world tasks in return for solutions. In arriving at these solutions learners many times must collaborate with others, promoting social learning which is priceless in the real world. I am a big proponent of learning by doing. Many times in my field individuals appear to be an asset on paper however when presented with an actual problem are unable to intuitively work towards a resolution. Virtual worlds are creating an environment in which learners required to think through and issue on the way to a resolution. Learners are not reading and regurgitating information.
Informative Links:
http://www2.kumc.edu/tlt/SLEDUCAUSESW2005/SLPresentationOutline.htm
http://www.educause.edu/GamesandSimulations/11263

My view of distance learning

This week’s assignment has allowed me the opportunity to speak about an issue that I feel is not only a trend but quickly becoming an accepted practice at all levels of education, distance learning. As recently as this morning I quietly interrupted two classes here at Stark State College while looking for a piece of equipment. In each case, because today is the first day of our second summer session, instructors were taking the time to explain how each respective class will be conducted. What stood out to me was that each discussion focused around Angel, which is Stark State College’s equivalent of Black Board. What Stark State refers to as E-Learning has become an accepted tool and in most cases a requirement of instructors.
Advances in computer technology and internet capabilities have allowed both educators and learners a means to eliminate distance and time as barriers in furthering ones education. In today’s society many environments outside of educational institutions offer access to the internet. This allows educators and learners the ability to present and access required information at his or her convenience. This trend promotes a learner-centered environment, placing the responsibility of time management on the student. In the same breath one could assume the instructor is now a facilitator providing information to the learner who is then responsible to interpret the information and complete the task(s). Constructivism, a theory based on the notion that the learning process is initiated by the learner, has in my mind played a major role in the acceptance of online learning. Combine this theory along with advances in computing and you have the recipe for a future in which distance learning is more accepted as a means to engage students in projects and tasks with only the support of the facilitator.
In conclusion, as history has shown, educational technology has redefined itself. As technological advances continue to occur in areas such as computing and the internet it would be foolish to believe that these advances will slow the role of distance learning at all levels of education.
Links to informative information:
http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~bwilson/TrendsAndFutures.html
http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Sep_07/Sep_07.pdf

My definition of educational technology

Initially, defining the term educational technology, I focused on the ideas of facilitating learning using a technological process. After better understanding the history of educational technology I would define the industry in my own words as a science in which professionals use research findings and observations in order to better understand what is needed to create a conducive environment for learning by taking advantage of technological resources and processes with the main goal being to improve the learning process and increase human performance.
After reading Reiser’s articles I would agree with his emphasis on instructional design. Because the field is so broad, I believe labeling it as “Educational Technology” limits it to an educational setting. It is important to include business, industry and military settings as each may incorporate components of instructional media, design and performance technologies in an attempt to improve learning and performance in their respective settings.
History has shown that the future of educational technology will continue to take advantage of new resources and ideas. Reiser’s research however, has proven that these changes will be slow and many times resisted by professionals. Over time, as new resources become available, the industry of educational technology will re-define itself. Add to that a generation of individuals more accepting of technology and its ability to be used as a resource, the future of instructional design is a positive one.