Digital Equity

Digital Equity is when technology serves us all

The digital age is upon us! Most Millennials are digital natives meaning they grew up surrounded by computers. Most of Gen Z, and Gen Alpha are social media natives, meaning digital media and socializing online surrounded them as children. It is fundamental that we understand how to navigate this world. This means making sure that every student has access to Digital Literacy. Digital Literacy means being able to effectively navigate the digital landscape without falling for the pitfalls of digital manipulation. Students should be able to create content, learn amazing new things online, and become digitally capable, without being victims to cyber bullying, fake news, internet scams, and algorithm bias.

Equity is not the same as equality. The equity part of Digital Equity means that not all people need the same thing. We all need different things, just like we all have different health needs and goals, so to do we have different learning needs (Like access to computers, or internet) and learning goals (being able to learn to type versus learning to make your own website). Equitable teaching means teachers and schools are responsible for meeting your goals and your needs on the digital front. Money, language, religion, ability, race, gender, or location should not be a barrier.

ScreenCasting tools

There are so many great tools out there that make technology more accessible to you, and from there the world more accessible to technology. I chose to highlight Screencastify because every PPS student has access to a chrome book and can use it to record themselves, or watch me give lessons. Our class also uses Seesaw which a secure social media platform only visible within the class for students to create videos. They can use these videos to have class discussions on what they learned, give presentations, or ask me clarifying questions about a problem or homework, students don't have to worry about spelling, or stage fright at all!

Demographics of Internet and Home Broadband Usage in the United StatesThe internet represents a fundamental shift in how Americans connect with one another, gather information and conduct their day-to-day lives. Explore the patterns, trends and statistics of internet and home broadband adoption in the United States.

Barriers To Digital Equity

As the Internet becomes more and more prevalent, broadband becomes more and more of a necessary utility, and less of a luxury. It is needed for learning, working, job applications, and daily functions. Some households depend on smartphones, others simply have broadband for their internet. As economic inequality expands, this has a disproportionate effect on rural communities and on communities of color.

What?

One state's journey to take down barriers to access

How?

Equity is all about access points. I believe that people can learn anything, at any age or level. Yes, anything. In this video a quantum researcher teaches you what a quantum computer is. But she does it at different level, from the University level, all the way down to Elementary School. Of course accessing information is not just about getting it at different levels. It is also about getting it in different ways and with different buy ins.

Why?

What is the point? Why talk about technology in the classroom? Why talk about equity? Kandice Sumner talks about what it is like to, and not to have access in the classroom.

Page updated

Report abuse