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Equitable Digital Access
Equitable Digital Access
It is important for teachers to ensure that students are getting equitable digital access in the classroom. This means all students have fair access to digital devices. Not all students have access to devices and internet at home; school could be a student's only access point to the digital world. This is why it is so important that teachers allow class time for student to use devices such as computers and tablets. Some schools are lucky enough to have one to one technology; meaning that each student has a device. Many schools, however, do not have this luxury. Teachers may need to create a schedule in order for all students to have the same amount of time on devices that are actually available in the classroom. Below is an example how I used a schedule in my class to ensure equitable digital access.
While some report that they have internet access at home, it is not always reliable. Some families only have internet access through a mobile device. What's Lost When Kids Are Under-Connected to the Internet reports on a study that found the following information:
"Of the parents surveyed, 33 percent of those living below poverty level and 23 percent of those living below median-income level rely on mobile-only Internet access. And keeping their mobile devices connected is a struggle, as 24 percent of that group had their service cut off because of payment issues. Of those surveyed who do have home Internet, 20 percent have had their Internet cut off due to lack of payment within the last year and 26 percent say too many people share the same computer."
Learn more about promoting digital access by reading 10 Strategies for Promoting Digital Access Equity or about the digital divide by reading How Teachers Use Technology: The Latest Research
References
Articles
Ark, T. V. (2017, March 01). 10 Strategies Promoting Digital Access and Equity. Retrieved from http://www.gettingsmart.com/2017/03/10-strategies-promoting-digital-access-and-equity/
How Teachers Use Technology: The Latest Research. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/how-teachers-use-technology-mary-beth-hertz
What's Lost When Kids Are 'Under-connected' to the Internet? (2016, February 03). Retrieved from https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/43601/whats-lost-when-kids-are-under-connected-to-the-internet
Videos
"Equitable Access and Adaptive Tech" uploaded by Craig Howdeshell. 5 Feb 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-at0XaQymiM
Pictures
https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=588&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=ce0JW9i6JMb3zgLd64-ADQ&q=percent+of+people+with+internet+access+in+us&oq=percent+of+people+with+internet+access+in+us&gs_l=img.3...23388.25087.0.25247.6.6.0.0.0.0.64.340.6.6.0....0...1c.1.64.img..0.0.0....0.tc8Si7sL9kY#imgrc=vnwSg3-yClfYGM:
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