The article “Leveraging Technology to Support Students Needs” by Stefani Boutelier and Nicole Ludwig discusses the idea of technology equity for students. Teachers are innovators and are always looking for new ways to integrate technology into their learning. During the pandemic, society began to look at technology as a new way to expand learning opportunities for all students. However, the article posed the question of whether or not students are learning equally through technology. They discuss how we went from a time of experimenting with technology in the classroom to relying on it to get the information to our students. The article says that the first step to unde4rstanding technology equity and how to support it is by understanding the ISTE standards. Knowing these standards can assist teachers to better be an advocate for effective learning in the classroom. Integrating a universal design is also key for being able to be effective with technology. Using a universal design for learning means we can have inclusivity and accessibility within the use of technology, so all students are benefiting equally. The article also discusses accessibility. Many websites are quipped with equity in mind with features like audio reading or enlarged print, so those with different disabilities are able to receive the information and knowledge the website provides. A student in a classroom setting and a student learning online are going to have very different needs. Applying different aspects such as productivity apps like google applications, gamifications such as Quizlet, and digital libraries like the electronic resources we have and so many more can improve the outcome of students learning through technology. Technology has the potential to create better learning opportunities for students when utilized efficiently.
Utilizing technology in a way for all students to learn equally is one of the most important things for me as a teacher. We rely so much on technology now in the classroom and not all students have the same experience with every tool. Finding new ways for me to integrate technology into the classroom with me a learning curve. I want all students to learn equally from the lessons given. Some students may require more out of a website then others will. I fear there will be shortfalls no matter how much training and standards research I complete. As an advocate for the students, I will be able to help identify better websites using a few tools recommended in this article like Gackle, which is a site that evaluates the documents and lesson plans to inform you how accessible they are for all students.
Using the idea of equity when thinking about technology in education brings a new perspective to incorporating ideas into your teaching. Making sure that as a teacher you understand the different standards and approaches to integrating technology will help the students better gain the knowledge they need to succeed. Some tools will be more accessible than others but as the teacher, you will be able to differentiate the useful tools for your students from the tools that may not be as accessible.
References
Boutelier, S., & Ludwig, N. (2021, May 5). Leveraging technology to support students’ needs. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/leveraging-technology-support-students-needs/