Monday, February 4, 2013

Focus Question

What are “digital inequality” and the “participation gap”?

Digital inequality is the idea that access to the latest computer technology varies greatly within society with low-income and non-white Americans less likely to be able to afford and use the newest tools.
Participation gap is students who lack 24/7 access to the latest technologies lag behind their peers technologically and educationally.
 
                                                      Photo credit to pupilteacher
Summary

Chapter four starts off by talking about the integration of technology in the classroom. There are so many ways to make technologies an internal part of the classroom. A few examples of this would be: creating power points, viewing video recordings, posting and accessing course assignments online, researching political parties, and so much more! The way teachers use technology can be subdivided into three primary ways, those being: inside-the-classroom teaching tools, outside-the-classroom professional resources, and inside-and outside- the classroom learning resources for students. Chapter four subdivides five important technology bases that we are now seeing in schools. There now are technology-based libraries, technology- based textbooks, technology based learning environments, technology based teaching tools, and technology based offices. Technology is highly becoming integrated in our schools and classrooms. Future educators need to know that integrating technology into teaching takes patience, perseverance, and willingness to involve students in learning about technology. The book gives examples of a digital pen and a digital notepad. In theory, digital pens and digital notepads can change how teachers manage the notes and writing applications that occupy a major portion of their work time. Incorporating these into all classrooms in the future will be a great advancement then what our society used learning in classrooms. Technology is evolving fast therefore, future educators need to be ready for change and adaption.
The video below demonstrates technology being integrated in the elementry schools. Teachers are incorporating ipads to teach students basic concepts such as math and spelling.

Tech Tool Link

The tech tool link I checked out was the (NETS) website. NETS stands for National Educational Technology Standards for students. (NETS) has been created to set standards for excellence and best practices in learning, teaching, and leading with technology in education. On the site you are able to click on one of the “Net” families. For example you are able to choose among: “Nets for students”, “Nets for teachers”, “Nets for administrators”, “Nets for coaches”, and “Nets for computer science educators.” These links then will send you to a website where you can purchase books that go along with the net family that you have chosen. There are several different tabs that enable users to do different things. There are rubric forms to use that asses how effectively you’re integrating technology in the classrooms as well as video case studies that show how teachers integrated technology in the classroom. I found this site to be a bit overwhelming with information and with the several different tabs.

1 comment:

  1. Great video to demonstrate the use of iPads...and it really is fun to see how the tablets are invading the classrooms. :) The really neat thing about them is that they are mobile, so learning can happen anywhere. The other positive is the apps available - opens up an entirely different world of learning, as well. And, they are so intuitive to young children.

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