Building the Digital Divide: A Building Block for Teachers

This article addresses what is known as the Digital Divide: The fact that students' access to digital technology differs according to things such as race, economics, and school funding.  This article helps teachers by providing educators with ideas and strategies that address equity and access issues among all students.  It discusses the placement and location, as well as the access given, to technological devices within a school -- whether there has been enough funding for the school to provide at least a few computers in each and every classroom.  One thing that I found very interesting was the fact that when schools do not have computers in the classrooms, but have what is known as computer labs, students do not see computers as integral to their learning experiences.  It also addresses the fact that since all students do not have access to computers at home, there is an equity divide between those that do and those that don't. 

The article goes on further to inform teachers that they need to be more aware of how they use technology in their classrooms, remembering that some students will know much more about how to use a computer than others.  Oftentimes, teachers who keep journals of their computer use find that they are using them more for themselves to create lessons than using them in the classroom so all students have access to computers. It also addresses the fact that keeping parents in the loop is important in that there are some stores, like Target, who provide computers for students in need of such devices.

I learned from this article that teachers are not using the computers as much as they should in the classroom, but rather are using them for their lesson planning and making digital videos.  I also learned that just because your school is not well funded doesn't mean that there is no other way to get computers for your individual classroom.  There are many businesses that form partnerships with schools or individual teachers to help them gain the technological resources so needed in this age.
I will certainly remember that I have other options to gaining computers for my students once I start teaching. 

Digital Video Goes to School This article describes how teachers are now incorporating the art of making digital videos into their classroom experiences. It explains how digital video making helps motivate students and energize teaching. Digital videos are now being used in all grades, K-12 and teaching students to make digital videos has become a necessary conduit into increasing their appreciation of the various subjects being taught. The article discusses how video newscasts, documentaries, informercials and video clips to be used on a Web page are now being taught to students. The article also demonstrates how using a concept map, such as Inspiration 9 can help students achieve the goal of creating interesting and informative videos. I had very little experience with creating digital videos until I took this class. I had seen them, but had no idea how to make one myself. I now know that as a future teacher it is important for me to continue my education on digital video making. This is a tool that can make learning enjoyable for students who no longer worry so much about their grade, as on written tests, as they do about making a great video. It helps them increase their understanding of subjects such as history by bringing the events and people alive so that they can better comprehend the subject matter at hand.