Digital Equality and Divide
Major Take away from Kirsten Thompson presentation
Kirsten Thompson, a gust speaker who joined our class last Monday talked about digital equality and digital divides as well as shifting mindsets when it comes to the use of technology in the classroom. In the midst of her discussion she raised some interesting questions that we need to ask ourselves as a teacher. What is the role of an educator? what are the things educators accomplish in their classroom? what does the role of educators looks like in the future? will digitalization replace the role of educator in the future? are some of the question she posed for discussion. I hope all of you found those question interesting and timely to be asked. The current scenario of COVID-19 that changed our to day life, the way we work, the way we learn remind us to think the role technology will have in the future. It is also important to ask the issues related to digital equality and divides. while classrooms across the country embrace technology and evolve their teaching models , too many students do no't have the means to change with them in which the internet problem many of us raised in our discussion is the one. There are many factors that contribute to digital equalities and divides in the era of online learning. Location, income, school disparities and disability are some of them. In fact the digital divides has many dimension, but so do the effort to bridge digital gap. For example, where some students can afford to have access to digital technology, some struggle to equip with it. According to the study conducted in USA , students' inadequate access to internet in online learning has brought a significant gap on student academic achievement. Hence digital equality and divides are the big concerns that need to be addressed .
"Never Send a Human To do a Machine Job"
Zhao 2016
The other interesting topic of our discussion was about shifting mindset in classroom teaching practice in the era of digital technology . The idea is about the tendency of human being in choosing the best innovative, from the one that was considered the best in the past. In the twenty-first Century digital tools are the one at the top of hierarchy everywhere including in education system and classroom teaching practice. Kirsten Thompson, describes classroom as ecosystem in which different uniques niches exist. Each teachers have their own niches, the unique role that can not be replaced by something else. The other niches are the role and practice in the classroom that can be replaced which she describe as digital technological niches. In digital world many of the classroom practice can be replicable, for example formal assessments, agenda, contents etc..... Educators need to focus on the practice that makes them unique in the classroom practice such as relationship, motivation and other that can not be replaced by technology.
Hirpa, those are good questions that we educators need to take into consideration as we think about our role in the school system. Covid-19 has definitely changed my life in both positive and negative ways. I have friends with children in our school system and have heard both positive and negative comments about remote learning from them. Digital equity is something that is not achieved here in Manitoba or even across Canada. Manitoba is not the only province that has Northern communities that struggle to access basic services; including the internet. My most recent blog post was about digital equity here in Manitoba. I'd encourage you to go take a look at it for a few articles I found to be helpful on this subject.
ReplyDeleteHirpa, During this Coronavirus pandemic, many students cannot study at home because they do not have a computer or the Internet at home. Some schools are lending laptops to students to move to remote learning, but not much can be done when they do not have the Internet at home. That as you said, is deepening the gap in students' academic achievement between those who have and those who do not, and it will affect their future. This situation has been present for a long time, but until COVID-19, people are noticing it. I hope this situation can be changed.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your review Hirpa. You have identified many important elements that contribute to the digital divide, both in Manitoba and abroad. I was pleased to see your involvement in our recent Twitter chat this past Wednesday; I hope it helped shed light on the variety of situations experienced across our province.
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