How is equitable digital access ensured in the classroom?
Every student should have the same access to the same technology at all times in the classoom and at home. To be fair and impartial, every student will have access to technology to help complete assignments and assessments. Full electronic participation in the classroom occurs when technology devices are shared when there is not an adequate number of them. Teachers must be aware of students' needs and plan for equal opportunites for all their students.
10 Strategies Promoting Digital Access and Equity by Tom Vander Ark
1. Support 1:1 Take-Home Technology
2. Support Community Broadband Access
3. Encourage BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
4. Support Digital Literacy
5. Go Online
6. Adopt Broader Aims
7. Support High-Quality Personalized Learning
8. Support Access to Rich Curriculum Options
9. Support Teacher Development
10. Support Parent Guidance
Read More: https://www.gettingsmart.com/2017/03/10-strategies-promoting-digital-access-and-equity/
My Classroom
My classroom has a cabinet with chargers for twenty-five Chromebooks in it for student use. There is a Chromebook for each student to use in the classroom. Chromebooks are used with permission of the teacher. Chromebooks are used for projects and for written assignments. Chromebooks are used for SCANTRON testing three times a year for Mathematics testing in the fall, winter, and spring. During many days Chromebooks will be used by all students at the same time for instructional usage and completing classroom assignments.
Also, my classroom has a TRUTOUCH computerized television mounted on the front board of the classroom. This board is used for instructional time. It includes a whiteboard with stylus to use to write problems on the screen. TRUTOUCH has internet access. Desmos.com is used on TRUTOUCH during instructional time to help show students how to graph equations. Every student can see the board and students are allowed to come work problems on the TRUTOUCH with teacher permission. TRUTOUCH can also be used for instructional games and videos like Kahoot! and PlayPosit.
Cellphones are allowed to be used in class only for mathematics games like on Kahoot! or Cool Math Games or in certain instances used for calculators. Most students have or have access to a smartphones (iPhone or Android) which can be used with permission of teacher.
Students are encouraged to purchase and bring a scientific calculator to class. In addition to this, a classroom set of thirty (30) calculators was given to our classroom by the alumi association so that every student would have equal access to the same calculator for classworek and for tests.
Students are encouraged to use computers and other electronic devices at home to complete assignments. Also, students are encouraged to e-mail assignments (such as projects) to the teacher to be graded on the computer. Students in need of a computer and a printer during school hours will need to set up a time go to the computer lab and/or ACCESS lab with the permission of those instructors.
Resources:
Digital Citizenship: Are You a Digital Citizen?
http://areyouadigitalcitizen.weebly.com/digital-access.html
What Does Technology in the Classroom Mean?
https://dataworks-ed.com/blog/2014/07/what-does-technology-in-the-classroom-mean/
References:
Ark, Tom Vander (1 March 2017). 10 Strategies Promoting Digital Access and Equity. Getting Smart. https://www.gettingsmart.com/2017/03/10-strategies-promoting-digital-access-and-equity/
Behrens, Jessica. Digital Citizenship: Are You a Digital Citizen? Weebly. http://areyouadigitalcitizen.weebly.com/digital-access.html
Definition of Equitable. Dictionary.com. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/equitable
Equitable Digital Access Image retrieved from https://www.bing.com/images/search and http://image.slidesharecdn.com/etl523assignment2-110420230104-phpapp01/95/is-any-access-good-access-equitable-digital-access-in-rural-schools-4-728.jpg?cb=1303342090
Hands Reaching Up Image retrieved from https://www.bing.com/images/search and https://learningon.theloop.school.nz/moodle/pluginfile.php/170208/mod_book/chapter/4734/Digital%20Access%201.jpg
Neer, Mike (9 July 2014). What Does Technology in the Classroom Mean? Dataworks Educational Research. https://dataworks-ed.com/blog/2014/07/what-does-technology-in-the-classroom-mean/
Students Around Table with iPAds Image retrieved from https://2dbdd5116ffa30a49aa8-c03f075f8191fb4e60e74b907071aee8.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/888015_1388198638.7843.jpg