Can teachers provide equal access to the digital world to all students? Well, there is a difference whether teachers can or want to provide equal access. I truly believe that all teachers want to provide equal access to students. Not only is the Internet useful for students, but using software for academics provides support where some teachers may be unable to relate to a student or find enough time in the class room to help. Most students that have access in school relate to computers with confidence and ease. As most older teachers grew up with little or any access to the digital world, as I find out with my ten year old showing me how to write equations for Excel!
It's amazing how quickly and accurately children grasp digital programs. There in lies the problem, how do schools fund digital access to all students? It's always a question of funding. There is never enough money in budgets to add computers for every student. If administrators can prove that school children make tremendous academic gains from computers, then possibly budgets can be adjusted to make access possible. Do I think schools can provide access to all students? No, I don't think it's possible, not this year anyway. Maybe in the future when computers are more intertwined in our lives. More computer labs and computers in the classroom are option to provide digital access for most students. Though outside of the class room is another matter entirely and mostly out of the control of teachers.
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And while we're struggling with the issue of finding funds for technology at school, there is ALSO the issue of students not having access at home! But I definitely agree that there is hope for the future. The cost of technology is trending down, and I hope that there may even be a "student discount" that can basically make technology access at home free for children.
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