EQUITY ISSUES IN

EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

Mike DillonUniversity of Phoenix

CMP 521 – Integrating Education Technology into Teaching (Using

Computers in Education)

Mary Sorensen, Facilitator

May 11, 2006

Defining Equity

According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (2006), equity is:

What does equity mean?

“justice according to natural law or right; freedom from bias or

favoritism”

Defining Equity

The Iowa State Board of Education (2004) follows five basic principles when making educational decisions. Two of those are:

Then, what does equity mean in the classroom and in education in general?

1) All students can learn2) All students respond

best to high expectations.

In a sense, equity in the classroom means showing favoritism to every student.

Defining Equity

The catch is that each student has individual

strengths and weaknesses that need to be

accommodated in unique ways.

Defining EquityThe Iowa Special Education Advisory Board

established the following educational outcomes for special education students and students with

disabilities:1) Students receiving special

education will meet high education standards 2) Students with disabilities will be integrated with non-disabled peers throughout their education experience

Defining EquityThe Iowa Special Education Advisory Board

established the following educational outcomes for special education students and students with

disabilities:3) Students with disabilities will

transition to post secondary education or meaningful employment

In addition to students with disabilities and special needs, the idea of equity must also address minorities and cultural issues,

students with language barriers, low socioeconomic status, etc.

Defining Equity

So…how does technology fit with the concept of equity in

education?

Status of Technology Equity

“The literature on computer equity reveals that many students—not only

minority, disadvantaged and inner city, but also female, disabled and rural—have been hampered by inequitable access to computers, and by widespread patterns

of inequitable distribution and use of computers within and across schools”

(Nueman, 1993, ¶3).

Status of Technology Equity

“Students’ technological savvy has challenged schools to make greater use

of computer and the Internet in their curricula. Unfortunately, not every

student has the same access to it, and the inability to keep pace has created a digital divide that continues to widen”

(Mason & Dodds, 2005, ¶1).

Status of Technology Equity

“The digital divide particularly affects students who are black, Hispanic, Native

American, and poor” (¶2).

According to Mason and Dodds (2005):

• 67% of white children are online.

• 45% of black children are online.

• 37% of Hispanic children are online.

Status of Technology Equity

Access to Technology

According to the Technology Counts 2006 report, the state of Iowa earned the following

grades for technology in education:

B Use of Technology B–

Capacity to use Technology B–

OVERALL GRADE B–

Status of Technology Equity

Access to Technology

The statistical breakdown in Iowa for each of the these categories includes:

B • 3.3 students per instructional computer

• 7.0 students per instructional computer in the classroom

• 3.3 students per computer with high-speed Internet

• 7.8 students per Internet computer in the classroom

All of these stats were below the national average.

Status of Technology Equity

Use of Technology

The statistical breakdown in Iowa for each of the these categories includes:

B– • Iowa DOES have student standards that include

technology.

• Iowa HAS established a virtual school.

• Iowa DOES NOT assess students regarding technology.

• Iowa DOES NOT offer computer-based assessments.

Status of Technology Equity

Capacity to Use Technology

The statistical breakdown in Iowa for each of the these categories includes:

B–

• Iowa DOES include technology in its teacher standards, administrator standards, and initial teacher licensure requirements.

• Iowa DOES NOT include technology in its initial administrator license or its teacher and administrator recertification requirements.

How can technology help all students?

Technology can enhance teaching and learning in the following areas:

Technology can help diverse students with diverse needs learn

in the classroom.

Instruction Learning and Retention

Assessment

Organization

Special Needs

How can technology help all students?

Some of the capabilities of technology in the classroom include:

1) Text to speech

2) Speech to text

3) Computer-based graphic organizers

4) Vast E-resources

How can technology help all students?

Some of the capabilities of technology in the classroom include:

5) Presentation Media

6) Online Curricula

7) Interactive Projects and Worksheets

8) Communication

How can technology help all students?

Some of the capabilities of technology in the classroom include:

9) Accommodations for Visual and Hearing Impairments

10) ELL Accommodations

11) Etc.

How can technology help all students?

Some of the equipment that can enhance learning in the classroom include:

1) Computers2) Projectors and LCD

equipment3) Interactive Whiteboards

4) Calculators and CBL equipment5) Webcams and Video Conferencing6) Digital Cameras

7) Etc.

How can technology help all students?

Different types of software and online resources that can enhance learning

include:1) Tutorials and Online Curricula2) Drill and Practice

3) Software geared toward ELL students4) Online classes and distance learning5) Java Applets and Demonstrations6) Digital Media and Online Libraries7) Etc.

How can technology help all students?

According to Mason and Dodds (2005), many different types of technology are on the verge of entering into the educational

setting:1) Wireless Networks

2) Electronic Portfolios

3) Portable Technologies

4) Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

5) Virtual Schools

What are the lessons for learning and the classroom?Technology can provide teachers with

multiple avenues for presenting information and improving student’s

attention and retention (Silver-Pacuilla & Fleischman, 2006).

Technology can provide students with multiple avenues for demonstrating their knowledge and

skills.

Technology can allow teachers to easily adapt lessons to students with different skill levels,

abilities, and interests (Bowerman & Duncan, 2005).

Research is showing the benefits of giving all students access technology-based, sensory-

related accommodations (Silver-Pacuilla & Fleischman, 2006)

What are the lessons for learning and the classroom?

“Accessibility features in common technology applications can help

struggling students make important connections—to the content, among

ideas, among their own sensory modes of learning, and between their

digital competencies and the curriculum” (Silver-Pacuilla &

Fleischman, 2006, ¶11).

What are the lessons for learning and the classroom?

“Technology can support learning by building literacy and language skills and independence” (Silver-

Pacuilla & Fleischman, 2006, ¶13).

Technology can be used to adapt learning to a variety of different learning styles and

help teachers create differentiated instruction for a diverse classroom.

What are the lessons for learning and the classroom?

Technology can help students with special needs, disabilities, and

other barriers to learning receive a quality education in the least

restrictive environment.

When integrated effectively into the classroom, technology can create a school setting that provides

a fair and equitable education for all students.

What are the lessons for learning and the classroom?

What needs to be done?“Technology equity is a complex issue that

encompasses disparities in access to and use of powerful learning tools because of differences in socioeconomic status, gender, ability level,

racial and ethnic identification, geographic location, and handicapping condition…Only

when all students are routinely granted access to hardware to appropriate software, and only when technology is used to help each student achieve his or her own personal best, can we speak of technology and equity as partners”

(Mason & Dodds, 2005, ¶1).

References

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. (2006). Retrieved fromhttp://www.m-w.com/

Iowa Department of Education. (2004). Special Education in Iowa:State of the State IDEA 2004. Retrieved from http://www.state.ia.us/educate/ecese/cfcs/idea/doc/idea04_spec_ed_iowa_v20040321_files/frame.htm

Mason, C. Y., & Dodds, R. (2005, May). Bridge the digital dividefor educational equity. Education Digest, 70(9), 25.Retrieved May 10, 2006, from EBSCOHost database.

Bowerman, M., & Duncan, S. (2005, May). Technology for all. THE Journal, 32(10), 20. Retrieved May 10, 2006, from EBSCOHost database.

References

Silver-Pacuilla, H., & Fleischman, S. (2006, February). Technologyto help struggling students. Educational Leadership, 63(5),84. Retrieved May 10, 2006, from EBSCOHost database.

Nueman, D. (1993, May/June). Technology and equity. EmergencyLibrarian, 20(5), 34. Retrieved May 10, 2006, fromEBSCOHost database.