What is Digital Access?
Digital Access is defined as the "full electronic participation in society." (Ribble, 2011).
Although new technology is fast spreading around the world, not everyone has access to all these new digital tools.
Although new technology is fast spreading around the world, not everyone has access to all these new digital tools.
What is Equitable Access?
Equitable Access is the idea that all students should have fair and equal access to technology and should be able to participate in this new digital world that we live in.
Many times, there are discrepancies in the opportunities that students have to use technology. Paul Gorski’s article question the equal use of classes of primarily white students compared to classes of impoverished or ethnically diverse students. Teachers of the primarily white student classes are using technology to enrich students with creative and problem- based instruction, while other classes are simply using technology for skill review and practice. This skewed view of technology contributes to a growing problem in this day and age known as the digital divide.
Many times, there are discrepancies in the opportunities that students have to use technology. Paul Gorski’s article question the equal use of classes of primarily white students compared to classes of impoverished or ethnically diverse students. Teachers of the primarily white student classes are using technology to enrich students with creative and problem- based instruction, while other classes are simply using technology for skill review and practice. This skewed view of technology contributes to a growing problem in this day and age known as the digital divide.
What is the Digital Divide?
"The digital divide is the chasm separating the haves and have-nots in digital technology." (Glaser).
Some people can afford high speed internet, computers and other technology and some people can't.
Some people can afford high speed internet, computers and other technology and some people can't.
There can be a digital divide between many groups of people and can be determined by:
- Economic status (Divide between impoverished and middle/wealthy class)
- Race and ethnicity (Divide between white people and ethnically diverse people)
- Age (Divide between the younger generation and the older generation)
- Disabilities (Divide between people with disabilities and those without disabilities)
- The conditions of a country (Divide between a developing country and already developed countries)
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Click here to listen to a podcast of Mark Bauerlein discussing his book and his views on the digital divide.
Take a look at these charts to see who is affected in the United States. The last chart on the left shows a comparison of North American to Western Europe and Scandinavia.
So how can we close the digital divide?
Ultimately, people need the above components in order to bridge the digital divide.
How can we help?
What Teachers Can Do:Teachers can do a lot to help expose their students to technology in the classroom. The amount of schools that gain new technology is growing each year. Teachers can implement lessons in their classrooms that include a variety of technologies. This will help with embracing the digital age and improving students' digital literacy. Some technologies available in schools include:
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What Parents Can Do:There are several things you can do for your children to close the digital gap:
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What the Community Can Do:Teachers and parents can't close this gap on their own. Communities and organizations are doing their part to help close the digital divide. These groups are lending a helping hand:
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What is Web Accessibility?
Web Accessibility is the idea that the internet can be usable and can accommodate people with and without disabilities.
People without disabilities using the internet:
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People with disabilities using the internet:
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What is Assistive Technology?
"Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, or product system...that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities--in simpler terms, anything that makes a task easier to complete is AT"
(Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative).
We use AT daily without even realizing that we are using it. While these technologies were originally created to aid those with disabilities, we now use them in our every day lives.
- Eyeglasses (originally for low-vision, now also for style)
- Curb cuts (originally for wheelchairs, now also for bicycles and strollers)
- Books on tape (originally for visual aids, now also just for listening to books)
- Closed captioning (originally for hearing aids, now also for translating and compensation for noise
Assistive Technology can be split up into 9 categories:
1. Adapted Toys/Recreational:Special equipment related to leisure activities
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2. Aids for Low Vision:Devices that increase contrast, enlarge images, or replace tactile/auditory signals for visual ones.
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3. Aids for Daily Living:Devices to increase independence in activities like eating, grooming, cooking etc.
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4. Assistive Listening DevicesDevices that amplify auditory signals and alert people to sound.
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Devices that aid in face-to-face communication, telecommunication and writing.
Augmentative
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Devices that improve access to computers.
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Devices that improve or support mobility in a space, mobility over distances, seating, positioning, body stability, support head and trunk, and reduce the pressure on the skin.
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Devices that help people that struggle with mobility or do not have sufficient dexterity or cognition to manipulate household devices or environmental changes.
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Devices that customize the material to a learner's needs or makes instruction more engaging.
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Digital Access Survey
To participate in the digital access survey, please visit this website.
Click here to see the results of others throughout the Smyrna School District.
Click here to see the results of others throughout the Smyrna School District.
Additional Resources:
Teacher Resources: |
Parent/Student Resources:
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Resources for All: |
Digital Citizenship by Lauren Lucca is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.