This presentation will define and give examples of digital divide and digital inequality. It will also give possible solutions so that educators can begin to bridge the gap to make technology and digital learning more easily available.

Digital divide is a term used to describe the gap between those who have access to technology and those who do not. There are several factors that contribute to the digital divide. Two of the major factors are income and age.

Income- Some individuals and families cannot afford internet, computers, and other things related to technology.

Age- For various reasons, people who are older are less likely to use technology. They may not feel they need it, may not know how to use it, may be afraid to use it, or are afraid of personal information being shared without their consent. Much of the younger generation do not know a world without technology. It is a part of their lives.

Digital inequality refers to the differences in the types of technology available and also the differences in the way it is used.

For example, someone who only uses the internet on their smart phone to snapchat, message, facebook, or tweet is not getting as much from the internet as someone who is researching how to build a garden bed and is connecting with other diy gardeners for ideas.

Inequality can also refer to limited access to technology. Some students may only have internet access during their computer class at school.

Digital inequality exists in Idaho.

The number of internet-enabled smart phones continues to grow, so more and more people are able to access the internet. However, there are still some students whose first experience with an actual computer happens at school.

There are also many rural places in Idaho where it can be more difficult to get internet. My parents live in a small town and they have difficulty getting a cell phone signal in their house.

15.5% of people in Idaho are below the poverty level. (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/16000.html) As mentioned previously, those who have a lower income are less likely to have access to technology.

I work in a public school in Idaho and have noticed some examples of digital divide within my own school. The following slides highlight some of the examples.

Some students have limited internet and/or technology access outside of school. Freshmen at our high school are required to take a year of computer applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access). The inequality presents itself early on in the semester as some students are able to keep up and be successful in class while others quickly fall behind and have a difficult time following the instructor in the classroom. Those without internet or a computer at home are limited in the amount of time they can spend on assignments. If they are unable to finish it during class time, they simply don't finish it.

There is also a divide in the attitude about technology. Some only see it as entertainment (snapchat, facebook, gaming, etc.). Some are beginning to understand how they can use it as a career (web design, graphic design). Some see it as a learning disability. "I'm not good at technology."

There is a difference between students with smartphones and students without. Those with smartphones typically know how to quickly find information or answers. They connect with each other virtually during school and outside of school. They are more aware of resources and tools. For example, there are apps that will do math problems. They will show the work and give the correct answers.

Those without smartphones have had to rely on others for information and are limited in the ways they can reach out to others.

There is also a divide in the attitude about technology. Some only see it as entertainment (snapchat, facebook, gaming, etc.). Some are beginning to understand how they can use it as a career (web design, graphic design). Some see it as a learning disability. "I'm not good at technology."

We may only see these students for an hour or two each day, but we can do something to help bridge the various technology gaps.

We need to be aware of others ways that students might be able to access computers and/or technology outside of school and provide this information to students, parents, and guardians.

For example, the local library has computers with internet access available for free. One of the local middle schools within our district opened up their computer labs to the community for two nights each week. For those who have devices but no internet access at home, the library and many businesses in town offer free Wi-Fi. You can go to McDonald's, order a cheeseburger and soda, and surf the web.

As teachers, we are constantly asking students to put away cell phones. Perhaps we could find ways to use smart phones to our advantage.

We could establish a class twitter feed or facebook group. Links could be sent to YouTube videos related to new content. Reminders could be sent about upcoming tests or project due dates.

Technology teachers could show how to do some of the classroom assignments using apps on their phones. For instance, if a class is learning about Photoshop, the teacher could spend some time comparing the photo editing capabilities of their phones.

Give students a reason to want to learn about technology.

In May of this year, the Idaho State Board of Education submitted a Request for Proposal to provide the Microsoft IT Academy and certification to Idaho schools and libraries. This means that the freshmen in our school that are required to take classes on the Microsoft Office applications can get more than credit for graduation. They can potentially receive a basic level certification that they can put on resumes. It is already available in our high school. This provides motivation for learning and could have a significant impact on future employment.

https://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/digitalLearning/docs/RFP/Microsoft%20IT%20Ac...

I do teach math. Traditionally math is taught with the teacher writing on a board, projector, or using a PowerPoint. These are all very lecture based methods. We try to encourage class participation, but it is only to work towards one correct answer. Math instruction can and should be so much more in this modern age of technology.

My school district is requiring us to create class websites through the district homepage. I can use this website to post assignments, send reminders, and add links to websites and videos that students can go to for more information.

I also use an online learning platform called Khan Academy to supplement my teaching. As I grade homework, I take note if a student repeatedly makes a particular mistake. Through Khan Academy, I can make recommendations specific to each student. This gives them the extra practice they need in order to be successful. It also provides a different learning format which breaks up the monotony of math homework.

Whether we like it or not, technology is here. It has impacted the way students learn and interact. As teachers, we need to be aware of technology trends, especially advances in available educational technology.

In order to reach out to this new type of learner, we need to understand them. Others have done the research for us and have developed ways to accommodate modern learners.

For example, the certiport link below connects to a paper written by the International Education Advisory Board. The paper describes characteristics of gaming and how they can be applied to education. In a game, when a player dies they are able to restart. In education, we need to allow students the opportunity to "restart:" redo homework, tests, papers, etc. In a game, players see the outcomes of their actions immediately. We need to develop a way to give immediate feedback to students as they are working. Currently, students usually receive feedback only after they have finished and turned in an assignment. This could be anywhere from one to several days after the material is taught.

Check out the following links for more ideas.

https://www.certiport.com/Portal/Common/DocumentLibrary/IEAB_Whitepaper0408...

http://www.academia.edu/8050029/Tips_and_Techniques_for_Engaging_the_Modern...

http://blog.chalkup.co/how-to-engage-the-modern-student

Before deciding to embark on the path toward technology integration, there are some basic guidelines to be aware of. The Association for Educational and Communications Technology (AECT) developed a code of ethics to use as a reference when employing technology in an educational setting.

The code can be found here- http://aect.site-ym.com/members/group_content_view.asp?group=91131&id=30996....

The following slides are two of the guidelines in the code to consider when incorporating technology into instruction.

As mentioned previously, not all students have equal access to technology. Some things to consider about individual opportunity:

Can the technology be accessed anywhere? Or is it limited to the school setting?

Can it by accessed by different types of devices? Can cell phone or tablet users have equal access, or does it require a computer?

Are there adaptations for students who need accommodations? Text reading capability on websites for those who are visually impaired. Captions for videos for those who are hearing impaired. Easy navigation for those with physical impairments. Consider the individual needs of the students in the classroom.

Professional development is a requirement for maintaining teaching certification. Some of that development should be related to educational technology. As professionals, we should search out ways to make our content more relevant to students. We can connect with other teachers who are having success in their classrooms and find out what they are doing.

Universities and colleges should ensure that their teacher education programs include current technology. In my undergrad studies I was required to take a technology for teachers course. We covered Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and a graphic organizer called Inspiration. That was a few years ago. Hopefully the program has been updated to include modern technology as apposed to a software platform.

Technology is here to stay. Instead of fighting against it, let's embrace it and start using it to our advantage. Let's find ways to bridge the educational technology divide so that we can more effectively bridge the digital divide.