5353- Learn Tech- Week 2 Blog

Some still believe that access to digital media is not a problem in today’s society. However, research shows that there is a tremendous digital divide. According to Van de Werfhorst, Kessenich., & Geven (2020), the dividing factors of the digital divide are “access to computers and the internet, skills and usage of technology, and inequality in the effects of technology access and of technology skills and usage for various outcomes, such as employment, education, social and political connectedness, and health” (p.3). These factors are relevant to my community and impact all aspects as a community member. 

The digital divide in the Dual Language classroom in which you see your opt-in students (Spanish Learners) parents are familiar with and have a device and internet at home versus your Spanish speaker parents are aware and understand the importance of devices and internet but may be limited based on the language barrier or where to access the resources. 

Not only may parents struggle, but as teachers as well. We struggle with the adequate digital and authentic resources available for both teachers and students. At times we see great online programs and applications that are offered in English that are not available in Spanish. Teacher material and resources are scarce to support Dual Language learning. 

When the COVID pandemic occurred,  all members of the community did not expect the changes and challenges within the community such as shopping, medical and dental services, home life and education. All these changes and challenges carried over throughout the members in the community because it was a new way of living and contributing in the community. 

As a teacher, the experience was overwhelming with the immediate shutdown of in-person learning for the remainder of the school year and the rapid change to continue to provide the learning. The school was a Title 1 school that served the majority of students who were Bilingual and of low socioeconomic status, therefore; limited to no technology devices accessible at home. With this challenge, teachers were tasked to create paper packets for each student and provide any resources needed to be completed. The grade given for the completed work was based solely on completion. Then, when it came to the following school year, there were many uncertainties. I think that year was one of the most challenging and stressful with all the different types of learning available for the students that needed to be provided by the classroom teacher. We were responsible for in-person and remote teaching. 

As students, depending on their age, were intrigued and confused as to what was happening to the world that they resided in. I can only imagine the question (why?) being asked multiple times a day. They have had an experience no one else has ever encountered which may have caused some negative reactions and or behaviors we are starting to observe currently.. Although there were challenges, a majority of the students still wanted to learn and be part of the school community. 


Resources



The state of the digital divide in the United States – Purdue Center for Regional Development. Purdue Center for Regional Development – Purdue Center for Regional Development. (2022, August 17). https://pcrd.purdue.edu/the-state-of-the-digital-divide-in-the-united-states/ 

Van de Werfhorst, H. G., Kessenich, E., & Geven, S. (2020). The Digital Divide in Online Education. Inequality in Digital Preparedness of Students and Schools before the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/58d6p 

Wilmon Brown, Ph. D. (2020, August 28). The digital divide. Learning in the Digital Age. https://open.library.okstate.edu/learninginthedigitalage/chapter/the-digital-divide/ 


Comments

  1. AngieJanuary 21, 2024 at 1:20 PM

    Hi Lorena,

    I totally agree with you. the pandemic brought in many challenges for teachers and teachers. I think that both teachers and students did the best to navigate through remote learning and even though we came back to face-to face learning, there was still uncertainty and confusion to what would happen.

    ReplyDelete

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