Technology & Equity

1. Technology & Equity Does technology exacerbate racial, class, geographic, and gender divisions?

2. Digital Divide • A term used to describe the technological gap between the "haves" and "have nots." Race, gender, class, and geography are some of the demographic factors influencing technological access and achievement V.S.

3. Racial • Digital Divide • English Language dominates the Internet • Lower Class families/students are usually from a non-Caucasian background

4. Class • Wealthier students use the Internet more frequently and have higher productivity than poorer students • Classrooms in wealthier communities are more likely to be connected to the internet than those in poorer communities.

5. Geography • “Last Mile Problem” - geography contributes to a digital divide, in part because running fiber optic cables to rural schools is often an expense that telecommunications companies avoid. • Unreliable connections cause slower access.

6. Gender • Male oriented video games/software discourage female participation. • Majority of computer related jobs are derived towards men.

7. The Answer to the ? • Technology has not been an equal opportunity educational resource. Inequity continues to be a major problem as race, gender, and economic status influence access to home computers and high-speed Internet. Wealthier Americans, especially Asian and white males, are the most likely to use computers in school, and the most likely to realize salary benefits from that involvement after graduation, while rural America lags in Internet connections. Non-English speaking and poorer nations also trail behind in technological innovations.

8. How do we bridge the gap for students as teachers? • Open forum