Janie Sweat                                                                                                      June 22, 2006

 

Position Paper                                                                                                  Edu375

 

            The role of technology into the school system and classrooms has become rapidly

 

discussed in relation to the contemporary education policy. Technology is being used to

 

help enhance any lesson that is being conveyed in the classroom. It is not just emerging

 

in the United States, but it is doing the same for countries around the world. The use of

 

technology in the classroom can encourage students to broaden their horizons and while

 

learning knowledgeable information. This relatively emerging educational tool is a

 

spectacular asset for students and educators to endure. “There is nearly universal

 

agreement that, when properly used, computers, and technology hold immense promise to

 

improve teaching and learning as well as shape workforce opportunities (Hess, Leal

 

p.765).”

 

            Blogging is a frequent publication of personal thoughts and web links. Learning

 

how to blog is an exquisite way for students to use grammar in a broader range. Bloggin

 

can also give learners a chance to meet new people and build new relationships. Will

 

Richardson’s book Blogs, Wiki’s, and Podcasts is an excellent resource tool for any who

 

wants to gain experience in this new technological tools. Richardson provides several

 

sites that you can use to get started. Richardson also provides tools for how to get

 

students integrated into the assignment. Teachers from different schools or even different

 

countries can set up a blog account and have the children become pen pals. This new tool

 

is essential for children due to the fact that they can receive feedback from their peers

 

instead of the teachers. The classroom blog can be set up publicly on the internet, or you

 

can find a private blog site such as classblogmeister.Com. Private blog sites only allow

 

the teachers and students to gain access via a username and password. This is an effective

 

way to enhance any educational lesson, while keeping in mind that all children learn at

 

different levels. Teachers are using weblogs to reach audiences far beyond the classroom

 

walls (Richardson 5).

 

            Technology can either bridge or precipitate social concerns. There are many

 

concerns about a “digital divide” between African Americans and Caucasians. The same

 

is said to be true for the rich and the poor. It seems as though poor school systems will

 

not offer the necessary training to help students develop the proper computer literacy

 

skills that are needed for the near future. Computer-equipped schools will produce more

 

technological winners, while non computer-equipped schools will produce losers. Non

 

computerized schools in some cases can aggravate the technological situation rather that

 

alleviate the “digital divide”. In many instances there are a higher percentage of African

 

American students who are negatively associated with computer instruction, but at the

 

same time poorer school districts are more emerged into computer enhancement. The

 

educational experiences of African Americans are significantly different due to their

 

history of exclusion and segregation. Latino’s have experienced inequitable school

 

financing as well as educational discrimination. Socio-economic status plays a vast role

 

in the “digital divide”. Higher-income families are able to provide schools with outside

 

funding to purchase computer equipment.

 

            There are some ways that can help to bridge the technological gap. Children who

 

are given access to computers may not use them effectively, but are taking the first steps

 

to computer literacy and technological competence. According to Hess and Leal, “If

 

significant gaps exist between urban communities, then remedies that do not

 

acknowledge such inequities may reinforce or aggravate them (p.775).” America wants to

 

bridge the “digital divide” gap among race, class, and gender. Did they ever stop to think

 

that maybe everyone in the world may not want to embrace the technology? How do they

 

know what low-income families can and can not afford? Overall technological skills are

 

essential in today’s society and growing into the future. Children who experience

 

computer literacy are more likely to be very success as adults, because they posses the

 

ability to use technology effectively. Technology in the classroom encompasses all

 

learners at various educational levels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

 

Hess, Fredrick, Leal David 2001. “A shrinking “Digital Divide”? The Provision of

 

Classroom Computers across Urban School Systems.” Social Science Quarterly

 

Volume 82, Number 4, December 2001.

 

Richardson, Will. Blogs, Wikis, Podcast, and Other Powerful Web Tools for

 

Classrooms.  US: Corwin Press 2006