There's a fast-developing problem with learning today. While the digital divide is closing, the ubiquity of more recent mobile technologies has now opened wide a new "homework gap" into which lower-income students too often fall. As a large part of education still happens after school lets out, students with reliable, robust Internet access and task-appropriate devices stay seamlessly connected to classwork, assignments, teachers, and all manner of necessary online resources. Meanwhile, those without a meaningful connection in their home environments face challenges that make for a very uneven playing field.
We as educators are tasked with enhancing student learning through the use of 21st Century Tools as is required by Ontario Ministry of Education Policies such as Ontario’s Draft 21st Century/Global Competencies, as well as the front matter in every revised curriculum document. Yet each time we use tech in our classes we are putting some of our students at a disadvantage. So what do we do? Do we stick to paper and pencil tasks to keep the playing field level? That puts our other students at a global disadvantage. No, we must find solutions to our Digital Equity problems and the following slideshow will outline some steps to be taken in this initiative.
Digital Equity
