Equal Access to Technology Means Equal Access to Effective Uses of Technologies

          According to Schrum and Levin, it has become important and essential to incorporate knowledge and teaching of 21^st-century skills. These skills are necessary if we want our students to compete and succeed globally. Besides the core subjects, it is also essential to weave technology instruction into the curriculum so that students can engage and learn them.  This goal can be accomplished by schools by providing equal access to the digital world in the classroom.           

            I am fully aware that providing equal access and integrating technology in the classroom is very challenging for teachers, but through creative planning and thinking it is in the realm of possibility. Therefore, we as future teachers have to collaborate with each other and school administrators to come up with ways to meet these needs in our classroom and schools. It is necessary that the school district and building administration be on the same page when it comes to meeting these needs of our students.

          For me, equal access to technology implies equal access to effective uses of technologies in a classroom to enhance the learning process.  As teachers we must promote meaningful, engaged learning through authentic uses of technology providing students with opportunities to interact with a wealth of resources, materials, and data sets. According to Chris Collins, a sixth grade teacher at Hillside Elementary School, when educational technology applications such as the Internet, distance learning, CD-ROMs, and video are used at the classroom level to help achieve challenging educational standards, they provide powerful alternatives for creating more effective learning environments and more productive learning opportunities.

            As a classroom teacher it falls on me to ensure the learning of how to use various technologies available by providing technology-supported, project-based instruction. In some instances the classroom may be the only time some students are exposed to technological tools, and it's my responsibility to strengthen the student’s knowledge base and further educate them. In a typical classroom there will be students with access to many technological resources while others will have none. As teachers we need to be aware of this gap and understand that this will have to be addressed in class if we are to provide equal access to technology to all students in order to develop their much needed 21^st-century skills.