After looking over some our readings for Monday night I was thinking about how lucky we are to have access to computers and to the technology to create and communicate with others. Look at this document on the digital divide , although a bit old, it is still telling about who gets and who doesn’t.
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October 27, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Francheska
Wao, internet has taken over the world!
October 27, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Sandra
What seems interesting to me about this article is that even though it may seem like internet is everywhere, it is not. Even in North America, where basically 40 % of its residents are internet users, there is still a 60% of residents that do not have the access to it. This of course makes me think of our position as teachers. We are all encouraged to integrate technology in our classrooms and see it as an enhancing tool, but how much can we really rely on technology? How many of our students have a computer and internet at home? Even at the college level I have encounter students who do not yet have the equipment that is required of them for everyday tasks. Yes, we could also say that there are computer centers throughout our campus and that they should use them. Then again, how many of these are open to all students and each one has different rules and documentations. Some ask for id while others ask for paper and students never know what to encounter.
I think that the internet and technology in general are great resources for our classrooms, but we need to evaluate how these are implemented in our courses because we might be affecting students instead of helping them, if they lack the resources. That is our case in Puerto Rico; we should be aware of our students’ needs and their actual technology knowledge. We also need to understand that those students who have a computer and internet will be in advantage to those who do not.
November 2, 2008 at 12:56 am
jsanabria
Intergrating technology in the classroom is something that affects us as teachers and even as students, one way or another. The first day of classes I always ask how many students have access to computer, printer and internet. Depending on how many raise their hands is that I go about using technology, and asking them to do their work, since most of the times they must hand in a printed piece of writing.
Sometimes we think that all of our students have access to these technologies, yet it is not always the case. Our job, then, is to know how much we can ask them to use technology and how much we can expect to use it in class.
November 10, 2008 at 2:44 pm
literaturejen
This article was very interesting because it is true, at least for me, I have internet at my house, the university and basically all my family and friends have internet that I could use if I wanted. I also have my own computer. It has reach the point that sometimes it’s a necessity and I get anxious if the internet is down! Pathetic, huh! It reminds me of a South Park episode, where there was chaos because there was no internet.