With the exponential growth of internet resources, the acquisition of information is becoming easier. Within the educational system, students are being provided with greater access to educational opportunities and are able to learn more. When students can participate in and determine the pace and the direction of their learning, their desire to learn will increase. With the large variety of social media tools available, online educators can develop a place where students can communicate and make connections with their peers so they can learn, share and develop a sense of belonging. Many of the students that I work with in a f2f classroom, do not have the resources outside of the school to participate in an online learning environment. Although some suggest that the cost for computers and internet access is decreasing, others point out that access to digital media is still a significant problem (Warchauer & Matuchniak , 2010).
As economical and geographical constraints limit access to digital media, a digital divide is created. According to Wikipedia, “A digital divide is an economic inequality between groups, broadly construed, in terms of access to, use of, or knowledge of information and communication technologies” (Wikipedia, 2013). Although I have never really travelled to remote areas of Canada, I can imagine what it would be like living in remote communities that cannot communicate with digital media. Economically, there would be huge costs associated with the hardware, hardware installation and skills training required to access digital media in remote communities of Canada (Gibson, 2011). By not having the access, students will not have the same educational opportunities and their ability to learn, communicate, connect and share will be limited. Because access to digital media is a “significant and continued barrier to its effective use as a learning tool” (Gibson, 2011), priority should be given to those who are “most potentially disadvantaged” (Looker, 2010) by barriers.
Although there is great potential to using digital media as learning tool, many aboriginal students feel their culture is being threatened by technology. Because they may have to choose between technology and maintaining their culture and traditions, they are “insulating themselves from this technology” (Thiessen& Looker, 2010). Thus, the digital divide continue to grow. Dustin Rivers, on the other hand, of the Skwxwú7mesh and Kwakwaka'wakw nations is using technology and digital media to teach, communicate and share knowledge in an effort to preserve his culture and revitalize his language (Arcand, 2011). I applaud the efforts of Dustin Rivers because he has taken the initiative to show aboriginal students how to bring their culture into the 21st century by integrating the future with the past. For me, as an educator with 16 years teaching experience, I need to teach my students how to use digital media to help preserve the past and create a pathway for the future.
References:
Arcand, J. (2011). Language warrior. Pacific Rim Magazine. http://www2.langara.bc.ca/prm/2011/articles/warrior.html
Gibson, S. (2011). Digital diversity: Youth, equity and information technology (book review). Alberta Journal of Educational Research (57)3, 349-352 ajer.synergiesprairies.ca/ajer/index.php/ajer/article/download/921/841
Looker, E. (2010). Chapter 2: Digital distance: Geographic and cultural divides in access and use of computers and the Internet.
Thiessen, V. & Looker, E. (2010). Chapter 3: Bridging and bonding social capital: Computer and Internet use among youth in relation to their cultural identities.
Warschauer, M., & Matuchniak, T. (2010). New technology and digital worlds: Analyzing evidence of equity in access, use, and outcomes. Review of Research in Education, 34(1), 179-225 http://gse.uci.edu/person/warschauer_m/docs/equity.pdf
Wikipedia, 2013, Digital Divide, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_divide
As economical and geographical constraints limit access to digital media, a digital divide is created. According to Wikipedia, “A digital divide is an economic inequality between groups, broadly construed, in terms of access to, use of, or knowledge of information and communication technologies” (Wikipedia, 2013). Although I have never really travelled to remote areas of Canada, I can imagine what it would be like living in remote communities that cannot communicate with digital media. Economically, there would be huge costs associated with the hardware, hardware installation and skills training required to access digital media in remote communities of Canada (Gibson, 2011). By not having the access, students will not have the same educational opportunities and their ability to learn, communicate, connect and share will be limited. Because access to digital media is a “significant and continued barrier to its effective use as a learning tool” (Gibson, 2011), priority should be given to those who are “most potentially disadvantaged” (Looker, 2010) by barriers.
Although there is great potential to using digital media as learning tool, many aboriginal students feel their culture is being threatened by technology. Because they may have to choose between technology and maintaining their culture and traditions, they are “insulating themselves from this technology” (Thiessen& Looker, 2010). Thus, the digital divide continue to grow. Dustin Rivers, on the other hand, of the Skwxwú7mesh and Kwakwaka'wakw nations is using technology and digital media to teach, communicate and share knowledge in an effort to preserve his culture and revitalize his language (Arcand, 2011). I applaud the efforts of Dustin Rivers because he has taken the initiative to show aboriginal students how to bring their culture into the 21st century by integrating the future with the past. For me, as an educator with 16 years teaching experience, I need to teach my students how to use digital media to help preserve the past and create a pathway for the future.
References:
Arcand, J. (2011). Language warrior. Pacific Rim Magazine. http://www2.langara.bc.ca/prm/2011/articles/warrior.html
Gibson, S. (2011). Digital diversity: Youth, equity and information technology (book review). Alberta Journal of Educational Research (57)3, 349-352 ajer.synergiesprairies.ca/ajer/index.php/ajer/article/download/921/841
Looker, E. (2010). Chapter 2: Digital distance: Geographic and cultural divides in access and use of computers and the Internet.
Thiessen, V. & Looker, E. (2010). Chapter 3: Bridging and bonding social capital: Computer and Internet use among youth in relation to their cultural identities.
Warschauer, M., & Matuchniak, T. (2010). New technology and digital worlds: Analyzing evidence of equity in access, use, and outcomes. Review of Research in Education, 34(1), 179-225 http://gse.uci.edu/person/warschauer_m/docs/equity.pdf
Wikipedia, 2013, Digital Divide, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_divide