As technology use will only increase and become even more integrated into our daily lives, I feel it is imperative that all students become competent and responsible in its use and not just those who can readily afford it. It would be an injustice for 21st century learners to leave school ill equipped to handle their common digital interactions.
However, this digital divide is exactly what is happening and in his book, The Digital Condition, Rob Wilkie describes how this divide, as a result of access, is exponentially increasing the gap between the haves and the have-nots. Therefore, to ensure that all students have an opportunity to compete in the global world, digital literacy should be mandated and all students should have free access to digital tools. Otherwise, and we see it happening now, many students will enter the workforce lacking the 21st century skills employers demand.
The employment titan Manpower reports that despite the recession
31 percent of employers throughout the world struggle to find qualified
workers because of “a talent mismatch between workers’ qualifications and
the specific skill sets and combinations of skills employers want.”
(http://thoughtfullearning.com/resources/what-are-21st-century-skills)
While I think nearly everyone can agree on the benefits of implementing a digital literacy curriculum, the big question becomes, where will the money come from? The School District of Philadelphia, for instance, a district that serves a large portion of economically disadvantaged students, continuously finds itself in a monetary deficit which results in more programs and resources being taken away. In Utah just last year, legislators there determined that supplying all public and charter students with a digital tablet wasn't worth the cost (https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/no-money-school-tech-plan-191449226--finance.html).
Until policymakers come to terms with the changing educational landscape and actively seek out solutions to equip all students with the skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace, then unfortunately many of our most vulnerable citizens will be left out of the realm of advancement and competition.
According to the most recent Funding Gap report by the non-profit group
The Education Trust, many states still provide the least amount of funding
to school districts serving students with the greatest needs.(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wherewestand/reports/finance/how-do-we-fund-our-schools/?p=197)
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ReplyDeleteAs future administrators , I agree that it is our responsibility to educate our children for the digital culture of the future. If it is not mandated by our curriculum there will be many students that will be digitally illiterate. These students will be at a disadvantage for the future that awaits us all.
ReplyDeleteYes, and the future disadvantaged students will be the children of the disadvantaged students that we have today. ...And so the cycle continues
DeleteYou raise some excellent points Brian. Funding is essential in order to begin correcting the digital divide and improving digital literacy. I believe the funding needs to come from state and federal sources if we are serious about improving digital citizenship.
ReplyDeleteState and federal sources are just the beginning as they will never provide enough funds to ensure that all students receive adequate access. As future leaders, while we may not be able to address the needs of everyone across the nation, we should at least fully technologically equip our own schools through seeking out available community resources.
DeleteYou touched on some valid ideas. It angers me that students who need the most resources typically are the last ones to receive it. We are manufacturing students who will not be equipped to survive and live successful lives in this new digital age. How counterproductive it is to hold back technology to children who live in a society centered around new and improving technology.
ReplyDeleteAh! but it may not be counterproductive if you look at it through the eyes of our society's elite. Society needs people to commit crimes, occupy prisons, and only possess a minimal skill set. These people create high level jobs, while also filling low level jobs such as burger slinging and gas pumping. Also, less educated citizens are more prone to excessive consumerism.
ReplyDelete