Technology inside and outside the classroom

After reading the two articles I still hold pretty firm on the idea that technology in the classroom is very important. Unfortunately, for some students the use of computers and other technology comes at a minimum outside of the classroom because they come from low-income families where paying rent and putting food on the table is far more important than purchasing a computer for the household. Perhaps it's the resources surrounding the students outside of the classroom that don't allow them to adequately use technology. In many areas, libraries and especially wi-fi hotspots are luxuries not available to the lower class which makes it difficult for students who want to succeed in school but have no access rather than in school. For these reasons, that is why I think it is still important for teachers to use technology inside the classroom even though it may be difficult for some to find technology elsewhere. Students still need that tech-education and for many, class time will be there only opportunity to become familiar with the ever changing technologies of our world.

One important piece of information I took away from the article "Who Are Today's Learners?" is the piece about how teachers need to get to know their students and what technology resources they have available outside of the classroom. Greenhow brings up valuable questions to ask your students to assess their technology levels and uses of computers and other modes of technology too. Some of the questions Greenhow brings to the table are: What technology devices do you own? Where do you go to get online? (Home, school, library, etc.) and how often do you get online? I think these are important questions to ask as a teacher becuase it will give you a good measurement on the types of content and homework you could assign outside of class without there being a disadvantage to some of your students. For example, if only one or two students struggle finding ways to get online then perhaps you can give them suggestions or allow them more time in class to work.

I think it would be a big disadvantage for all of the students, even those who find it difficult to use computers outside of the classroom. By not filling these students with technology education I feel like they will not be as equipped as many other students who are living in such a digital world. Furthermore, we are seeing more and more that the traditional ways of education are being moved aside for advanced, digital, and entertaining curriculum. In order to satisfy the minds of our students we need to incorporate some type of technology to supplement our tradtitional ways of teaching.

In order to create opportunities in technology outside of the classroom for those students who are disadvantaged I will have to find out their needs and resources. Do they have a computer, do they have access to the local library, do they know how to use a computer and/or other digital devices? If they have no access to a computer besides what they get at school then I would look into the school or school district possibly checking out or renting laptops. But even with that, the student would need access to wireless interent if the curriculum required it. However, if it was just for word processing purposes, this could potentially work out fine. Those who are disadvantaged may need more access to computers or the library at school and as a teacher I want to make the playing field as even as possible. This is an interesting topic and discussion because many of us take the things we have for granted (like internet and computers) becuase they have always been there and always will be. But we need to step outside our box and figure out what is going to help all of our students achieve.