Equity+and+Access

//Prior to class on May 17, read the following carefully:// @http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-divide-literacy (This has five parts. Please read all five.) @http://www.webuse.org/the-participation-divide-content-creation-and-sharing-in-the-digital-age/index.html (Click on the PDF to read the article.)

//Finish online before class on May 24:// Each lesson plan group is assigned one question below. Start a discussion on that question (click the discussion bubble above) with your group. Then, visit the other three groups and leave at least one comment.

Group A 1) What is the "old" digital divide vs. the "new" digital divides? What other possible digital divides do you think may exist?

Group B 2) What percentage of American teenagers use a computer each day? What does this mean for education? One study's "startling conclusion is that the classroom is no longer the primary learning site for the digitally empowered." What's your take on this?

Group C 3) Rheingold thinks that teaching social media will have the effect of revolutionizing the world of learning. "Instead of delivering a set of facts to students," he says, "we are engaging them in learning how to get those facts themselves." He also suggests the possibility of resistance to the teaching of new social media because the notion of universal, 24/7 access to knowledge "is a direct challenge to teachers as the authorities who deliver information in lectures, with students replaying that information in tests." Evaluate these statements.

Group D 4) Why is participation online as important as access? List some ways that you participate online. How have we participated in this class? According to the second article, why do you think women and people from a lower SES are less likely to participate in creating online (or are less skilled)? What can we as teachers do to help remedy the situation?