Equity through Technology

   One of the many things that we talked about during class on 7-15-19 was the idea of how technology can level the playing field for students. Often we hear about how technology can create a space for students to thrive regardless of their circumstances. But the thing that really resonated with me, was just how important it is to create equity, not just equality. I immediately thought about how too often we think that just having technology available will make the classroom fair, and do not think about the training and understanding that needs to be done to prepare students for that technology.

   I came into the class with an unsure view on this topic, mainly because I came from a background that saw technology as a distraction in the classroom that should only be used in a handful of contexts. Now after one day I am more confidant in using technology, not only because it is important for the student's future, but also because it is their first language. I truly believe that there are ways to use technology for all sorts of subjects, and they are not only valid, they often stick with the younger generation more than other learning methods. My goal as an educator is to help students grow and learn more about the world, so it should be normal to find ways to get that knowledge to them in the simplest and best way for them, which may not be the easiest for me. 

   I found this website, this page written by Danny Mareco, to have a lot of really cool ideas for why technology is important in the classroom, as well as reasons why it is helpful. I highly recommend using things like virtual reality (VR) as a tool in the classroom; I think there is a lot of potential for success. https://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/10-reasons-today-s-students-need-technology-in-the-classroom