Category Archives: technology

Is Technology Creating a More Equitable Society?

How Technology Is Creating a More Equitable Society. Source: ChatGPT

Education is one of the most important ways in which technology promotes equity. Digital tools and internet platforms have enabled students from varied backgrounds to gain access to high-quality educational materials. According to a published report, technology helps inclusive education by adapting learning experiences to individual requirements, making learning readily available for all (Sulecio de Alvarez & Dickson-Deane, 2018). Numerous programmes strive to provide technology to communities that are underprivileged. For example, Ethiopia’s One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative seeks to provide technology-enabled access to educational resources for children in distant locations. Despite hurdles, the project demonstrates how technology can give educational possibilities to those who may otherwise fall behind (HuffPost).

Social media has become an effective instrument for marginalised communities to raise their views. Consider the Florida teens who used social media to fight for gun reform following the Parkland shooting. The campaign, fueled by social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram, ignited a national discourse and resulted in considerable societal change (The Guardian). The New Yorker reported on survivors using social media to establish the Never Again movement, demonstrating how technology can enable citizens to drive social change.

Source: ChatGPT

Notwithstanding efforts to close the digital gap, major disparities remain. Many rural and low-income communities lack access to dependable internet and contemporary technologies. Moreso, Statistics Canada reports that low-income households and rural communities face limited access to technology, hindering their capacity to benefit from digital improvements. Technology sometimes exacerbates existing inequities. For example, schools with more financing can afford the most advanced instructional equipment, providing their kids an advantage over those in impoverished schools. The article, “Avoiding Educational Technology Pitfalls for Inclusion and Equity” warns that technology built without considering various needs may deepen the disparity between various socioeconomic groups (Sulecio de Alvarez & Dickson-Deane, 2018). AI and machine learning are transforming numerous businesses, but they also carry substantial hazards. Algorithms may reinforce and even worsen biases that exist in the data on which they are taught. This can result in prejudiced results in fields such as jobs, healthcare, and law enforcement. A YouTube video on AI and bias highlights how biased algorithms can perpetuate societal preconceptions.

The influence of technology on societal equity is complicated. On the one hand, technology offers the ability to democratise access to education, empower marginalised voices, and close some of the digital gap. On the other hand, important difficulties such as persisting digital gaps, reinforcement of existing inequities, and algorithmic biases persist. For technology to actually produce a more egalitarian society (…I know we can never achieve an egalitarian society!), we must confront these issues head-on. This entails creating inclusive technology, providing widespread access, and constantly monitoring and eliminating biases in AI systems. However, we should celebrate how technology has helped us become more equitable over the past 100 years.

Has technology made society more equitable?

Has technology made society more equitable? I don’t think so. This is one debate where I knew it would take a lot to sway my vote.

Are there aspects of technology that help create a more equitable society? Absolutely. But this doesn’t mean that technology has created an equitable society. Unfortunately, inequity is everywhere even with the power of technology.

As noted by the agreeing team, there are several ways that technology has made society more equitable. But what does equitable use of technology even mean? As presented by Suzanne K. Damarin, “Equitable use of educational technology requires that instructors recognize and adapt their technologically-enhanced instruction to a wide variety of students and to an equally wide range of computing facilities accessed by students”. This approach ensures that all students, regardless of their socioeconomic background, have access to the same quality of education, thereby making technology a tool for levelling the playing field in education. Damarin also notes that there are five equity principles of educational technology:

  1. Parsimony: Use the least costly tool that will accomplish the task.
  2. Accessibility: Use the most accessible technology that will accomplish the task.
  3. Multiplicity: Make computer-based materials available in multiple formats.
  4. Separability: Make parts of documents and files easily separable.
  5. Full Utility: Teach students to make maximal use of any tool available.

By adhering to these principles, educational technology can be designed and implemented in a way that ensures all students have equitable access to the tools and resources they need to succeed. But, this is where the digital divide comes in. The reality is that not all students have access to technology.

The documentary film, “Without a Net“, highlights economically disadvantaged schools that struggle with technology access, which leaves their students unprepared for the digital economy. Despite technology’s potential to level the playing field, the documentary shows that many schools face major challenges like poor connectivity, lack of devices, and insufficient teacher training. The film emphasizes that real progress requires reliable internet, updated devices, better teacher support, and strong leadership. Until these issues are addressed, technology may widen the gap rather than close it.

I think that does it. Technology hasn’t led to a more equitable society. IF you have access to technology you can create a more equitable classroom environment, but at the end of the day, that’s IF you have access. And the statistics don’t lie.

One thing that stood out to me during this debate was the idea that technology, and social media platforms, are essentially a form of modern colonization. I never even considered this and find it to be an interesting concept. I looked a bit more into this and I was surprised to find it isn’t a new idea. The Centre for International Governance Innovation explores this concept further:

With that being said, I think the answer is simple – technology has not created a more equitable society. Maybe it has even made it more inequitable.

Technology has led to a more equitable society: All students (including the debaters) should read the articles chosen by the two debate teams (listed below) and should also refer to the articles embedded in the debate description (above, under today’s activities – no need to read them all, but take a general overview) and compose a blog post reflecting on the articles as well as the debate itself.

 

Is social media ruining childhood?

Is social media ruining childhood? I don’t think I have a definitive stance. But if you held a gun to my head and said I had to choose I think I would say it isn’t ruining childhood.

As I reflected on this week’s debate, I found myself coming back to one thing – what are we defining as “childhood”? Britannica defines childhood as a “period of the human lifespan between infancy and adolescence, extending from ages 1–2 to 12–13”. If we go by this definition, we would be arguing that children from about ages 2 to 12 are negatively impacted by social media. If this is what we are arguing, I don’t think I agree. However, when we start talking about 11 to 18 years I do believe the conversation begins to shift. Maybe I am just getting caught up in semantics here.

Are there negative impacts of social media use? Absolutely. I think this is an undeniable fact. Studies have shown that teenagers are negatively impacted by social media in several ways.  For example, the Childhood Mind Insitute notes several including:

  • Social media is an indirect form of communication so children are not developing social skills.
  • Social media increases the risk of cyberbullying and imposter syndrome.

Studies have also shown that social media is shortening children’s attention spans. According to Queens University Journal, “Young people used to eat up books, but now, the amount of children who read for fun has declined from 35 percent to a meagre 17 percent. The reason for this is simple and unsurprising: social media and our increased electronic device usage”.

While these are all convincing arguments, I don’t think I am entirely swayed to believe that this is ruining childhood. I look back on my childhood and can pinpoint several instances where these negative consequences have played out in my own experiences without social media.

For example, the days of standing in the checkout line at Walmart and looking at the magazine are not lost on me. Reading headlines like “Is <insert name here>” pregnant?” or “How did <intest name here> lose 15 pounds in two weeks”  negatively impacted my perception of myself far more than any Instagram post ever did. I might be comparing apples to oranges here, but I guess my point is that childhood is a minefield of negative influence with or without social media.

And as pointed out during this week’s debate, there are positive aspects to social media use. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics,

  • Social media allows children to stay connected with family and friends.
  • Social media enhances learning opportunities.
  • Social media allows children to access information that they may be embarrassed to ask a parent for (i.e., health concerns related to puberty).

At the end of the day, social media is here to stay. This means that, whether we like it or not, it will inevitably become a part of our children’s everyday lives.

[…] many of the same principles that guide healthy development and inform effective parenting will apply when supporting youth in their online activities and experiences. If this is true, then the good news for parents and policy makers is that existing evidence-based interventions and strategies may look different but will still be effective in supporting youth in the digital age.

– Candice L. Odgers and Michaeline R. Jensen

I am not going to deny that there are negative aspects to children having early access to social media, but I don’t think keeping it out of their hands entirely is an effective solution either. I think in this situation working with social media rather than against it will yield better results.

 

Social media is ruining childhood: All students (including the debaters) should read the articles chosen by the two debate teams (listed below) and should also refer to the articles embedded in the debate description (above, under today’s activities – no need to read them all, but take a general overview) and compose a blog post reflecting on the articles as well as the debate itself.

Does technology enhance learning? YES!

Does technology enhance learning? Yes, it does!

I have to admit that I am a bit biased regarding this topic as I am a Connected Educator, so it would be a bit hypocritical of me to disagree. I have seen firsthand the positive impact technology can have on students in the classroom. Having 1:1 access has allowed me to make my lessons and assignments more engaging and inclusive. Gone are the days of boring History lectures, but rather my students can take a virtual tour of the Place of Versailles during our unit on the French Revolution or they can talk “directly” with a historical figure using HelloHistory. Beyond engagement, having access to 1:1 devices has helped me meet my students where they are at. The use of text-to-speech or even Microsoft Teams has allowed me to better support all of my students. So, from my firsthand experience technology DOES enhance student learning.

Going into the debate this week was tough for me because I knew I already had a pretty solid stance on this topic (see above). But I did find myself stopping throughout and thinking “Hmm! I never thought of it like that before”.

One main point of contention during the debate revolved around the idea of unequal access to technology. I think we would be remiss as educators if we didn’t come out and acknowledge this as fact from the start. Yes, we live in a connected world, but that doesn’t mean everyone can stay connected. According to Statistics Canada, almost 9 out of 10 Canadians have internet access at home. While this number seems high, it only accounts for roughly 94% of Canada’s total population. Another factor to consider when discussing this number in relation to student access is the number of children in a home. For example, a family with three school-aged children may only have regular access to one device whereas another family of a similar makeup may have access to several devices. The children in the first home are now at a greater disadvantage than the students in the second home. So while the number of Canadians with internet access seems high, there are several factors to consider when looking at it in the context of education.

Several academic studies highlight the digital divide that is being created as we grow more and more reliance on technology in our classrooms. But what is the solution? I don’t think there is an easy one. Bridging the digital divide will require lawmakers, educators, parents, and all stakeholders to play a role in creating a more equitable digital world.

I fully intend to keep using technology in my classroom to enhance student learning, but from this debate, I have quickly realized that it may not be all it is cracked up to be. As I discussed, the digital divide is always something to be cognizant of, but there is so much more (i.e., can students multitask, when does technology become a distraction rather than a tool, etc.). As one of the debaters said, technology should be used to SUPPORT learning, not enhance it – I myself need to remember this.

Technology in the classroom enhances learning: All students (including the debaters) should read the articles chosen by the two debate teams (listed below) and should also refer to the articles embedded in the debate description (above, under today’s activities – no need to read them all, but take a general overview) and compose a blog post reflecting on the articles as well as the debate itself.

Technology in The Classroom Enhances Learning- well possibly and sometimes

This week we listened to and engaged in a debate that focused on this statement: Technology in the classroom enhances learning. Before listening to the arguments of both groups I thought to myself, "YES it does!" and voted accordingly. After the debate, I actually changed my vote because my initial reaction of thinking technology is... Continue Reading →

Technology in The Classroom Enhances Learning- well possibly and sometimes

This week we listened to and engaged in a debate that focused on this statement: Technology in the classroom enhances learning. Before listening to the arguments of both groups I thought to myself, "YES it does!" and voted accordingly. After the debate, I actually changed my vote because my initial reaction of thinking technology is... Continue Reading →