Equal Access to the Digital World!

What does it mean to provide equal access to the digital world?

That every student across the country has their own tablet or laptop?

Ok, that sounds like a great start but what about those students who struggle with reading the words that appear on the app the teacher has directed them to?

Or the disabled student who cannot fluently manipulate their hands?

Or the auditory student who is stuck with a teacher that's never heard of a podcast?

And the gifted student who isn't allowed to go to more challenging sites? 

So these students have an Ipad on their desktop. Do they have the same access to Web 2.0 learning tools that "basic" learners do? Is the Ipad helping them learn to the fullest? 

No.

Teachers and administrators must be well versed in the technology tools that are now available to help their students learn to the fullest. Acquiring these tools is not enough, one must know, understand, and plan for their use in the classroom. Teachers who practice Universal Design, lesson planning for all learning styles, will provide the necessary tools for their varied learners for each lesson. It is not enough for a teacher to be provided with the technology to hand out to the students if he or she does not know how it can benefit everyone, especially because learning with technology may not be the answer every time. The teachers knowledge and ability to flexibly tailor and provide lessons for everyone is what will provide equal access to the digital world.

Once we teachers and administrators know enough about our students and resources, our students will then be able to really use the digital world for their benefit. Yes, it may be time consuming, or there may be a learning curve, but trying to change the student to meet the curricula does not work. It’s been tried many times. A study performed by Courey et al. found that continued use of Universal Design resulted in better scores.  It’s now time to change the curricula to meet the student.  

Courey, S. J., Tappe, P., Siker, J., & LePage, P. (2013). Improved Lesson Planning With Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Teacher Education and Special Education: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, 36(1), 7-27.