Achieving Equal Access for all Digital Learners

With constraints on school budgets and available technology in the classroom it can be a real challenge to develop engaging lessons that integrate technology BUT... the benefits can be much greater than the cost (time and energy).  Creativity and flexibility are key to providing equal access to all learners.

This school year it was a goal of mine to use technology more often in the classroom. The school doesn't provide every class with a set of computers, tablets, or iPods so it is necessary to plan around the technology that is available; teacher or student owned devices and a small selection of LCD projects, computers labs, and the single computer in each classroom.

The most recent digital assignment I created was a "getting to know you" survey through Google docs that was given to my Algebra I (honors) students.  A link for the form was emailed to them and they were asked to fill it out over the weekend.  By Monday morning 20 out of the 30 students had finished the form.  The remaining students had either forgotten to do the assignment, had trouble accessing it, or said they didn't receive the email.  I'm certain that the results would have been the same even if the students each had their own laptop or iPad that was given to them by the school.  During class on Monday I asked the students who hadn't filled out the survey to complete the assignment by using the resources available in the classroom (teacher computer, iPad, iPods, and student smart phones).  This resourcefulness led to 100% participation.  (As a side note, I was surprised and excited to see that students were willing to write more about themselves and their interests using the electronic form than on the paper ones I've used in the past.)

As I learn more about what technology is available and how it can be used in the classroom I'm hoping to create lessons that involve watching videos and submitting responses electronically.  I will have students pair up to use their own smartphones and/or iPods.  I'm also considering lessons that require students to move through stations where only a few pieces of technology would be necessary (one for each station).  In the station model students could watch a video at the teacher computer then move to another station where they use a student's iPod or phone to research information or submit a response.  I'm sure there will be some failures or mishaps but those happen with any type of lesson, that's why there's always a back up plan!