ED TECH: FALL 2006 By April, Jason, Joan, Nicole and Phyllis

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ED TECH FALL 2006By April, Jason, Joan,
Nicole and Phyllis
Digital Divide
Perspective
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What is the Digital Divide and How Does It Relate
to the ELL Student?

• Digital means technology and divide means gap. 
  Put it together, The Digital Divide can be
  explained as a result of the haves and the have
  nots regarding telecommunications. 
• The bottom line is economics which causes a wide
  disparity between the more affluent communities
  vs. the economically challenged communities and
  their access to technologies. 
• The more money you have, obviously the easier it
  is for you to have access to and own the latest
  telecommunications.  On the other hand, if you
  are impoverished and on top of that an ELL
  student, the bigger challenge you have at
  accessing and of course owning the latest
  telecommunications thereby making you less
  competitive in today's 21st Century online
  world. 
• These drawbacks have obvious consequences and can
  be easily felt in a district such as where I work
  where 80 of the students are on reduced lunch
  and 75 if not more are ELL learners.  I  would
  estimate that approximately 75 of my students do
  not own or have internet access in their home. 

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What Effect Does the Digital Divide Have on ELL
Learners???

• ELL students who are economically challenged
  require more internet access and technology use
  during the school day.
• They need more access to Community Technology
  Center (CTC).
• Not having technology available to them puts them
  at a disadvantage with their more affluent peers.
• ELL students loose the opportunity to develop
  their communicative competence in synchronous
  communications such as (IM, or chats) as well as
  asynchronous communications such as (electronic
  discussion boards, and e-mails).

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What Effect Does the Digital Divide Have on ELL
Learners???

• ELL students who are economically challenged
  require more internet access and technology use
  during the school day to help level the playing
  field.
• They need more access to Community Technology
  Centers (CTC) and technology support.
• It puts them at a disadvantage with their more
  affluent peers especially when they compete for
  college jobs .
• ELL students loose the opportunity to develop
  their communicative competence in synchronous
  communications such as (IM, or chats) as well as
  asynchronous communications such as (electronic
  discussion boards, and e-mails) in comparison to
  their counterparts.

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Digital Divide, ELL Perspective

• Ways to improve English skills using the
  internet
• E-mail following instructions in English
• Information such as weather and news allows
  reading skills
• Visiting school website allows one to learn
  about the schools system
• Shopping on the internet to learn about American
  dollars in a less pressuring environment

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Digital Divide, ELL Perspective

• Challenges when trying to use the internet
• Language connect to an online translating
  service
• Shopping issues with money one can connect to an
  online exchange rate site
• Finding a computer with internet access. One
  can use the Public Library
• Learning how to use the computer correctly.

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Digital Divide, ELL Perspective

• Teacher Training
• ELL teachers need training specifically to meet
  the need of ELLs
• Most school only provide general technology
  training

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Digital Divide, ELL Perspective

• Solutions
• Software programs used as training tools to
  assist teachers
• Increase funding for teacher taining
• Follow-up with teacher and provide additional
  assistance as needed
• Colleges need to include technology training in
  their teacher education program

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Digital Divide, ELL Perspective

• Statistics
• According to a report entitled Computers and
  Internet use by Children and Adolescents in 2001.
• 44 of students use the computer for Homework
• 42 use the internet
• 41 Hispanic household have a computer at home
  compared to Caucasian
• 27 Hispanic students use the computer for school
  work compared to 52 of Caucasian students

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Digital Divide, ELL Perspective

• Statistics
• At Westbury Senior High School out of 1120 44
  are Hispanic, 53 are black, and 3 are
  Caucasian, Asian, and other
• At Drexel Avenue School out of 419 students 62
  are Hispanic, 33 are black, and 5 make up are
  Caucasian, Asian, and other.
• At Dryden Street out of 578 students 72 are
  Hispanic, 25 are black, and 3 are Caucasian,
  Asian, and other.

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Strategies to Assist ELL Learners with technology
Digital Divide, ELL Perspective

• Apply for technology grant money
• Enlist the help of the community, family and
  volunteers.
• Improved/updated training for ELL teachers
• More Federal Funding for ELL learners
• Provide more federal funding for technology in
  the classroom.
• Provide computer training for ELLs
• Internet chat sessions where ELL students will
  have authentic means of communication with peers.
  
• Provide teachers/ educators with workshops, and
  training to learn how to incorporate appropriate
  teaching material when using technological tools
  ELL Learners.
• Update technology equipment such as computers. 
• Have high-powered servers and wireless
  connections.
• Provide technology workshops for students and
  parents in off school premises if possible.
• Schools and community agencies need to provide
  technology classes in the various native
  languages.
• Have community forums that parents and students
  attend to give their input on the technology
  needs of the community.
• Make sure the professionals that are teaching the
  technology, have the most up to date training.
• Keep promoting the use of technology to your
  students in and out of the classroom.
• Introduce them to the many different  FREE
  language resources that are available on the
  internet.

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Interactive Website for ELL Learners

• http//www.literacycenter.net/play_learn/index.htm
  
• http//www.harcourtschool.com/activity/esl/color_m
  atch/color_splash.html
• http//www.harcourtschool.com/activity/esl/count_1
  00/count_splash.html
• http//www.harcourtschool.com/activity/esl/directi
  ons/directions.html
• http//www.celt.sunysb.edu/ell/tips.php

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References
Digital Divide, ELL Perspective

• Thompson, L W. (2004). Literacy Development for
  English Language Learners Classroom Challenges
  in the NCLB Age. National Assessment Consultant
  CTB/McGraw Hill. Retrieved October 4, 2006, from
  http//www.ctb.com/ncmedia/2731/English_Language_L
  earners.pdf
• Schwartzmman, A. (2004). Passport to ELL.
  Retrieved September 28, 2006, from techLearning
  Websitehttp//www.techlearning.com/story/showArti
  cle.jhtml?articleID49901376
• Hall, Don (2006, April). Bridging the Digital
  Divide. Learning Leading with Technology, Vol
  33, No7, 15-18.
• Kalyanpur, M., Kirmani, M.H. (2005).  Diversity
  and Technology Classroom Implications of the
  Digital Divide.  Journal of Special Education
  Technology, 20(4), 9-16. Retrieved October 5,
  2006, from ERIC database.
• DiBello, L.C. (2005). Are we addressing the
  digital divide?  Issues, access, and real
  commitment. Childhood Education, 81(4), 239-243.
• Dickard, Schneider, Norris, Diana (2002, July 1).
  The Digital Divide Where We Are Today. edutopia.
  

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Digital Divide, ELL Perspective
References Continue

• Kean, patricia (2001, May 2). The Challenge of
  Getting Latinos Online. Newsday, p. C06. 
• Warschauer, Mark (2004). Technology, Academic
  Preparation, and Equity. UC/Accord, Retrieved
  October 1, 2006, from www.uaccord.org 
• Moore, B. (2003) "Broadband, Big Screen!
  Enlivening English Language Learning in Southeast
  Los Angeles". Retrieved on October 1, 2006,
  Websitehttp//www.edutopia.org/php/article.php?id
  Art_1021
• Lacina, Jan (2004).Promoting Language Acquitions
  technology and English Language Learners.
  Childhood Education. 81, 113-116.
• Zha,Kelly,Ko Park,Fitzgerald, Shenghua,Paul,
  MeeAeng, Gail (Spring 2006).An Investigation of
  Communicative Competence of ESL Students Using
  Electronic Discussion Boards. Journal of Research
  on Technology in Education. 38, 349-356.
• Egbert, Joy. (May 2002). A Project for Everyone
  English language learners and Technology in
  content area classrooms. ISTE, v29 i8,pg 36-42. 

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Digital Divide, ELL Perspective
References Continue

• Soloman, Gwen. (April 2002) Digital Equity It's
  not just about access anymore Sure most schools
  now have computers and internet access, but are
  all students receiving the same high-quality
  learning experience? We examine the issues.
  Technology Learning, V22 I9.
• Bresser, Rusty (Feb 2003). Helping English
  language learners develop computational fluency.
  Teaching Children Mathematics. V9 i6,pg. 294-
  300.
• Mambo, Benard and Diane McGrath (2005). Vive Les
  Villages. ISTE