FROM: Ms. Sohini Desai
DATE: July 23rd, 2008
SUBJECT: Recommendations for Bridging the Digital Divide
Dear Superintendent:
It has come to my attention that the digital divide among students in our school district is more significant than among the students in the rest of the surrounding counties. I have some resource recommendations that would help our district bridge this gap and allow our students to come up to speed with the latest technology.
The Digital Divide can be defined as “the gap between those people with effective access to digital and information technology and those without access to it. It includes the imbalances in physical access to technology as well as the imbalances in resources and skills needed to effectively participate as a digital citizen. In other words, it’s the unequal access by some members of the society to information and communications technology, and the unequal acquisition of related skills. Groups often discussed in the context of a digital divide include socioeconomic (rich/poor), racial (majority/minority), generational (young/old) or geographical (urban/rural)”.
My recommendations are comprised of researched resources to help bridge this gap in both the classroom and community. Classroom resources include grants to obtain and expose our students to technology. These grants include money for the purchase of technology that can range from scientific calculators to computers. I have provided a website that has a list of available grants for you to review.
Other classroom resources include donations and mobile PC labs. Donations can range from corporate giving and community volunteers to donated equipment. United Way (see link below) has corporate sponsors that volunteer as well as give their old computers to be refurbished for schools and families. Mobile PC labs can be used to cut down expenses for every school to purchase computers. The mobile lab would travel from school to school providing students with necessary exposure to computers. The mobile lab could be funded with the grants the school district receives.
As I mentioned, my recommendations also include resources for our community. I have worked with a British non-profit organization by the name of ITPod. This organization has trailers in low income areas and offers classes and other opportunities for students to use computers as well learn about how to deal with issues affecting the area (gangs, drug use, violence). I have included a link that you will find very helpful in getting to know more about ITPod.
Another community resource includes after school programs and summer camps. The programs and camps could be technology based and could use community resources, like library and work-place computer labs, to provide our students with opportunities to be exposed to technology. The curriculum could be technology based and volunteer supported. I have found a government grant that would provide funding for our schools and have included the link below for you to review.
One last resource I would like to recommend is a work-based training program for students in high school. This would involve community businesses teaching our students how technology can be used in the workplace.
These resource recommendations will to be helpful in bridging the Digital Divide in our school district. If there is anything I can personally do to help bridge this gap please do not hesitate to get in contact with me.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Sohini Desai
- Grants
- Donations
- ITPod
- After School Programs
- Work-Based Learning Programs
5 comments:
Sohini-
Grants and mobile labs along with summer camps...WOW. Do you have district that would actally consider these options. Wouldn't it be a great world if we dreamed it and it could be avaiable.
Sohini,
I like your idea of involving business to help mentor high school students about the uses of technology in their jobs. Many times our students don't see the relevance of what they are doing in the classroom to the real world.
Have you had experience with writing grants? I find them very hard to win and with the limited amount of time a teacher has it limits how many I apply for. I read that many school district would do well to have a grant writer. The grant writer would be paid with grant money they earn for the district. It seems like it might be a good way to increase the technology program within a district. Debbie
I agree with you and Debbie about grants. We all know the money is out there. I'd love to be able to simply say, "Look, my school has 5 SMARTboards. Can you give me enough money for my school to have a SMARTboard in every classroom and one in the computer lab, as well?" Poof. Grant awarded. Wouldn't the salary of a professional grant writer pay for itself manyfold? It's frustrating to think about how inefficient school districts are with some of their money.
I like the community-based ideas you suggest in your letter, Sohini. Schools can't solve all problems singlehandedly (much as our patrons would like us to, sigh), and getting local businesses and community groups involved in efforts to bridge the digital divide is a good idea.
Having community support for the schools' mission is also important...without that "buy-in" from patrons, I think schools fight uphill battles in trying to get even the smallest improvements accomplished, let alone overhauling the way the school thinks about and implements technology education and technology in education.
It went and looked up iTpod it looked rather interesting to see some of the things that have been done. I just looked around for awhile, but I could not find who it was run by. It said it was a company, but gave no names. I just wondered if you knew anything about the structure of the organization.
I also loved the idea of worked based program. I actually teach for a Career and Tech Center (AKA Joint Vocational School). I think allowing student to be in the community cannot not only do great things to support the community, but getting the community to support the school.
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