Kaitlyn Wolfe

Professor Duncan

ED230: Introduction to Educational Technology

February 21, 2023

Blog #4: H ow do I model ethical use of technology in the classroom?

The question I want to wrestle with today is this: what hidden factors could interfere with my

students’ development of technology skills? In looking through the resources this week, there were two

main ‘hidden’ factors that could impair my student’s development of technology skills, and neither of

them were what I was expecting. When I would think about equitable access to technology, having

physical access to technology - such as phones, laptops, computers, or tablets - was what would

typically come to mind. Are families able to afford those items? We all know the cost of technology
these days, and we also are aware of the current financial struggles many American families are facing

currently. However, in my reading, access was identified differently.

More schools than ever before are purchasing technology for their students to use. So, the

problem with access shifts from a hardware issue to more of a software issue. The first ‘hidden hurdle’

for students is access to the internet. For many American families, the cost of internet access in their

homes is too high. That means that students may have pieces of technology at home, but no access to

the internet, which is more and more critical to fully utilize that hardware. Lastly, the second ‘hidden

hurdle’ is education. If students have technology in their schools, but no teachers use them? That’s a

wasted opportunity to create technology-literate students. If one teacher blends technology with their

classroom and another teacher eschews technology completely, those students in the no-tech classroom

are at a disadvantage.

Without actually using technology and how to use it safely and effectively, students will be at a

major disadvantage as they continue on in their academic careers and beyond. Without access to all

technology can do via the internet, students are at a disadvantage. These hidden factors could play a

major role in a student’s success, and it is important that we, as educators, are aware of them. When we

are aware of these potential pitfalls, we can work with students on providing true access to all.

Resources

https://www.edutopia.org/equitable-access-technology-berni-wall-edchat

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/digital-divide-technology-internet-access-mary-beth-hertz

https://www.edutopia.org/digital-divide-within