For many of the students at our school, this opens up many doors. It slams the doors shut on the digital divide. BOOM!
I've had such rich conversations this week with my colleagues. People are looking to do great things in their classrooms with this awesome tool. Yes there will be challenges, but most things and achievements worth having, are at times, challenging.
My mother went to school in the south during the late 1940's-1950's. As an African-American child born to sharecroppers, times were hard. During her era, having an up to date book, working pens and pencils were imperative for her success. It was a challenge. Brown v. Board of Ed. was passed late in her education. Separate wasn't equal, so her schooling was riddled with doing the best she could with the bare minimum. So the divide began.
Seventy plus years later, my mother's grandchildren need more than pencils, pens, and up to date books to be academically successful. Our modern technology has made our world smaller and our classrooms connected. But there are still children growing up like my mother. Time hasn't changed the characteristics of poverty. We have children in our school who don't have access to information because of circumstances that are out of their hands.
Imagine the thrill of starting this year, with the understanding that we, the Staff at Chute Middle School have an opportunity to guide our students using the technology provided by Digital Promise and the Verizon Foundation.
Close the gap on the digital divide? Check
Provide 24/7 learning opportunities via the web? Check
Enriching the lives of our future leaders, creators, and innovators? Check
Add to the collaborative culture of teachers and staff? Check
This is truly a thrilling time.
I know where the journey begins. But where will this journey take us is the question. :)
