Trends in Ed Tech: Equity & Inclusion

 

Image source: Product Hunt

What's new?

With today's technology evolving so fast, it's hard to keep up with the latest tools. In regards to trends in education technology, one of the hot topics in the spotlight for the last year has been equity and inclusion. Even before the pandemic, students in low-income areas already lacked resources compared to students in affluent areas. It truly is an eye-opening experience to see the discrepancy in resources available for the different areas. Equity has been an issue that was acknowledged but never put forth to be resolved. The issue goes beyond the lack of technology devices and resources. In a blog by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), COVID-19 thrusts digital equity to the forefront, educators Patricia Brown and Carla Jefferson point out how equity goes beyond the lack of resources but includes the basic needs of students and families, especially in the pandemic where students might not get those needs met as they would during in-person learning. Students who live in areas that lack resources do not have a level playing field when they do not have the tools needed for success. 

Epic! Books

I chose to share the resource Epic! Books. It is a great online resource for students to access anywhere, on a Chromebook/laptop or tablet. Epic! Books allows teachers to assign books to specific students/groups to practice reading, in school and at home. Although students may have local libraries available in their communities, Epic! Books allows teachers to assign books to specific students/groups to practice reading, in school and at home. Reading comprehension is at the forefront of academic achievement. The skill is required not only in English/Language Arts, but also in Science, Social Studies, Math, and many other content areas. Epic! also allows teachers to track students' progress and activity. Providing students with a resource to practice reading independently  

Below is a quick video on why Epic! is a great resource and the basics on using Epic! 

The downfall of Epic! Books is that if students don't have the technology resource at hand, they might not be able to access the application at home. Not all districts and/or families have the resources to provide each child with their own tablet or laptop. 

Equity & Inclusion

Epic! is a great resource for students all around. The read-aloud feature provides access for students who may have trouble with reading comprehension and for children with vision impairments. Epic! being an online resource also allows for students to access a digital library from the comfort of their own homes. In the hours that parents might be working in today's society, some children simply don't have access to a local library. A local library might not even be in their neighborhood. Providing Epic! Books as a resource for students allows them to have thousands of books at their fingertips. 

As I researched digital equity and discrepancies within differing communities, I was appalled by the data shared by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) on Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) in 2018. 

Image Source: Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) 

Image Source: ISBE

I chose the data set from 2018 due to the shift to virtual learning in 2019. If students from low-income backgrounds were already struggling in person, what was/is the discrepancy now with a year and a half of virtual learning? 

And yes, standardized testing is not the best tool to measure student performance, but it is a tool that is widely used nationwide. In 2018, students who were considered economically disadvantaged in Grade 3, 76.2% of students who were receiving Free/Reduced Price Lunch were approaching expectations or performing below in English Language Arts. 74.8% of those students were also approaching expectations or performing below in Mathematics. 

Not only are students from low-income families at inequity, but students with disabilities are also at a disadvantage. Many students rely on the accommodations and modifications that were in place in person, but with virtual learning, how were those students receiving said supports?  

Image Source: Tenor

Additional Resources

Please see the additional resources to explore equity and inclusion in education. 

Working Toward Digital Equity in K-12 Education. EdTech. Ari Flewelling shares her thoughts on Digital Equity and how teachers are at the foundation of providing digital equity. 

Digital Equity for All. The National School Boards Association shares the consequences of digital inequity and steps that must be taken to set up student success. 

Digital Equity Goes Beyond Giving Devices to Students. GoGuardian shares how digital equity is not just the provision or lack of resources, but also the supports that are required, such as parent understanding and internet access. 

Digital Equity in Education in the Coronavirus Era. Kids First Chicago expands on the need for internet access for children in Chicago in the midst of virtual learning. 

30+ Tools for Diverse Learners. ISTE shares different tools and platforms to utilize in project-based learning. 

COVID-19 Thrusts Digital Equity to Forefront. International Society for Technology in Education. 

Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Report Card 2019. This document shares the data on the academic performance of students in 2019.