4pm+Justice-equity+advocates

Increasing technology in the classroom benefits every student, especially those whose strengths do not lie in print-based media.

Goals
 * mastery of learning, or being able to access the curriculum, not memorizing of content
 * "The implicit goal of education will change from homogenization (all students pointed toward one outcome and measured by one yardstick) to diversification - identifying and fostering the inherent diversity among all of them, identifying new kinds of learning, new kinds of teaching, and new kinds of success." (Rose & Meyer, pg 6),

Students with special needs
 * " . . . individuals who are defined as "learning disabled" within print-based learning environments are not the same individuals who are defined as "learning disabled" within video or audio-based learning environments" (Rose & Meyer, pg 4)
 * technology allows for access to curriculum without the hindrance of traditional methods, such as textbooks
 * Assistive technologies: differentiated use of media to assist students (expanded keyboards, speech recognition software, Braille devices, talking word processors, etc.)

Universal Design for Learning
 * "The cornerstone of Universal Design for Learning is flexibility. The UDL approach leverages the inherent flexibility of digital media to support individualized learning".
 * Multiple means of representation, expression, and engagement
 * Educators can individualize student goals for method and assessment

The Digital Divide
 * The gap between the have and have-nots of technology
 * 54% of the US population are using the internet (2002)
 * Students who don't have access are often minority students whose academic performance is statistically below the students who have access
 * Schools in lower income areas do not have the same access to technology in the classroom because of lack of financial resources