The Digital Divide and Software Tools

     Hello all! This is blog journal five and will be going over my early experiences with Twitter, the digital divide, academic software, and badges. Hopefully you all glean something from my commentary and enjoy!

    The first time I made a Twitter account was this month, so I haven't had too much time with it. However, I have had exposure to twitter through other social media accounts and media. Through Instagram and News stories I have seen tweets and have gained knowledge of twitter through that way. Now that I have an account I have gained experience tweeting and receiving tweets, as well as getting direct information from educational platforms. Twitter has created more connections, which I imagine will help in my future career creating and maintaining professional contacts. I look forward to how Twitter can be furthered used to help develop my connections and learning. 

    Unfortunately, there is a digital divide today where some people have less, to no, access to technology and the internet. This divide is usually contrasted between differing areas. For example, many rural areas typically have less technological opportunities than more populated areas. This contrast can also be seen between wealthy and poor families, with the wealthy having more access to technology than the poorer families. This creates a disparity in the technological knowledge and skills different people from differing backgrounds have, with those with less technological access at a disadvantage. This can be seen once those people reach higher education or the work force that may need these skills. While both groups typically need training for the specific software, which helps close that gap, those with more experience often have the advantage of greater confidence, experience, and general technological skills. For my future classroom, especially since I live in a more rural area, it will be important to allow equal opportunity for my students. This will mean that any homework or projects that are sent home need to be able to be completed without relying on technology. It is also vital that I give students opportunities to have experience with technology, by utilizing the resources of the schools computer labs and other resources. To give students these experiences can help with this digital divide and allow them to have more opportunities. 

    Two software programs that will be useful for my classroom will be Kahoot and Khan Academy. Kahoot is a fun and informative way for students to feel involved and engaged in the material. Kahoot is a online resource that allows you to create an educational trivia game that students can answer. Khan Academy is an online website that has tutorial videos that help explain and break down math concepts. It also has worksheets and practice problems for students to work with, which can help students understand and engage in the concepts that are taught in class. 

    Badges are a very useful motivation and tool for the classroom. I have had some experience with them, with teachers giving out stars or ribbons as rewards and motivators to excel. In other contexts, I have received medals to mark my achievements in gymnastics. In classroom settings, it can help with behavior, classroom management, student motivation, and encouragement for students. 

    I hope you enjoy this blog entry, and look forward to seeing you guys with the next post!