Great resources on Digital Equity from CoSN (free)

As schools go more and more digital with systems, curriculum, assignments and more, they face the need to provide equity in digital access for their students. Student devices are part of it, but so is internet access at home.

This year has seen a huge increase in attention to "Digital Equity" or the "Digital Divide". Here are some great free resources from CoSN ( Consortium for School Networking ) that can help you understand the issue, and address it.

Digital Equity Action Toolkit

Students without home access to high quality broadband connectivity are at a disadvantage, unable to realize the full power of digital learning. Only 3 percent of teachers in high-poverty schools said that their students had the digital tools necessary to complete homework assignments, compared to 52 percent of teachers in more affluent schools, a discrepancy sometimes labeled the "homework gap."

To address this key challenge, CoSN launched the Digital Equity Action Agenda initiative. This effort highlights how some school districts are building meaningful community partnerships and creating tools to help district leaders get started in achieving digital equity.

Our new toolkit provides educational leaders with the information they need to address digital equity in out-of-school learning. As a member said:

"The CoSN Digital Equity Action Toolkit is the best and most practical document I have seen on this topic." --Devin Vodicka, Superintendent, Vista USD, California

Download the ToolKit here: http://www.cosn.org/digital-equity-action-toolkit-february-2016


Digital Equity Infographic (click to go to original PDF)

More resources

Digital Divide Resources

Digital Literacy Resources

Digital Equity Resources






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eTextbooks, Textbooks, iPads - what are the costs?

Last month, Apple announced iBooks2 with the main focus being on electronic textbooks for education. I wrote my initial thoughts, concerns, and observations then and am still a skeptic due to costs and access to devices. iPads are expensive ($500) and then add in the costs of the iBooks ($14.99) for each student. Most schools are in the red and have no money for devices. Instead, I like device and OS agnostic, free apps and e-textbooks, along with free web resources. There are a bunch of links below for more on that.

Here is a great infographic that goes through the costs of iPads and iBooks vs. traditional textbooks. It's an interesting comparison.

Related:

Apple Announces iBooks2 E-Textbooks - my initial thoughts

On device apps/software vs. web apps - which is better for schools?

Obama wants all students using digital textbooks - I ask where the $ are coming from

Resources to Replace Textbooks

What I use with Physics classes instead of textbook

CK-12 Free Digital Textbooks

150 Free Textbooks

The How's, Why's and Value of Educational Technology

10 Important Skills Students need for the Future

Infographic on the digital divide - interesting data

All educators know that students have different access to technology, internet access, prior knowledge and experiences etc. The infographic below has some interesting data on the digital divide including lack of computer and broadband access by poor students, by race and around the world.



Created by: Online IT Degree