I recently conducted a random survey of a few educators across America, and I asked them what was working and not working in remote learning (See the blog of April 10, Remote Learning, Remote Voices.) Of course, technology usage was a common theme. But something else emerged: a new digital divide.
It used to be the only digital divide was between those students who had access to the internet and those who didn’t. But in remote learning we’re seeing students who have access to the internet but have two types of teachers: teachers who know how to use digital tools - and teachers who don’t know how to use digital tools. While the first group of teachers are working Padlets, GoNoodle, Nearpod, Dotstorming, and Mentimeter into their lessons, the second group is still figuring out how to use basic platforms. And their students are paying the price.
I’ve come across these comments in my survey and in my trainings:
· “I wish I’d done more to learn about what Google can do…”
· “If I could do it again, I’d make sure the students already knew how to log in and use it to…”
· “I’m having to adjust to this technology the same time I’m adjusting to remote learning…”
Why weren’t these teachers using technology? It’s partly out of fear. I’ve been lucky enough to train over a thousand educators in the past few years about the power of digital tools, and here are some excuses I hear from teachers who have access to the school internet and plenty of Chromebooks but haven’t had their students use much technology in their classes.
· “That’s for young teachers. I’m too old for this stuff.”
· “I need more inservice on how to do it. I need someone to show me.”
· “These kids need me more than their computers.”
· “What if I lose control?”
Here are my quick responses to the excuses. It’s about mindset, not age. I’m a Baby Boomer, and if I can use digital tools then so can my fellow Baby Boomers (and the Gen X’ers). If we wait for inservices and training, we’ll never get there. Things are changing too quickly. I’m no expert in digital tools, but I figure out how to use them. And sometimes I fail. That’s okay. If we wait until we’re experts, we’ll never get there; we’ll never use the tools. Jumping into digital tools is like jumping into a pool. You just have to jump in and start swimming around. It’s true students need teachers. Remote learning has shown this again and again. But this is Gen Z. They also need to plug in and fly. We have to guide them, not hold them back. And there are times we might not be sure where their creative answers are going to take them. The age of control is over; we are in the age of guided experimentation.
Here's a salute to the principals and teachers who are swimming, diving, and dog paddling all over the digital pool. In the “new normal,” there can be no more excuses for the others. Every teacher who has students old enough to log in needs to know how to use a variety of digital tools and when to use them. And the same goes for administrators. They need to be modeling, more than ever, how to use digital tools in staff meetings, PLC meetings, and inservices. It will make everyone more effective and get them ready in case there are more school closings.
This is one digital divide we can bridge.