Equal Tech for All!

I found the two articles to be quite interesting. I think its a good topic to think about after learning all the ways that technology could benefit the classroom experience.
Its hard for me to stop and think about students who have limited tech resources. For me, the availability of tech is very high on my priorities. I won't move to areas that have limited high speed internet. I also require my own computer in any living situation, I can't share :(
When I start teaching, it will be important for me to realize that not all students have the resources that I have. I will need to work with those students to make sure they have other ways the access the assignment or maybe even have an alternative assignment. I would like to be able though to provide these students with forms of tech because "In 1992, the U.S. Department of Labor’s SCANS report noted that at least 80% of all jobs in the next two decades would require workers to be technologically fluent." I could give all the alternative work to these tech limited students that I want but I'm still not going to be giving them the proper skills to succeed in our economy. I need to work towards opening more doors!

I will need to push for more computers in my class. I will try to write grants and raise money other ways in order to provide my students with the proper tech. Its nice to see the "netbook" industry really take off because now computer computers are more commited to building affordable machines that do all the basic tasks that a student would need. I'll also make sure to explore all the local options wherever I end up teaching. Freegeek.org is an awesome place that I would totally use if I remain in the area. However, there is access at libraries and other schools that I'm sure students could use.

OLPC is a program that is currently going on in other countries that is working towards giving elementary students free access to computers. Students are provided with durable educational tools. I wish we could work towards something like here in this country for older students to use in the classroom. I know the need here in the US isn't as great as third world countries, but I think its still something that will help even out our society by narrowing the tech gap between students.