Journal #6

"Social Justice, Choice or Necessity?" by Colleen Swain and David Edyburn

This article begins with a question. It asks if it should be left to personal choice to integrate technology in a challenging way? It then comments on the current emphasis on the achievement gap and how technology as been over looked. Social justice is the next topic. The article asks what social justice is and then gives a vague and general quote from David Miller. The importance of technology is then addressed. The article mentions how important a firm grasp of technology is in today's world. There are two interesting statistics to reinforce this claim. One is the U.S. departments Labor reports claiming that by the year 2012 80% of jobs will require their workers to be technologically fluent. The other example discusses the ever rising standards imposed on incoming college freshman and the emphasis on technological knowledge.
Examples of technology being used in a inequitable fashion follows. This section is under the heading of "Examining the Framework". This takes a look at how technology if used incorrectly can create barriers to achieving social justice. The authors then give examples of solutions, something not seen enough. The fact that some teachers students and schools still don't have computers and the opportunity for technology is the next point. This is an important point and the following section is a solution for that problem. The next section is "Reflection" and urges the instructor to utilize the time given in contact with technology. It suggest taking notes tracking students and ensuring that time is well spent.The conclusion begins by answering the opening question claiming that today the use of technology is a personal choice. The authors then claim that because the future of students depend on their grasp of technology this use is a matter of social justice.

Question 1:If the use of technology is forced will a greater resentment from older teachers grow? I feel that a resentment may grow but that teacher old and young alike are teaching to benifit their students. If it is proven and known that the use of technology is helpful and practicall ynecesary for the succes of their students most teacher would be on board.

Question 2: Would it be worth investing more in teaching teachers the importance and skills of technology? Absolutley. It is important that our teachers are as well prepared as possible. With the incrtease of our daily use of technology it is important to only to educate new teachers how to use technology but more experienced teachers shouldb e taught as well. Again if the importance of technology is understood by all workshops and other resources should then be made available to more experienced teachers so they too can learn how to use technology.