Participate 3.1.1 Access to the Digital Community Quest
- What types of barriers might impede students’ opportunities to access digital learning?
Students might not have access to computer.
The cost of site services might be too high.
The students might not have the software required
Students might now have the knowledge to use the software required for the site.
The first four listed above are not an issue for our students since they are required to have a computer and internet access. (Although many might not have access at home.) We do not use services that cost money, so that is not an issue for us. We also require that the students have the appropriate software. However, the last one if often a huge issue for my students. Many of our labs are virtual labs that run simulations. Many students have trouble getting these applets to run. This is because of their limited knowledge of java and other such programs that must be updated correctly and regularly.
- What might we do to eliminate such barriers?
The public library is an excellent source eliminate the barriers of not having a computer or internet access. Also, most schools now provide these as well.
As I said above, we avoid the cost of site services by using free ones or providing access to all students to sites like Shmoop and USA Test Prep.
In order to eliminate the last issue listed above, I have had to provide detailed information to help students solve java related issues, for example. Here is a document I prepared to help them run a kinetics lab.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vGsIANAqunBKAhiEH947x_ejnMepLKs1Orc56oazbqM/edit?usp=sharing
In addition, I also provided videos that I made of myself running the lab. This allowed students to gather the information even if they could not get the program to work on their computers.