Of the six debates, this debate: Technology has led to a more equitable society, finds me on the fence the most. Continue reading to see which side of the fence I fall on and whether telehealth can address my injuries…(Insert paywall)
All jokes aside (humerus-unbroken), I have long been fearful of public/private partnerships in education. Overlord Zuckerberg (Borg-resistance is futile) has unleashed freebasics to soothe the ailments of the unconnected. India has challenged Facebook Meta on the grounds of net neutrality. The concept and reality of Digital or Electronic Colonialism have arrived. As the saying goes, “Nothing is ever free!”
I do believe (despite what you might have heard in Debate 1), technology has the prospects to close gaps in our society. Like the hopes of the Obama administration trying to create a ‘Future Ready’ America, the deployment of technology can strengthen the world of education. While Meta was trying to provide access for everyone, it was potentially going to create a tiered system. This fails to deliver on high-quality, open-source access. Access and deployment of technology are going to be the real problem, as noted by Sarada & Chi in the debate and former US Secretary of Education Duncan.
Jillian and Danielle did well to highlight the digital divide – the rich get richer. The work of Neuman and Celano in the schools of Philly is very telling, telling of the inequality. From this work, access to technology is like compound interest on education. In the affluent neighbourhoods of Philadelphia, technology is an investment in a high-yielding stock. However, in the ‘badlands’ of Philly, technology is more of a credit card, and despite efforts, the result is more debt. The tech is just plastic and metal, but with the proper and necessary support of adults, technology is beneficial. But hear again, the inequity lies in, not everyone has the support of an adult. Perhaps that adult is there but not very knowledgeable themself.
Another point from ‘Future Ready’ was training for teachers, and in reality, I would say adults. The narratives around the COVID-19 shutdown and elementary students sitting at home without proper support are informing the need for knowledgeable supports – human supports. I look at the stories of laptops being handed out in African nations like Sierra Leone and wonder if it is an attempt at equity or feel-good fuel? Well, based on this research from Kenema, Sierra Leone, one of the needs identified is to invest in technology. Perhaps the deployment of devices can be beneficial.
If you’re still reading, you know that I forgo the profiting of knowledge (no paywall) but probably are keen to know what side of the fence I fall…I AGREE that technology provides equity. I didn’t even touch on Assistive Technology and the benefits for our students with unique needs. It would be the death blow to the disagree side. Of course, if I did fall, 811 wasn’t going to do much beyond tell me to seek in-person healthcare. Something to ponder: Are we really building a fairer future for everyone, or are we just letting it amplify the world’s inequalities?
Hey Dustin. Ok your post had me laughing out loud – I appreciate the references to (perhaps inadequate) online medicare and I’ll say that your poetic ‘pondering on a fence’ photo to start was a nice touch.
I also found this to be the most challenging debate topic and found myself on a metaphorical fence more than with previous votes. While I conclude my blog post by saying that no, tech doesn’t lead to a more equitable society, it really could have gone either way. Your ending question – ”are we really building a fairer future for everyone, or are we just letting it amplify the world’s inequalities?” – sums up my thoughts. While I do see the potential in tech to close equity gaps, I think it does a better job amplifying societal inequities. Technology, when used well, can be a tool to combat some of these perhaps. Lots to consider this week – hmm.
Teagan Bryden
Thanks for enjoying my post Teagan. There are definitely days when if asked cold, I would probably go the other way with my opinion. I agree that technology is an amplifier of inequity, but we now need to tune in address the issues.
Hi Dustin,
Thanks for your entertaining post! I agree that this was a difficult debate and that there are strong arguments on both sides. I feel that strides are being made to create more equity but we have a long way to go. Unfortunately, it seems that in our society, the people with the money (Zuckerberg, Bezos, and friends) are the ones making the decisions about sharing technology and infrastructure and I wouldn’t trust them as far as I could throw them 🙂
I think your point about training the adults is super important! We need teachers and parents to recieve training for a lot of this technology before we can help kids understand it.
Thanks again for a great post!
Thanks Carol. Corporate greed and control are real fears in my life. I agree that training is important, but like a lot of issues, I haven’t figured the best way to engage and inform parents in a meaningful way.
Hi Dustin,
I appreciate the levity of a sometimes depressing topic. I also enjoyed the imagery you provided for some of your points. I also fear the world of 2-tiered education due to corporate investment and paywalls to beneficial software. I hesitantly disagree that assistive tech is the “deathblow” to the Nays, but I think it puts up a strong fight. I feel that some of the assistive tech is helping provide equity in our schools. However, not all schools are able to afford this tech (or have trained staff), or there are programs with specialized tech that is only available for the residents of that region (queue BCI 4 Kids). That being said, I have seen the benefits of assistive tech in the class, hence why I hesitate to disagree.
Now, I really appreciated how you added the US “Future Ready” program. I think we can get pigeon holed (at least I do) in the negative aspects of where our tech is today, and are blind to policies that are being put into place to address the inequity in countries. This was a fleeting ray of positivity that there are programs working towards equity in the hurricane of capitalism. I also agree that this is a human support problem, and doesn’t solely rest on the shoulders of teachers. How we address this in a meaningful way is another question. But, admitting there is a need is at least a small step towards addressing the issue.
Hey Dustin, before this class, I had never heard the term “digital colonialism,” but now that I have heard it I don’think there is a better way to describe the reality we are living in the digital world. As with all forms of colonialism, I am curious to see how those being manipulated by the system respond once enough people get fed up with being taken advantage of – if we ever hit that tipping point.
I love the analogy you made about access to technology in Philly being dependent on your “neighbourhood” and it really does boil down to the support that the tech is paired with.