When thinking about equity in schools, it is fraught with concerns. Our current schooling system was designed from an ableist perspective. I teach in an older school building and the physical structure of the school is not accessible. To get to any room in the school you are committed to climbing at least one long flight of stairs. The school is three stories including the basement. There is a chair lift, but it is only accessible on one side of the school and it is V-E-R-Y slow. There are no push to open switches on doorways. There are segregated classrooms throughout the division for students with exceptionalities. As educators, we have a moral responsibility to help create equitable learning spaces for all students. Students with exceptionalities have a right to belong in schools in all aspects, including when it comes to accessible technology
Bates challenges his reader to consider how their choice of technology and resources are equitable to their students. When considering implementing or incorporating technology resources in my classroom, I need to put the students’ needs first just as I would with in-person teaching. I need to consider my students’ background knowledge, skills, abilities, learning styles, access to technology, and interests when creating content.
When considering my own course, I need to ensure that I include a variety of approaches in order to more effective. I will try to incorporate a variety of textual, auditory, and visual information to make the learning more accessible. I need to also provide a wide variety of ways for students to demonstrate and practice their learning, as some students will find different methods more comfortable than others. For example, some students freeze up when it comes to a quiz (whether online or on paper). Providing students with alternate ways to show what they know is an important step. I plan on incorporating different activities that students can choose from to show their understanding of the topic. Knowing my learners is an essential step in helping to create an accessible and equitable learning space. Click to read a blog post, Technological Equity and Accessibility for Virtual and Hybrid Learning, that has some great tips to improve accessibility for students.
Moving forward, I would like to incorporate new technologies to make the physical environment more accessible. For example, I would like to use Seeing AI. This app would not only benefit learners with visual impairments but it could be helpful for learners with reading difficulties. In addition, it made me rethink my use of any drag and drop digital activities (which unfortunately happens to be a common form of digital activities on Teachers Pay Teachers) and my use of timed activities, such as Kahoot games.
As I reflect on tonight’s class on equity, I am reminded that I need to be constantly aware of how my own positionality influences my perspectives and worldviews. Collaborating with families and students is one way to help create more equitable learning spaces where all students feel a sense of belonging.
Hi Sarah, thank you for sharing your thoughts on equity and accessibility in education. It’s disheartening to hear about the challenges presented by the physical structure of your school, and it emphasizes the importance of creating inclusive learning environments for all students. As educators, it is indeed our moral responsibility to advocate for equitable opportunities for every learner. Your commitment to making your classroom more accessible and equitable is inspiring. Let’s continue to work together to ensure that all students have equal opportunities to thrive in the learning environment. Well done!
Hi Sarah,
This is a great post. Like you, I immediately thought of some of the physical challenges that many students find, just to get into some of the schools around the province. It’s a shame to think that many accessible accommodations are often an after thought in the design of our buildings.
Also, I loved your note on collaboration. Working together with students and families that find areas that are not accessible is important to ensuring that we truly make our schools welcoming to everyone.
Thank you for sharing this post, Sarah!
Your blog post highlights the importance of technological equity in education. It’s crucial to create inclusive learning spaces for all students, considering their diverse needs and access to technology. Your commitment to offering various approaches and assessment methods is amazing. Incorporating new technologies, like Seeing AI, shows your dedication to enhancing accessibility. Collaborating with stakeholders further promotes a sense of belonging and allows students to become advocates for their learning journey.
Keep up the great work!