Closing the Gap: Digital Equity Strategies for the K-12 Classroom

Closing the Gap:
Digital Equity Strategies for the K-12 Classroom

Guests:
Dr. Nicol Howard, Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator, University of Redlands (CA) (@NicolRHoward)
Regina Schaffer, Future Ready Thought Leader, Instructional Technology Specialist, Middletown Township School District (NJ) (@reginaschaffer)
Dr. Sarah Thomas, Future Ready Instructional Coaches Advisor, Regional Technology Coordinator, Prince George’s County Public Schools (VA) (@sarahdateechur)

Moderator:
Thomas C. Murray, Director of Innovation for Future Ready Schools®, Alliance for Excellent Education (@thomascmurray)

Although incredible progress has been made, equity issues remain prevalent in schools and districts across the country. Historically underserved students often lack the needed access and opportunity that’s often afforded to their more affluent counterparts. What practical steps can educators take to help close digital equity gaps in both access and opportunity, while at home and in the classroom?

This Future Ready Schools® (FRS) webinar highlighted effective approaches to addressing digital inequities in both teacher preparation programs and in schools today; offered recommendations for moving beyond identifying an inequity into recommendations for closing the digital equity gap; and provided practical solutions to support students both in and outside of school.

Attendees will leave with key strategies to support teachers striving for digital equity in their classrooms, beyond device allocations. The ideas put forth in the webinar will challenge teacher educators, principals, and those leading professional learning to create spaces and opportunities for all teachers to apply digital equity practices.

The panelists also shared

  • insight into digital equity issues that remain in today’s schools;
  • practical tips for how to navigate the equity issues; and
  • ways that schools and districts are and can intentionally close the gaps.

Please direct questions concerning the webinar to ldossin@all4ed.org. If you are unable to watch the webinar live, please register to receive the video archive directly in your inbox.


Future Ready Schools® is a project of the Alliance for Excellent Education (All4Ed), a Washington, DC–based national policy, practice, and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that all students, particularly those underperforming and those traditionally underserved, graduate from high school ready for success in college, work, and citizenship.  www.FutureReady.org

Follow FRS on Twitter (twitter.com/FutureReady); Facebook (facebook.com/futurereadyschools); and the FRS Leadership Hub (futureready.org/hub).


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