Providing Equitable Access to Technology

Forsyth County Schools currently have four Windows based computers connected to the Internet in each classroom. There are four computer labs with 30 computers available for all students and seven mobile laptop labs, each consisting of ten computers. Each high school also has ten stand alone laptops that are designated for student checkout through the school’s Media Specialist. Full-time teachers have a notebook computer with Internet access and email via Microsoft Outlook. Limited funds have prevented the district from providing laptop computers to part-time teachers. Microsoft Office Professional suite or Open Office is installed on every classroom desktop and teacher laptop. Additional district supported software includes Inspiration, Kidspiration, Pixie 2, the Macromedia web design suite, Google Earth and Sketchup, ActivStudio, Windows Movie Maker and Photostory. All permanent classrooms are equipped with an Interactive Whiteboard, mounted projector, DVD/VCR player, sound system, and scanner. The high school has its own Instructional Technology Specialist who acts as the school technology coordinator and provides instructional resources and training to help teachers integrate technology into instruction. Teachers have access to a wide variety of software and Internet resources, which includes NetTrekker, Safari Montage, United Streaming, Questia, BrainPOP and digital textbooks, allowing textbooks to be accessed by teachers and students via the Internet. (Evans, 2009)
Forsyth County’s technology plan states that “with almost 18,000 computers and a student computer ratio of 2.37 to 1, computers are readily available to students. However, there is great interest in moving to a 1:1 computer ratio. The greatest factor that impedes progress on this goal is the lack of technical personnel to support such an implementation” (Evans, 2009, p. 3). According to the Instructional Technology Specialist at North Forsyth High School, the county is currently doing a pilot project, supplying Netbook computers to one entire classroom. North Forsyth High School has expanded this project by purchasing 30 more Netbooks to be used in one additional classroom. Success of this pilot project has yet to be determined. (personal communication, May 26, 2010)
The “digital divide” is most commonly defined as the gap between those individuals and communities that have, and do not have, access to the information technologies that are transforming our lives.
“Almost half of Americans do not have Internet access at home and only 25 percent of America's poorest households are online compared with approximately 80 percent of homes earning over $75,000. Only around 30 percent of youth in the lowest household income category use computers at home compared to over 90 percent of youth in the highest income category. Even more striking is the fact that this gap has expanded in recent years. Similar disparities can be found among populations with limited formal education. Hispanics (31.8 percent) and African Americans (39.8 percent) lag behind whites (59.9 percent) in Internet access at home, suggesting serious ethnic and racial divides” (Dickerd & Schneider, 2002).

In Forsyth County Schools’ Three-Year Technology Plan, the superintendent expressed that “a growing concern is student access to the Internet at home” (Evans, 2009, p 5). To alleviate part of this concern, county high schools have computers available on campus before and after school for students. At North Forsyth High School, the media specialist stated that an average of 75 students utilizes the computers in the media center computer lab before school and an average of 7 utilize these computers after school. Of the ten laptop computers available for checkout to the students, an average of 4 computers is checked out each day. (personal communication, March 12, 2010) Because of Forsyth County’s emphasis on technology in its schools, it has become increasingly important for students and their parents to have both computer and Internet access at home. Currently, teachers are required to post grades to the Internet for parental access and teachers are also encouraged to publish homework and class information to Angel, the county’s learning management system. Parents can view grades, homework assignments, progress reports and other information provided by teachers via the Internet. The online student information system called Infinite Campus Parent Portal has over 9,000 parents registered. Parents are able to replenish lunch money, receive alerts and school notices and access bus routes and transportation pick up times via the Internet. This portal allows parents to stay up-to-date on their students’ grades, but also their class activities, upcom¬ing work, and any disciplinary ac¬tions. Portal accounts are also available to middle and high school students. Through student portal, students can view their own progress while at home or at school. Student access to technology at home is made possible through Citrix, which enables the student access to their documents and files, as well as the school system’s software programs such as Open Office. (Evans, 2009) Directions for accessing Citrix are available for the public on the Forsyth County Schools website.

Dickerd & Schneider. (2002). The digital divide: Where we are. Retrieved June 9, 2010 from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-divide-where-we-are-today

Evans, B. (2009). Forsyth county schools: Three year technology plan. (2009). Retrieved on June 10, 2010 from http://forsyth.schoolwires.com/129410616215017890/lib/129410616215017890/ForsythTechPlan2009-2012-forweb.pdf?129410616215017890Nav=|&NodeID=5817