[my Ashford MAIN page] [^^^PNS home page] NOTE: An "SME" - Subject Matter Expert; eg, "an orinthologist". "SMA" - Subject Matter Area; the area of knowledge that the SME is an expert in; eg, "birds". "K-domain" - Knowledge domain. Should be sufficient to locate via googles. Thus "an orinthologist" is an SMA in "birds" (K-domain: aves). Week Four Readings ================== 1. Review Chapter 2 of Teaching and Learning with Technology (pp. 42-77). 2. Read the following Journal Articles: a. Hitchcock, C. & Stahl,S. (2003). Assistive Technology, Universal Design, Universal Design for Learning: Improved Learning Opportunities. Journal of Special Education Technology, 18(4), 45-52. ProQuest Document ID: 569989481 b. Hatton, J. (2002). Diversity: The implications for trainers. Training Journal,16. ProQuest Document ID: 194124051 Diversity: The implications for trainers Jane Hatton. Training Journal. Ely: Sep 2002. p. 16 (2 pages) c. Zhang, J. X. (2001). Cultural Diversity in Instructional Design. International Journal of Instructional Design Media, 28(3), 299. ProQuest Document ID: 79122062 Cultural diversity in instructional design Zhang Jian X. International Journal of Instructional Media. New York: 2001. Vol. 28, Iss. 3; p. 299 (9 pages) d. Digital Divide: http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech041.shtml accessed on 2008.05.12 at 5:48 PCT +10GMT Dept of EDU - reports HOME page: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/index.htm (good luck searching :( - coupons for converter box shades of the free cheese during the Carter era... 1997/1995 Base page: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/net2/ 1997 report http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/net2/falling.html http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/net2/charts.html 1995 - report http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/fallingthru.html http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/tables.htm#Table%201: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/TOP/publicationmedia/newsltr/archivenews.html New digitial divide projects http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org/ BEGIN BLOCK QUOTE (digital divide .org ============================= News Archives -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OK-FIRST Wins Innovation Award OK-FIRST, a 1996 TOP-funded project that delivers lifesaving information to local emergency managers, was selected as one of five winners of the prestigious Innovations in American Government award. The awards program, which is administered by Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and the Council for Excellence in Government and founded by the Ford Foundation, was established to identify and promote excellence and creativity in the public sector. Established in 1996 by the Oklahoma Climatological Survey at the University of Oklahoma, the program provides up-to-the-minute weather data via specialized computer technology. With access to this timely information, emergency management teams can close roads and bridges before they become dangerous, alert rescue crews about storm movements and take other proactive measures to ensure public safety during severe weather. "While we cannot control the weather, OK-First demonstrates that innovative thinking can help government respond to it more quickly," said Stephen Goldsmith, Faculty Director of the Innovations in American Government Program. "It's important that we continue to harness this type of public-sector creativity to improve the lives of American citizens nationwide." In a recent editorial, the Daily Oklahoman noted that, "In a state where weather forecasting is a sophisticated and respected science, the Oklahoma Climatological Survey should be commended for its contribution in protecting the public from severe weather." After highlighting a number of examples of OK-FIRST's role in protecting the public from hazardous storms and tornadoes, spillage of dangerous materials, and wind shifts associated with large fires, the editorial noted that not only had the project made it to the finals of the Innovations in American Government Award competition, but it had also achieved international recognition. Although TOP support ended a couple of years ago, the editorial went on, "the state Legislature wisely continues to appropriate funds to continue this valuable program." This year, the National Selection Committee chose only five winners, instead of its usual 10, out of nearly 1300 entries. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOP's 74 New Awards for FY2001 The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced the award of $42.8 million in Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) grants to 74 non-profit organizations, including state and local governments, across the country and in Puerto Rico. TOP grants, matched by $46.7 million in contributions from the private sector and state and local organizations, extend the benefits of advanced telecommunications technologies to underserved communities and neighborhoods. "We want these grants to demonstrate how the most up-to-date technology can assist the delivery of services to Americans of all ages and backgrounds, improving levels of public safety, public health, public information, homeownership and economic development," said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Nancy J. Victory. "Successful TOP grants recipients share best practices with other non-profit and public sector organizations." View a list of awards Read NTIA's Press Release Access a searchable database of applications submitted to the FY 2001 grant competition -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New, Improved Digital Divide Network The new version of the Benton Foundation's Digital Divide Network has now gone public: www.DigitalDivideNetwork.org If you've visited the site before, you know the general layout, but you might want to check out some of the enhanced features. One of the most important is the new Digital Divide Database, a national directory of over 20,000 digital divide-related services around the country, including places where citizens can get free Internet access and IT training (public libraries, Community Technology Centers, HUD neighborhood network sites, PowerUp sites, TOP grantees, and Urban League centers, among others). Go to DigitalDivideNetwork.org and find the spot on the right-hand side labeled "Get Connected!" Type in a zip code and press the submit button. You'll then be brought to a map with little black circles on it, each circle with a number inside it. These circles represent the location of organizations offering a digital-divide-related service to the community. (a maximum of 30 circles will appear on any map.) If you scroll below the map, you'll see a numbered listing of each of these organizations, including contact information and their URL, when available. Click on an organization's name and a new page will open providing more information about the organization, as well as a zoomed-in street level map and an option to get driving directions to the organization. In the future, the database will be used to service a new Public Service Announcement campaign on broadcast and cable TV networks, funded by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the AOL/Time Warner Foundation, Univision, the Benton Foundation, and over half a dozen other organizations. The campaign will use English and Spanish commercials to encourage young people to get involved in community technology programs in their area. In order to make sure that everyone has access to the organizations listed in the database, the PSAs will include toll-free numbers with English and Spanish-language operators who will help callers identify organizations in their community that can offer them free Internet access and IT training. The website also includes a new search engine that provides access to archives of Digital Divide Network's news stories, feature articles, a calendar of divide-related events and relevant web resources. There is also an option to allow individuals to become members of the Digital Divide Network, with receive email regular updates on what's been posted recently to the website (including direct links to each new item, as well as articles, news stories, events listings, web resources, and recommend organizations, posted by Digital Divide Network members. ======== END BLOCK QUOTE (digital divide .org =============================Discussions
Discussion Forum Communication Participate in the following discussions and respond to at least two of your fellow students' postings and begin a critical debate with them. This will stimulate critical thought and help you recognize theoretical gaps or flaws in basic assumptions, both yours and your classmates. Is there a solution to end the digital divide? As a K-12 teacher or corporate trainer, you will most likely find evidence of the “digital divide” in your class/training rooms. In your posting, please address the following: a. Can technology solve class/training room diversity issues? Explain your answer. b. What are possible solutions to address the technology equity gaps between groups of people? c. What improvements in your instructional strategies can you or will you make in your classroom to address cultural diversity among your students/participants? Respond to at least two of your fellow students’ postings. Full credit will not be given for posts that do not reference course readings. Diversity in Training In the reading called Diversity: The implications for trainers, the author describes ways that you can consider diversity in the workplace. Note one thing you learned from this article that you can use in your work setting or professional practice. Describe an example of how you would implement that learning. Respond to at least two of your fellow students’ postings. Cultural Diversity and Instructional Design In the article called Cultural Diversity in Instructional Design, the author writes about several different ways in which cultural groups consider parameters such as “cooperating,” “time orientation,” “respect,” and “honor to the family.” Cultural background is not simply about ethnicity or race; it also refers to predominant patterns and values that someone is raised with, including religious and social values. Some people are of mixed cultural backgrounds and may be influenced by the value systems of more than one culture. While it is difficult to make generalizations about “culture,” this article discusses several cultural groups in the U.S. In your posting, discuss the following items; then respond to two of your fellow students’ postings. a. What is your cultural background and your resulting preferences for some of these parameters (you do not have to use the exact parameters listed above . . . see the article to find additional parameters discussed by the article’s author)? In your post, you can answer questions such as: What do you consider respectful behavior? How do you regard time? What are your values on cooperation versus individuality? b. How do your values differ from another culture’s values? How would you design training or instruction to take into account cultural modes and values that are not the same as yours? How could you design instruction to take into account all cultural modes?Links