1. Mind
the Gap
The Participation Gap
by Alonda Hassell

2. Participation Gap
The fundamental inequalities in young people’s access to
new media technologies and the opportunities for
participation they represent
“Media literacy helps students
acquire the critical thinking
skills they need to access,
analyze, evaluate, create, and
participate with the powerful
images, words, and sounds
through which much
information is delivered in the
21st century.”
Tessa Joll, CEO
Center for Media Literacy
“Embedding media literacy
into the curriculum
and more importantly, into the
habits of mind of students is
a multi-year process...
we learn not for school but for life.”
Sue Sadler
Hathaway Brown Associate Head

3. ~~being online~~
Students have unlimited access to the Internet
Students are fully immersed in technology
Students’ access to the Internet and to technology
increases their social skills and social competencies
Students’ capacity to think and learn in new ways is
expanded

4. The Have-Nots
going online
going online
Many students have access to the Internet for about 20
minutes per day between school and the public library
Students are unable to store original work or researched
information for future work
Students face major restrictions on websites for fear of
accessing inappropriate content
Access to email and social networking is limited

5. The availability and use of
educational technology in public schools 2009
educational technology in public schools 2009
97% of teachers had one or more computers located in the classroom every day
54% could bring computers into the classroom.
Teachers reported that they or their students used computers in the classroom during instructional time often (40%)
or sometimes (29%). Teachers reported that they or their students used computers in other locations in the school
during instructional time often (29%) or sometimes (43%).
Teachers reported having the following technology devices either available as needed or in the classroom every
day: projectors (36% 48%, respectively), interactive whiteboards (28% and 23%, respectively), and digital cameras
(64% and 14%, respectively).
Of the teachers with the device available, the percentage that used it sometimes or often for instruction was 57% for
interactive whiteboards, and 49% for digital cameras.
My students working with both new media literacy
(SmartBoard and laptop) and traditional literacy
(writing a story board on the white board) while
creating an original comic strip.

6. Digital Natives - youth who were born
into and raised in the digital world
Digital Immigrants - adults who are not
immersed into the digital world
Digital Natives - Digital Immigrants =
Ethics Challenges and Limitations
Digital Natives + Digital Immigrants =
Connections and Positive Learning

7. Students using technology to
learn about the effects of
bullying
COMMON CORE Standard 8.1 Educational Technology (By the end of 12th grade)
ALL STUDENTS WILL USE DIGITAL TOOLS TO ACCESS, MANAGE, EVALUATE, AND SYNTHESIZE INFORMATION IN
ORDER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLABORATIVELY TO CREATE AND COMMUNICATE
KNOWLEDGE.
quipped
schools are not e
Many
to meet
chnology needed
with the te
tandards
e common core s
th
Percentage of students who rely
on school or the library to access
the Internet:
Blacks - 45%
Hispanics - 39%
White - 15%
Asians - 11%
Schools lacking in technology
only add to the participation gap
for students

8. So, now what?
Educators must incorporate more technology in daily classroom
lessons - blogs, email, educational websites like bookflix and free
rice, newsletters, etc.
Educators must be trained and equipped to use technology; they
must be open to new techniques to best reach all students
SmartBoards, iPads, laptops, desktops, media centers - all are
necessary to enhance lessons and encourage participation
Schools should offer more access to blocked sites like social
networking and gaming to allow the connection between digital
natives and digital immigrants. This will allow teachers to use
common sites and student interests as lessons
Libraries must provide greater access to technology via desktops,
laptops, iPads and tablets, and more
Parents and educators should provide thumb drives or teach
students how to use email and dropbox to store work properly
Schools should offer before and after school cyber cafe’s that afford
students to conduct research, complete homework, check and send
emails and more to help disadvantaged students stay connected

9. References
Bergman, J. (2012, October 24). Students without access to technology create a digital divide. Retrieved December, 4
http://flipped-learning.com/?p=1041
Fast Facts: Educational Technology. (2009). Retrieved December 7, 2013 from,
http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=46
Gowen, Annie. (2009, December 06).
Lack of computer access hampers some students. Retrieved December 1, 2013 from,
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-12-06/news/36831210_1_computer-lab-free-computers-lack-of-computer-acce
Jenkins, Henry. (2008, February 6). Audio - Combating the Participation Gap: Why new media literacy matters. Retriev
http://www.ischool.berkeley.edu/newsandevents/events/dls20080206
Joll, T. (2010, September 8). Hathaway Brown discovers the power of media literacy for students in the 21st century. R
http://www.medialit.org/sites/default/files/eschoolnewsHB%5B1%5D.pdf
Long, Cindy. (2008, March). Mind the Gap. Retrieved November 15, 2013 from,
http://www.nea.org/home/15468.htm
Walton, B. (2013, September 4). Retrieved December 7, 2013 from http://www.itclearning.com/blog/?p=1868
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-12-06/news/36831210_1_computer-lab-free-computers-lack-of-computeraccess

10. References
Bergman, J. (2012, October 24). Students without access to technology create a digital divide. Retrieved December, 4
http://flipped-learning.com/?p=1041
Fast Facts: Educational Technology. (2009). Retrieved December 7, 2013 from,
http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=46
Gowen, Annie. (2009, December 06).
Lack of computer access hampers some students. Retrieved December 1, 2013 from,
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-12-06/news/36831210_1_computer-lab-free-computers-lack-of-computer-acce
Jenkins, Henry. (2008, February 6). Audio - Combating the Participation Gap: Why new media literacy matters. Retriev
http://www.ischool.berkeley.edu/newsandevents/events/dls20080206
Joll, T. (2010, September 8). Hathaway Brown discovers the power of media literacy for students in the 21st century. R
http://www.medialit.org/sites/default/files/eschoolnewsHB%5B1%5D.pdf
Long, Cindy. (2008, March). Mind the Gap. Retrieved November 15, 2013 from,
http://www.nea.org/home/15468.htm
Walton, B. (2013, September 4). Retrieved December 7, 2013 from http://www.itclearning.com/blog/?p=1868
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-12-06/news/36831210_1_computer-lab-free-computers-lack-of-computeraccess