ISTE Digital Equity SIG Explores International and National Digital Divide

From the members of the Digital Equity SIG, guided by Mila Fuller of ISTE, and the Chairperson, Bonnie Bracey Sutton , CoChair Joyce Pittman, and Bob McLaughlin outgoing chair, created a summit that laid the vision for the digital equity work that will be a part of the ISTE outreach to the educational community in a coming initiative.

Facing National and International Challenges: Bridging the Gap

To narrow the digital divide, we need to identify resources and strategies that break down barriers. By using new digital strategies and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) systems such as ubiquitous tools, we can work toward developing an operational definition of digital equity.

We believe that sharing stories and engaging in a global dialogue can improve the economic, political and social quality of life for individuals, communities and countries around the world. Because of digital opportunities, we believe people everywhere can benefit from what we call digital equity.

The Summit

Attendees participated in a national and international conversation addressing critical digital equity issues facing schools and the community. At the summit, attendees had an opportunity to gain information on current progress and proven solutions being implemented nationally and internationally. Strategies centered on broadening participation in STEM, maximizing the use of Web 2.0. tools, and best practices on how E-Learning can impact digital equity.We also addressed strategies for involving diverse learners.

Participants of the Panel that followed were

Expert Panel Discussion moderated by Dr. Joyce Pittman, or Ph.D.
SIGDE Co-Chair
Introduction by Pia Wilson-Body, Intel Education

Panelists
Laura Sujo de Montes, New Mexico State University

David Thornburg, Thornburg Center

Ashanti Jefferson, Chicago Public Schools

Albert Byers, National Science Teachers Association



The Summit featured a keynote address from Paul Resta, founding ISTE president and director of the Learning Technology Center at the University of Texas at Austin. Resta named essential conditions for digital inclusion at the global level.


He shared examples of how communities can move away from the digital divide and toward "digital opportunity." He pointed to the United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) new Digital Opportunity Index as a tool for gauging movement toward digital opportunity.
Resta also cited the recent release of UNESCO's competency standards for teachers. "ISTE played a key role in helping to formulate these competency standards, and it's very fortuitous that ISTE updated their standards for teachers around the same time," he said.

Adobe Camp

Last week was amazing at Adobe Camp with about 100 Adobe Education Leaders from around the world. Hearing about all of the great things that are being done for digital equity was a wonderful experience. Here is a link to the members of the Adobe Educational Leaders group.

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