Field+Based+Activities+Reflection+VI.C

Standard VI.C - Identify and use technology resources that affirm diversity (Williamson & Redish, 2009). Full disclosure: I hate politically correct attempts at celebrating diversity. We ARE diverse. At my school, in my neighborhood and in my family, we LIVE diversity every single day. Check out my name: Patel. My husband is from India, and my children are half-breeds - half Indian; half Texan (but born in Wisconsin). I have never in my life lived in an eclave; my children didn't attend a predominately white school until they went to Baylor University. Our friends and family are gay, straight, flaming liberal, staunch conservative, white, hispanic, asian, black, gun toters, and gun control advocates. Having said that, I know that there are still plenty of people out there who need a dose of diversity, which is why these kind of standards are written into our curriculum.

Now, that I can step off my soapbox, I'll comment on my activites with regard to this standard. One activity has already been discussed - installing text to speech software on all campus computers so that students who learn better by listening have that option. As popular as the idea of diversity is, a quick search of Rose and Meyer (2002), Wiggins and McTighe (2005), Pitler,Hubbell, Kuhn & Malenoski (2007) and Solomon and Schrum (2007) indices turned up nothing under "diversity." An internet search turned up an article. According to the author, " Education in the United States is notoriously deficient with respect to teaching for global civic competence, diversity, and social justice" (Diaz, Massialas, & Xanthopoulus, 1999; Sleeter, 1992; Tye, 1999, as cited by Gaudelli, 2006). He offers online distance learning as means to bridge this deficiency.

For my own activity, I was given the task of assembling a summer reading list. I noticed the diversity of the offerings. There were Spanish language books, books of every genre, diverse reading levels, books with settings in countries around the world, books that offer varying religious and political views. What better way to showcase the diversity of the summer reading list than with a well prepared webpage showcasing the books? The webpage features images of the book covers, as well as descriptions of the storyline. The offerings truly represent the diversity of our students, and I was happy to showcase that. It was an activity with regards to diversity was not offensive to me because it was real; not manufactured. How nice it will be when society is as naturally diverse as that reading list and our student body.

References

Gaudelli, W. (2006 winter). Convergence of technology and diversity: Experiences of two beginning teachers in web-based distance learning for global/multicultural education. Teacher Education Quarterly. Retrieved on May 10, 2013 from []

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E. R., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). //Using technology with classroom instruction that works//. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Rose, D. H., Meyer, A., & Meyer, F. (2002). //Teaching every student in the digital age, universal design for learning//. Association for Supervision & Curriculum.

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). //Web 2.0, new tools, new schools//. Eugene, OR: Intl Society for Technology in Education.

Wiggins, G. P., & McTighe, J. (2006). //Understanding by design//. Prentice Hall.

Williamson, J. & Redish, T. (2009). I // STE's technology facilitation and leadership standards: What every K-12 leader should know and be able to do //. Eugene, Or: International Society for Technology in Education.