Journal #6 "Student Voices for change"

McClintock Miller, Shannon. (June/July 2011). Student voices for change. Learning & Leading with Technology, 38(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-june-july-2011.aspx


In the article, "Student voices for change", Shannon McClintock Miller shares the tremendous impact and benefits that technology has had, and continues to have, at Van Meter Community School in Iowa. In 2009 the school  adopted a one-to-one computer initiative in grades 6-12 and a strong technology focus throughout the district. The results have been exemplary and the students of Van Meter are the ones who are voicing and sharing about the positive transformation that technology has brought to their learning and educational experience. Starting last year, the students of Van Meter have been presenting their personal testimonies to state and educational committees, leaving them in awe as students as early as fifth grade voiced their passion and motivation to learn. Their enthusiasm and confidence is the product of being able to showcase their interests and self-expression, locally and globally, through the use of technology. Their learning is no longer confined to the classroom. Most importantly, however, is the leadership role that these students have developed as a result of their educational and creative use of technology in conjunction to the opportunity to be the ones to talk about their experience. 


Question #1: It is clear that technology enhances learning and motivates students to explore their interests, however, what is the cost behind such investment? Is technology creating a bigger divide between those who have access to technology and those who don't?


Technology is by no means cheap and not everyone has access to a computer. The confidence and the motivation of Van Meter students is a testament of what technology can accomplish. My main concern is the availability of those resources and the discrepancy of those who have access and those who do not, especially with the current budget crisis. There's a lot of emphasis in the use of technology, but I think what is missing from the discussion is the digital divide that technology is creating. How can we make the gap smaller? How can we make the access to technology democratic? 


Question #2: Why is it more important for students to voice their experiences to committees than to have the administration present the information? 


Students rarely have a chance to speak their minds. It is always the adults who speak for them, thus appropriating their discourse, their experience. By letting students voice their opinion, we empower them. As a future teacher, I want to collaborate with my students, and listening to their voices is extremely important.