As a leader in educational technology, what can you do to help make emerging technologies valuable to others, while maintaining gender, cultural, and socioeconomic sensitivity?
The biggest obstacle to making emerging technologies valuable to others is the cost factor. No matter what gender or cultural background a person has, their socioeconomic level matters. It can be something that can make miracles happen, but if the money is not there, none of that matters. I would try through grants to provide access to those people of these economic levels. To be competitive in the world of today, people who do not have much needs all the help they can get. In the United States, where the culture does not have an influence in the use of technology, there is still a big digital divide. The haves, have a whole lot more than the have nots.
Additionally, as a leader in educational technology, I would provide ways in which to see how technology could be beneficial on an individual level. According to Thornburg, "Valuable means understanding a culture well enough to help people incorporate new ideas into that culture" (Laureate Ed. 2009). Understanding gender issues and culture issues while pushing technology as an educational tool, should be a great way to help people to understand how these technologies could benefit them. Not only does it help the people of those cultures, but it will help me in understanding the diverse ways in which technology affects different people on a day to day basis. What can be important to one, may not be so important to another. We all can benefit from understanding others and as an educational technology leader this new and deeper understanding will help to allow me to see outside the box when trying to make emerging technologies valuable to others.
Laureate Education, Inc. (2009). Emerging and future technology. Baltimore: Author.
Aretha,
ReplyDeleteI would agree that the biggest factor in promoting new technologies is the socioeconomic level of individuals. This is the biggest hurdle in my county. I have many students who still do not have computers at home because parents can not afford it or the Internet. Meanwhile in my household every member has a computer, phone, and music device. I can't imagine not having these items, but years ago we couldn't afford these items. I am grateful that we can now, but I understand the hurdle that many parents face today.
Great post!