Today I am reflecting upon the ‘digital divide’ via the means of a visual aid Infographic I created with the program Piktochart. I found this program a challenge however, I found viewing peer’s infographics facilitated a visualised meaning to a complex topic for a deeper understanding. I myself may be a spatial Learner am very creative and made many connections to this topic. Within a classroom infographics may aid students who are visual (spatial) learners serving as an added means to understand a topic.
(L. K. Silverman, Ph.D., and Jeffrey N. Freed, M.A.T. 1991) have found “visual imagery” plays an important role in spatial learners, learners found to be failing may directly result in failure due to teachers strategies employed within classrooms. Piktochart can become an aid for a teacher to create an infographic for the students or a tool for student to create visual meaning to express ideas some students may have trouble in expressing in writing or orally.
Lastly, I would like to reflect upon the meaning ‘digital divide’ and how a school can become a facilitator of technology. Countries can be divided by wealth and socio-economic status; therefore, the instances of changing technologies, access to internet connections for individuals, schools, employers and so forth can reflect and present as a ‘divide’ of the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ (Howell, 2012). This is where it is proposed that a school provides a digital-expectancy; expecting the teacher to bridge the gap between what a families can provide in terms of digital literacy to enable student to exceed in future careers or learnings.
I encourage you to watch these videos about spatial learners.
Other important links.
- How to use Picktochart in the classroom video
References
Howell, J. (2012). Teaching with ICT: Digital Pedagogies for Collaboration & Creativity: Oxford University Press.
L. K. Silverman, Ph.D., and Jeffrey N. Freed, M.A.T. (1991)Dyslexia.com,. (2014). The Visual Spatial Learner. Retrieved 12 May 2014, from http://www.dyslexia.com/library/silver1.htm#ixzz31XzmMrHc
Teaching with technology blog 