Technology and Education Video Script :

A quality education is one of the most important facets of growing up in America. However since the introduction of the No Child Left Behind act in 2001 Americas Education system has been decreasing in efficiency and has cast a blind eye to the students that need to most assistance, namely impoverished youth. Poverty is not simply the absence of financial resources; it is also the lack of capability to function effectively in society. Living with poverty means that any of the typical amenities afforded by wealth such as; food, water and shelter can become everyday struggles for survival. While this struggling environment can foster a character of hard work and appreciation, it directs focus away from tertiary needs in life such as education. This difference in prioritization often results in lower academic achievement from lower socioeconomic students with studies indicating that wealth is

directly related to academic excellence. Because of this, poverty stricken individuals are often stereotyped as being Lazy, however 83 percent of children from low-income families have at
least one employed parent; close to 60 percent have at least one parent who works full-time and year-round. So if the difference in academic standing is not due to motivation, what is the issue? It is possible that this is due to a difference in both access and understanding of modern day technology. Low income schools have out of date and inadequate technology for their students. A survey conducted in 2008 found that 66% of schools in America have an internet connection slower than 25 Mbs That same year, the State Educational Technology Directors Association suggested that the minimum internet speed for public schools should be 100 Mbs per 1000 individuals. This is in order to facilitate modern applications requiring heavy bandwidth such as email, search engines, and cloud computing. This deficit in internet access can drastically affect student academic performance. In order for students to be able to make the most of their education, they need

access to up-to-date technology. However it is not just a matter of accessibility, it is an issue of skill of use with technology. One study investigated how technological literacy, or a general understanding of technology, can affect academic performance in students grades 4 through 8. There was found to be a significant positive correlation between technological literacy and academic achievement for; 4th-5th graders in reading, math, and language arts, and for 7th-8th graders in math and language arts. One of the reasons this could be the case is the recent change from paper and pencil SOLs to a computerized alternative. Now students are expected to understand how to use technology at a very early age, and be proficient in their keyboarding skills. But what does this have to do with poverty? A study by the National Center for Children in Poverty conducted in 2004 found that children from higher-income households are more than twice as likely as those from the lowest-income households to use a home computer to complete school assignments (77 percent versus 29 percent) and are more

than three times as likely to use a personal computer for word processing or desktop publishing. As we all know, skills and comprehension in any topic come with repetition and experimentation. Low socioeconomic students are not afforded the time or the access to technology to learn these skills. A study by the Annie Casey Foundation in 2000 showed that 94% of inner-city students have no internet access at home. These technological disparities between socioeconomic classes are not properly addressed. Raising awareness about these issues and getting kids involved in their own education can help spark reform. In order to start this reform the general public must be aware of these issues. We suggest getting involved, volunteer at your local school, contact your local school board or government representative and spread the word. (link)