Jennifer Powers notes that multiliteracies promotes democracy in that
“[d]emocracy involves a conversation where all voices are heard” (14). While the use of technology under the banner of multiliteracies gives students more tools into the curriculum and opportunity to demonstrate their talents, does it privilege students who can afford access to these technologies? Can multiliteracies’ technologies help democracy if we are fixed on the latest, newest, greatest and often the most expensive? How can multiliteracies promote democracy when access to technologies isn’t democratic or equal? What will happen to students from lower social economic stratas? How do we balance increased accessibility for some students and decreased accessibility for other students? Going back to Social Foundations, what are the social equity issues? Do students who has less access, have less democracy? Are their voices heard, muffled or silenced? How can we help them be heard?
It is evident that the privileged, or wealthy students have a greater chance at excelling due to the fact that they can buy the "latest and greatest" technology for learning. But, can a wealhy student who has everything at their disposal excell above the average student who has the will and drive to become the best they can be? I dont think so, but we all know that it isnt high grades that control the democratic system...its wealth.
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for taking the time to comment. I agree with how you frame the debate between individual exceptionalism/drive of excelling students against the systematic structures that favor wealth. It's who you know, not what you know, right? I don't know what to think because as member of an immigrant family I have been on both sides of the poverty line. My family and I are very fortunate now, but does a system that has worked for us, work for all vulnerable people? Given the fallout from the recession and the maintenance of those institutions who caused the recession, the system is obviously broken. How do you maintain faith in the systems whether they be education, government, judiciary etc? Like me, do laugh when Stephen Colbert and John Stewart switch Superpac control but cringe too? When will citizens unite against the Citizen United ruling? Despite what Mitt Romney says, “ I’ll believe a corporation is a person, when Texas executes one!” Thanks for letting me rant :)
DeleteI completely agree with your concerns about students getting the most out of using new technology in the classroom if the money and resources simply are not there. I think it is a valid concern (that I also have, especially after being on my first practicum where the technology was VERY limited). I also think that it can be possible to use what you have (even if the resources are limited), like we said in class, you can have all of resources, but if you don't know how to use them in an authentic, beneficial way then it is almost useless to use at all for educational purposes.
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