Implementation of Technology in Multicultural Classrooms

The United States is a “melting pot” of all different types of cultures. What this means for us as teachers is that we need to be able to recognize these different cultures in our classroom and create an environment that is safe. One way to help break down barriers is through the use of technology in the classroom. On my web page I have provided important links that we as teachers can use for strategies within the classroom. I have also provided links to important articles that critique the incorporation of technology.

 Teaching in the United States has become so much more than just simply teaching the required curriculum of each state. Living in a pluralistic society we as teachers need to address the changing demographics in our classrooms and schools. We must provide a safe environment not only physically, but also mentally. What this means is that we need to address stereotypes and disengage them. We need to relieve oppression through accurate education of history and knowledge of current groups. We need to focus on the similarities between groups more so than differences. As facilitators within the classroom we can promote cooperative learning and recognize multiple intelligences. We want to create a thirst for learning about others just as much as learning about subjects.
 Through technology students are able to communicate with other students within the United States and with other people from different countries. They can use e-mail to receive letters instantly and access chat rooms to discuss topics relevant to class material. This is a way to break down barriers. Students are also able to access the internet to use as a tool for research. CD-Roms and Laser Discs are also another important venue to access information. 
 Barriers can not only be broken down outside of the classroom, but also inside. Students are able to work cooperatively on projects with a common goal. Programs such as PowerPoint and Hyper-studio can enhance instruction. Students are able to direct their own learning rather than being directed. These programs give students the ability to access different intelligences as well. They can take charge of their own learning.
 Before we begin to incorporate technology in the classroom we need to first find out if it is benefiting and enhancing learning. Therefore, we first need to critique technology to see if it providing real life learning rather than reinforcement of rote activities. Rote activities will not help break down barriers in the classroom but rather create a more introverted environment. We want students to work together.

Articles:

Enhancing Multicultural Education With Technology

This paper focuses on different strategies and instructional methods within technology in which as we as educator can use to implement in our diverse classrooms. It supports the idea that textbooks are not enough to keep up with the changing times.

http://www.coe.uh.edu/insite/elec_pub/HTML1997/di_alle.htm

Issues of Feminism and Multicultural Education for Educational Technology

This article focuses upon promoting unity and reducing stereotyping within the classroom. The author advocates creating a venue in which people from different cultures and ethnicities are able to live together.

http://it.coe.uga.edu/itforum/paper38/paper38.html

Six Criteria for Technology Integration in Multicultural Classrooms

The author of this article lists 6 criteria in order to implement technology in classrooms successfully. They are: 1) cultural awareness, 2) instructional relevance, 3) classroom environment, 4) equitable access to technology, 5) instructional flexibility, and 6) technology integration.

http://www.coe.uh.edu/insite/elec_pub/HTML1997/di_chis.htm

Implementing Technology in Education: Recent Findings From Research & Evaluation Studies

This article suggests the approach to implementing technology based on the authors 25 years of experience in this area plus the findings of the studies related to technology implementation. Eleven basic steps for district, school level, and classroom planning are suggested.

http://www.fwl.org/techpolicy/recapproach.html

Websites:

New Horizons: 8^th Floor "Multicultural Education"

New Horizons is a foundation which promotes Multicultural Education. This particular website address provides articles, cultural websites, links to reading on the internet, and links to colleges and organizations with web resources.

http://www.newhorizons.org/multicultural.html

http://horizon.unc.edu/projects/issues/papers/Penny.asp

http://www.ncbe.gwu.edu/miscpubs/jeilms/vol14/chisholm.htm

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/

Center for Multilingual Multicultural Research

http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~cmmr/Technology.html

This page provides links to sites that have concentrated on intercultural and multilingual networking using global learning networks. Full text articles are provided.

http://www.iecc.org/

The IECC (Intercultural E-mail Classroom Connections) mailing lists are provided by St. Olaf College as a free service to help teachers and classes link with partners in other countries and cultures for e-mail classroom pen pal and project exchanges. The list provides IECC for K 12 and for Institutes of Higher Learning.

Multicultural Pavilion: Multicultural Discussion Forum

http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/multicultural/

This site provides resources and dialogues for educators, students, and activists. Specifically, teachers are able to dialogue with educators around the world through the Pavilions E-mail Discussion Forum and explore opportunities to share ideas and resources. The Teachers Corner provides resources and tools for educators of all levels for multicultural curriculum. Other links provided are Awareness Activities and Multicultural Paths.

http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/multicultural/net/net.html

Strategies and teaching tools to enhance multicultural teaching practices.