SMMUSD to analyze, bridge technology gaps
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education (BOE) is drafting new plans to provide Internet access to the 20-30 percent of students who don’t have regular means of connecting to the Internet, according to BOE member Ralph Mechur.“We understand that technology is going to play an increasing role in society,” Mechur said. “Thus, the assistant superintendent, Terry Deloria, the Board of Education and District staff members are teaming up to review the use of technology in the district.”“Do we mimic LAUSD and give every student an iPad?" Mechur said. "Do we work with local libraries to allow students access to computers? We’re trying to figure out how technology in the classroom is an important tool and how to provide it among students.”According to English Department Chair Jennifer Pust, a student’s accessibility to the Internet is imperative to being successful in high school and in the workplace.“[Internet access] is necessary in all my classes,” Pust said. “All major assignments must be uploaded though [a web-based plagiarism checker], and I grade all essays without paper. [20 percent of my students] don’t have complete access to the Internet. This is the 21st century, and I don’t know of a job that wouldn’t involve computers one way or another. Students who don’t get practice with Internet are at a real disadvantage, not to mention their grades could suffer."The Internet often provides a wide-range of resources that can assist students through complicated material, according to Billy Shaffer."Access to the internet is extremely important to my success." Shaffer said. "For example, If I don't understand something in math class, and I'm having trouble understanding the textbook as well, there are hundreds of internet resources I can access instantly."According to Pust, students used to be able to access the Internet in campus computer labs for one hour afterschool. This year, budget restrictions have eliminated this program completely. Pust mentions that the unequal access to technology among students could be lessened by a volunteer based system where teachers could take turns supervising in the computer lab.“I want us as a district to rethink our approach to technology.” Pust said. “I want us to have technology based professional development for teachers and talk with one another about the [usage of phones in the classroom]. Lets look at the resources we have to provide access to all students around the district.”