Diversity no longer means the integration of the white and black races; it no longer means that women are accepted as equals in society. Diversity now includes all nationalities, races, religions, socioeconomic standings, the physically challenged, the mentally impaired, and the gamut of sexual orientations. The relative anonymity and secrecy of the Internet allows the transgender and the speech impaired to communicate on equal terms with those of high social standing. The Earth is rapidly becoming a global village.
The Internet offers educational opportunities never before afforded to various sects of the population. With the expansion of technology, the poor, the disenfranchised, and the isolated now have access to information and education that not so long ago was reserved only for the privileged and the informed; dominated, with very few exceptions, by the wealthier white male. According to George Siemens (n.d.), global diversity is an online trend, and might I add, treasure. Within the greater scope of the Internet, Blogs, Moogle, Skype, Wikis, Blackboard, Email, YouTube, GPS technology, and TeacherTube are all examples of tools that any, and all, can employ to gain equal access knowledge.
As an aside, when searching the Internet for educational blog posts concerned with diversity, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the following site: http://community.elearners.com/blogs/elearnersnews/archive/2006/10/23/Online-School-Gets-Top-Marks-for-Diversity_2100_.aspx
This post identified Walden University as one of the most diverse institutions regarding the rewarding of doctorates from 2000 to 2004.
Other educational blogs that reference diversity are: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/school_law/2009/07/sotomayor_again_on_racial_dive.html
and
http://theschoolofblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/diversity-training-update.html
The former blog, by Mark Walsh (2009), discusses the confirmation hearings of Judge Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. The blog is witness to the hope that one day, racial preferences would no longer be a factor in education. In these racially and religiously charged times, it is difficult to imagine such a society. The election of an African American to the presidency and the nomination of a Latino woman to the Supreme Court has fueled angry and calculated responses.
The latter blog reference was concerned with diversity training in schools. Julie (2009) wrote that the trainer “…wasn’t going to change people’s deeply held beliefs…” (¶4). Unfortunately, I agree. Other than call awareness to offensive stereotypes, seemingly little can be done to affect change. Asynchronous online education offers that opportunity.
Siemens, G. (n.d.). The future of distance education. Retrieved September 22, 2009 from the EDUC-7102-2/EDUC-8842-2 Principles of Distance Education Web site: http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=3649021&Survey=1&47=5797856&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1
Picture life without the internet? I can not because the internet has been apart of my life, except for my first six years of living. The internet has did so much for the 21st century that society has became an addict. The internet is the answers to all our prayers and problems. Great points and references. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI, too, have trouble remembering doing tasks "old school" prior to the Internet. I do remember using a typewriter and getting frustrated when I made a misstake. I typed much more slowly, because corrected was incredibly time-consuming. I wonder, however, if the computer has helped create carelessness in writing. Since we now use shortcuts in texting, and the computer will correct our spelling and grammar problems, do we no longer appreciate the art of writing in its original form? Will it become a lost art?
ReplyDeleteMisstake??? Mistake! How utterly ironic! Please, forgive my error.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that the art of writing is lost. Individuals have learned to provide short cuts for spelling or create their own language or dialect of words. The english language at one point was cherished but now it is being forgotten.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is hard for the students to determine when to write correctly. Most of my students are writing using shortcuts and other terms because they text and instant message so much. Then when I bring it to their attention they get upset or say that they forgot. So how can they really be penalized when they have created new ways of spelling words?
ReplyDeleteThe question is not "Did you come up with a new, creative way to misspell a word?" As a teacher, the question is, "Did the student, in a formal response, spell the word correctly?"
ReplyDeleteYou are so right diversity can no longer be defined in small terms today. There is a great specturum on the rainbow of diversity. It leads us to ask a probing question today of experts, what is diversity in the 21st century?
ReplyDelete