Digital disconnect journal Essay Example

that tool, I could confidently introduce a new one into my instruction. Similarly, these same set of tools seemed to work well across most practical scenarios for me. Wikis, web logs, Twitter, and Google apps were the main four tools that stood out to me for textbooks, coaching, study groups, and counseling purposes. Occasionally, Skype was used for virtual study groups and YouTube for virtual textbooks and coaching sessions. While these applications were not initially at the forefront of my teaching practice, they have now become indispensable. Although I do incorporate other internet tools into my lessons as well, these particular ones play a central role in how I approach teaching. In terms of organization, Google Docs is primarily utilized along with a delightful bookmark tool.The Digital Disconnect report from Pew Internet reveals that students who are knowledgeable about the internet heavily depend on it for their assignments. Upon reflecting on this study, I have realized that my focus should be more on integrating new technology tools for students who are not as familiar with the internet, rather than those who already are. These particular students lack internet access at home and do not explore or experiment with various web 2.0 tools. Unfortunately, in many districts, students who have below-average technology skills tend to fall behind. Typically, students with average or above-average skill levels are left to work independently or learn from their peers. This aligns with last week's findings from Pew Report on Teens and Social Media which demonstrated that teenagers' online experiences often involve peer mentoring instead of face-to-face interactions. This supports the current week's findings from Pew Report that state "Internet-savvy students

come to school with different expectations, skills, and access to resources."