14.2 ethical assignments
How do we start ensuring PARITY in Assignments? The first step is to realize that our students are INDIVIDUALS.
NEVER ASSUME THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE THE SAME LEARNING NEEDS, NOR THE SAME TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS.
RESPONSE: provide assignments that are appropriate to each student's skill levels, and never assign work that requires prerequisite skills that the students have NOT been TAUGHT.
So Sally and Suzy should be using different computer programs or at least different sections of the same program since they have different learning needs.
Johnny should not be expected to add clip-art to his paper unless this action was either taught as part of the class or part of a class he previously passed.
Isn't this a lot of work? YES!
Would you expect your students to use a college level textbook in 3rd grade? Would you expect a student who has passed advanced Algebra to complete the same assignment that a student in remedial math does? It is the same principle. Good teaching practices are the same with technology and without.
SOME SOLUTIONS:
If the student needs assignments of a higher level (or lower) see a teacher from the other grade level.
OR have certain students skip an activity on the computer if it is not appropriate to their learning needs.
OR provide training to boost a student's abilities before the assignment is given.
OR use a model from the Lucy Miller (1997 Technology Teacher of the Year)... have the students who are better with the computers coach the other students.
The next several pages cover important concepts in ensuring PARITY.
Copyright 1998 by Christopher I. Cobitz
Questions regarding this page may be sent to Christopher I Cobitz