Response to the Educational Researcher Articles

The article by Lei, O'Byrne, Zawilinki, McVerry, and Everett-Cacopardo talks about the internet being a direct link to the 21st century learning. As my professor previously stated, "the internet is the digital text of the future".  This article struck me because it also discussed how some communities with less resources are expected to raise scores.  I work in an urban school with limited resources in comparison to other schools.  So what happens to the students who are less fortunate?  Does the internet close the gap or make it bigger?  In my experience, technology is a great tool to be used in classrooms.  But I believe in schools it should be used as just that, a tool.  It should enhance the educational process but should it define it?  So how then can we "even the playing field"? How can learning happen at home for those who do not have access to technology? There are many issues associated with integrated technology in schools.  Do schools have a budget for the technology?  Do the kids have access to it? If not, who provides access to it?  What do teachers do with the students who do not have access to technology?  If the schools provide the technology, who is responsible if it gets lost or stolen?  I do not believe I am in a position to answer all these questions; however, I do believe it is a barrier we would be able to get past.  Education itself has evolved and will continue to evolve, technology is just the next step in the process.  In the article Greenhow, Rogelio, and Hughes, one concept it discusses the evolution of the World Wide Web and technology.  One part that stood out to me was "researchers should continue examining learners online inquiry practices, especially how they navigate, understand, evaluate, trust and critically evaluate".  By collecting the data on social networks as well as other websites researchers can analyze how people "use the internet". Once experts understand how people use the internet they can continue to make it better.